Tax Manager or Director - Gift, Estate and Trust - Bellevue, Lacey, Tacoma, WA

At CLA we create inspired careers. We recognize that not everyone wants to grow their career in the same way. That’s why we offer Director and Manager career paths — positions that share the same level of seniority but allow you to choose the path that’s right for you.

Career Paths

• Director — Ideal if you love servicing existing client relationships and want to grow your career without the pressure of bringing new client relationships into the firm.
• Manager — A great path for those who have a passion for servicing clients, want to build a book of business, and aspire to advance into a principal role.

About the Role

We currently have a fabulous opportunity to join our Private Client Tax Practice as a Tax Manager/Director – Gift, Estate & Trusts in any of our Western Washington CLA offices (Bellevue, Lacey, Tacoma).

• Make a significant impact as a Gift, Estate, and Trust tax expert on our Private Client Tax team.
• Advance your career on a clear path to a tax leadership position with a top national firm.
• Thrive in an entrepreneurial environment with flexibility, autonomy, and encouragement to drive results.
• Help build CLA’s Private Client tax practice in the Pacific Northwest by strengthening existing client relationships and fostering new business development opportunities.
• Be part of a firm that leads with tax services, invests in nationwide tax initiatives, and focuses on creating opportunities for people, clients, and the community.
• Lead and develop our local team of tax professionals specializing in Gift, Estate, and Trust services.

Responsibilities

• Develop strong client relationships by delivering a full range of gift, estate, and trust tax planning and consulting services, including strategies to minimize estate taxes, business succession, and asset protection.
• Review trust, estate, gift, and high-net-worth individual income tax returns.
• Collaborate with CLA’s wealth advisory practice and other client-serving professionals.
• Provide consultation services and technical expertise to clients and CLA professionals, increasing your marketplace value through meaningful work.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field strongly preferred.
• 6 years of experience in professional accounting, finance, or a related field.
• Experience in gift, estate, and trust tax planning and compliance, including working with high-net-worth (HNW) clients, is strongly preferred.
• CPA required (EA or JD may be accepted in lieu of CPA certification).

Pay

The compensation range for this position in Washington is $114,800.00 – $174,000.00. Factors such as geography, experience, education, skills, and knowledge may impact the position of pay within the range.

Benefits

To support our team members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options, including:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401k retirement plan
• Additional wellness benefits