Tax Associate Director - High Net Worth Individuals
Description
About Dean Dorton
Dean Dorton’s team makes up one of the largest advisory firms in the United States. We thrive when you thrive! We are here to help you succeed in every step of your development and career as you work with nationally recognized experts in a recognized best place to work.
About Tax Services
Dean Dorton's tax team provides comprehensive solutions to our clients, serving a wide variety of entity types and industries. Our team partners with clients to meet their compliance requirements, while also providing the crucial guidance and expertise they need to implement an overall tax strategy covering local, state, national, and international areas. We support clients by minimizing their tax burden and maximizing their business and financial goals.
About the Role
The Tax Associate Director, High Net Worth Individuals leads and manages a portfolio of high net worth clients and related engagements. This role oversees workflow, ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, and provides strategic tax planning and advisory services for individuals with complex financial situations. They serve as a trusted advisor to clients, often coordinating across multiple entities (partnerships, S corporations, trusts) and collaborating with attorneys, wealth advisors, and other professionals. Additionally, this role plays a key leadership function within the firm, contributing to business development, mentoring team members, and supporting the growth of the firm’s HNW practice, maintaining a strong focus on client relationships and overall engagement performance.
This role may not be for you: This role may not be a good fit for someone who prefers purely technical work, dislikes client interaction, avoids leadership and business development, struggles in a fast-paced environment, or doesn’t want administrative responsibilities. It requires a balance of tax expertise, management, and strategic growth efforts. | This role may be for you: This role is ideal for an experienced CPA who enjoys working with high net worth individuals and families, thrives in a client-facing environment, and excels in both technical tax and strategic advisory. It offers the opportunity to work on complex returns, provide meaningful planning insights, and build long-term client relationships. |
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
The essential duties & responsibilities of the Tax Associate Director role are outlined below in correlation with Dean Dorton’s performance management impact areas.
Technical
Definition: your specialized knowledge & expertise associated with the work you perform for/with clients (note: clients may be internal to Dean Dorton).
- Lead and manage client service teams and engagements focused on high net worth individuals and related entities, including:
- Managing workflow of engagements, ensuring deadlines are met, including the collection and review of client information to complete client engagement tasks.
- Reviewing complex individual income tax returns (Forms 1040), including multi-state filings, K-1 aggregation, and investment-related reporting.
- Overseeing tax compliance and planning for trusts, estates, partnerships, and S corporations tied to individual clients.
- Developing a deep understanding of clients’ financial situations, including investments, real estate holdings, business ownership, and compensation structures.
- Providing proactive tax planning strategies related to income deferral, capital gains, charitable giving, and estate and gift tax considerations.
- Researching complex tax questions and issues, relying on other internal experts for guidance and support as needed.
- Engaging in tax planning activities, identifying opportunities to minimize tax liabilities and optimize financial outcomes for clients.
- Consulting with clients on tax compliance and regulatory impacts with entity type changes; merger and acquisition activity; and other business activities.
- Interfacing with taxing authorities and assisting in gathering information for federal, state, and local tax audits, as needed.
- Resolving client issues.
- Signing tax returns.
- As necessary, participating at any level of a tax engagement or project to ensure client and regulatory deadlines are met.
- Communicate with clients throughout the year to maintain relationships and address significant issues. Educate clients on tax law, regulatory, and compliance changes/requirements.
- Assess overall risk and staffing needs for tax engagements. Monitor staffing of client engagements to ensure proper leveraging standards are maintained.
- Assess skill sets, strengths, and abilities to match team members with client engagements.
Behavioral
Definition: the behaviors associated with performing your job (interpersonal skills).
- Monitor overall performance, including profitability, of client engagements.
- Communicate effectively, setting clear expectations for team members and clients.
- Obtain confidence and independence in making decisions and managing clients, that reduce client and firm risk.
Non-Charge
Definition: the contribution you make to Dean Dorton outside of client work.
- Support the growth of the High Net Worth practice, including participation in business development and networking activities.
- Serve as a mentor, coach, and Career Advisor to team members.
- Provide internal training on HNW-specific tax topics and planning strategies.
- Represent Dean Dorton to clients, prospects, and professional networks.
- Participate in firm initiatives, committees, and process improvement efforts.
- Assist with recruiting, interviewing, and developing talent aligned with the HNW practice.
- Oversee firm administrative tasks such as scheduling, billing, business development, recruiting, and training.
- Lead or actively participate in tax and firm committees.
Experience & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required in accounting, finance, business, or related field.
- Minimum of ten years of experience in tax, with significant experience serving high net worth individuals and families required.
- CPA licensure required.
- Strong experience with complex individual returns, multi-entity structures, and estate/gift tax concepts.
Software & Tools
- CaseWare
- CCH Fixed Assets
- CCH Axcess Tax
- CCH Workstream
- CCH Billing and Invoice
- Tax Research Software and Tools
- Client Portal Tools (SafeSend, ShareFile)
- QuickBooks
- TValue
- Adobe
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)
- Data analysis and visualization tools, such as PowerBi
- Familiarity with other relevant software and tools used in accounting and tax practices.
Travel
Travel may be required for client or firm needs, including occasional overnight stays.
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by team members assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Additionally, responsibilities and duties may vary depending on business needs and individual circumstances. Dean Dorton is an equal opportunity employer.
We do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from staffing agencies, recruiters, or search firms. Any resumes or candidate information submitted without a current, signed agreement in place will be considered unsolicited, become the property of the company, and will not obligate the company to pay any fees or commissions.