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D
Distinct
Tax Director
Career Insights for Trust / Estate Lawyer
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Based on Illinois data
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What they do
A Trust or Estate Lawyer works with all legal aspects of trusts and estates. This can include aspects of family law, taxation law, business law, inheritance law and probate law, as well as questions of community property, joint ownership and charitable gifts.
$162,999 / year median in Illinois
+8% projected growth
Job Description
Tax Director - Trust & Estates Specialism Hybrid $165,000 to $200,000 If you're at the stage of your career where you do not need hand holding, do not want corporate fluff, and simply want to advise good clients alongside other experienced professionals, this could be exactly what you have been looking for. This firm is looking to add a Tax Director to the team, ideally someone with strong Trust & Estate experience who still enjoys the broader advisory side of public accounting. The firm already has an established Trust & Estate highly experienced advisor but as demand continues to grow, and they are now looking to add another senior professional who can become a key part of that offering. You will work with a sophisticated client base that includes high net worth individuals, multi generational families, trusts and estates, alongside closely held businesses and their owners. The work spans complex individual returns, estate and trust compliance and planning, partnerships, S Corps, C Corps and multi state matters. The ideal person will bring strong Trust & Estate expertise but still enjoy the variety that comes with working in public accounting. Someone who likes moving between family conversations, planning opportunities, business owner discussions and complex technical issues rather than sitting solely within one niche. You will be stepping into a role where you are trusted to operate at a senior level. Owning client relationships, leading conversations, reviewing complex work and structuring your days in a way that works for both you and your clients. There is also a genuine opportunity to help shape and further develop the firm's Trust & Estate offering over time. At Director level, most people are not expecting a 40 hour busy season. But they are expecting some balance outside of it. This firm actually took a hard look at that. They brought in an external consultant to review hours, engagement and turnover, then built things around what they found rather than simply accepting that long hours were part of the job. Busy season sits around 55 to 60 hours. Outside of that, you are back to a normal working week. Turnover is low because people are not burning out. The team itself is made up of a mix of true generalists and specialists. Some oversee a broad portfolio of business and individual clients, while others have developed particular technical strengths over time. There is flexibility here to shape the role around your experience and interests. CPA is required. A JD would be highly attractive, although it is not essential. The firm sits at that sweet spot between 50 and 100 people. Big enough to have a strong client base, specialist areas and proper support around you, but still small enough that you are known, your work is visible and your ideas carry weight. Partners are involved, approachable, and still close to the work. You are not waiting three levels up to get an answer or sign off. If you are looking for a role where you can continue advising high net worth families, expand an established Trust & Estate practice, and play a significant role in the future of the firm, this is worth a conversation. Not ready with a resume? Or want a bit more information before applying? No problem. You can still apply the old-fashioned way, or just reach out to start a conversation with Imogen via LinkedIn or the Distinct Recruitment website or contact her cell at 312-584-9844. She'll be happy to tell you more about the firm, the job and the prospects before you commit further. Imogen Talbot-Slack is a Recruiter with Distinct Recruitment. She's been recruiting in finance for over 9 years, with a focus on public accounting firms across Illinois and Indiana. Think you only have 87% of the required experience? Perfect - apply anyway. The CPA firms we partner with want diverse, interesting people, not corporate clones stamped from the same tedious mould. Don't overthink it. The worst outcome is a pleasant conversation about your career. The best? Well, that's where it gets rather exciting.