Director of Tax Planning Remote The Director of Tax Planning Services serves as the firm's senior authority on advanced tax planning strategy, responsible for designing, leading, and scaling a best in class tax planning practice for high net worth individuals, closely held businesses, and real estate focused clients.
This role combines deep technical expertise with client advisory leadership and practice development. The Director owns the strategy, quality, and growth of the Tax Planning Services function and partners closely with firm leadership and client facing teams to deliver proactive, compliant, and impactful tax planning outcomes.
The successful candidate will function as a trusted advisor to clients, an internal subject matter leader, and a steward of both client outcomes and departmental performance.
Position's Intention
Tax Planning Services works in close collaboration with internal and external partners to provide clients with a fully integrated wealth and tax planning experience. This role requires a holistic understanding of each client's investment, estate, financial, tax, and philanthropic objectives and the ability to translate tax strategies into practical, implementable plans.
While legal documents are prepared by clients' independent legal counsel, this role is responsible for identifying opportunities, designing strategies, coordinating implementation, and ensuring alignment across all stakeholders.
Success Measurements
Success in this role is measured by: - Growth and profitability of the Tax Planning Services practice
- Client retention, satisfaction, and realized tax savings outcomes
- Effective cross selling and expansion of tax planning services within existing client relationships
- Strength and development of the tax planning team
- Clear communication and collaboration with internal departments and external advisors
Essential Duties
Tax Strategy & Client Advisory
- Serve as primary advisor for complex tax planning engagements involving high net worth individuals, real estate investors, and closely held businesses
- Design, evaluate, and recommend sophisticated federal, state, and local tax strategies to minimize liabilities and maximize after tax outcomes
- Translate complex tax concepts into clear, actionable recommendations for clients and internal stakeholders
- Coordinate closely with clients' CPAs, attorneys, and advisors to ensure compliant and effective implementation
Practice Leadership & Growth - Lead and scale the Tax Planning Services function, including service delivery, pricing considerations, and capacity planning
- Identify opportunities to expand tax planning offerings and integrate services across the firm
- Own departmental performance, including efficiency, quality, and revenue contribution
Research, Technical Oversight & Compliance - Monitor legislative, regulatory, and case law developments affecting tax planning
- Proactively identify risks and opportunities arising from tax law changes
- Ensure all tax planning recommendations are well documented, compliant, and defensible
Team Leadership & Development - Build, mentor, and manage a team of tax professionals
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous technical development
- Provide internal education and training as tax laws and strategies evolve
Internal & Cross Functional Collaboration - Serve as the firm's internal tax planning authority, advising accounting, finance, operations, and leadership teams
- Partner with marketing to develop thought leadership, client education materials, and authoritative tax content
- Support client facing teams by addressing technical questions and assisting with complex engagements
Audit Support & Issue Resolution - Guide clients through IRS and state audit inquiries related to tax planning matters
- Assist in developing documentation and strategic responses in coordination with external counsel and preparers
Skills/Qualifications:
- Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- High level of accountability and follow-through
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams
- Problem-solving mindset with a focus on process improvement
- Discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education/Certification:
- Juris Doctor (JD) with an active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction OR
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with demonstrated expertise in advanced tax planning and strategy
- Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation strongly preferred
Language & Communication Skills:
- Ability to clearly communicate complex tax concepts and planning strategies to clients, internal team members, and external advisors with varying levels of technical knowledge
- Strong written communication skills, including the preparation of client memoranda, internal guidance, educational materials, and professional correspondence
- Proven ability to present findings, recommendations, and strategies confidently to executive leadership, clients, and professional audiences
Reasoning & Analytical Skills:
- Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to evaluate complex tax situations, interpret legislation and guidance, and develop compliant, defensible tax strategies
- Ability to identify tax planning opportunities, assess risk, and determine optimal solutions in situations with limited precedent or evolving regulatory guidance
- Strong judgment in balancing technical accuracy, client objectives, regulatory compliance, and practical implementation considerations
Computer Skills:
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Experience utilizing tax research platforms, document management systems, and professional collaboration tools
- Ability to leverage technology to analyze data, manage workflows, and support client and departmental reporting
Additional Skills & Abilities:
- Deep knowledge of federal, state, and local tax law
- Expertise in tax planning strategies, credits, incentives, and entity structuring
- Strong analytical and research skills with the ability to navigate nuanced tax issues
- Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex engagements
- Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to explain sophisticated tax concepts to non technical audiences
- High degree of professional judgment, discretion, and independence
- Ability to influence, collaborate, and build trust across departments and with external advisors
- Strong client service orientation with a solutions driven mindset
- Excellent organizational and prioritization skills
- Comfortable operating independently with minimal supervision
- Strong written communication skills for reports, client deliverables, and educational content
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Directly supervises and mentors tax planning personnel, providing guidance on technical matters, professional development, and performance
- Responsible for hiring, training, coaching, and evaluating tax planning team members
- Sets clear expectations, fosters accountability, and promotes a collaborative, high performance team environment
- Provides technical review and oversight of work performed by team members to ensure quality, accuracy, and compliance
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands and office work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, talk, and hear. The employee is required to sit for extended periods of time; reach with hands and arms. Because this job is performed in a home office work environment, it is the employee's responsibility to create a workspace that will not promote injuries to the body; such as, back, wrist, neck, eyes, etc.
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