GENERAL SUMMARY:

The role of the Tax Associate is to serve as the primary support for the Tax Director in servicing the needs of Spinnaker’s fiduciary client base and Spinnaker Trust’s overall tax needs. This position requires direct contact and seamless coordination with outside preparers and various third parties to ensure the timely remittance of tax returns, tax payments and responses to agency notices. The Tax Associate will maintain responsibility for review and/or preparation of select tax filings as determined by the Tax Director. This role will also require frequent interaction with the firm’s Trust Officers, Portfolio Management , and Operations teams. The Tax Associate will contribute to the Tax group in serving as a resource for the firm and its clients on various tax-related items. This role requires working as CPAs do, with the expectation that some holiday, weekend and “off hours” work will be necessary during tax busy season and to meet deadlines.

All duties are performed in compliance with company policy and with Federal and State laws and regulations including the Bank Secrecy Act.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Performs the following in strict accordance with Spinnaker Trust’s Policies and Procedures.

General Fiduciary Tax Responsibilities:

· Work with Tax Director to develop high-level understanding of Spinnaker’s fiduciary client base and individual client needs.

· Review of tax filings and forms prepared by outside preparers and/or Tax Director.

· Ability to research and coordinate and manage tax projects for our client base.

· Coordinate with Tax Director and outside preparers to track all required fiduciary filings and ensure timely and accurate remittance.

· Preparation of returns for a small portion of fiduciary client base.

· Assist with obtaining third party information and preparation of quarterly estimates. Help project income and potential tax liabilities for estimated tax purposes.

· Respond to agency notices for our client base.

· Assist with process for preparing, sending and tracking fiduciary fee engagement letters.

· Communicate frequently and routinely with outside preparers to aid with information necessary for return preparation, to address transactional and coding questions, and to monitor flow of items.

· Ability to work directly with our tax return preparer for ongoing best practices related to our client data.

· Share projected and final balance due and estimate amounts with relevant Spinnaker teams, including the Portfolio Management group for cash balance/investment purposes and Operations for timely processing of payments.

· Help Tax Director with needs related to the firm’s entity tax returns.

· Field internal and client inquiries on timing of specific tax items and forms and develop relationships with those parties.

· Perform various duties to assist with tax return processing, as necessary.

· Work closely with Trust Officers and Tax Director on items requiring specific attention, including onboarding of new trust accounts, trust terminations, changes to grantor status of returns, private and/or foreign holdings, assessing the need for new state filing requirements, etc.

· Stay current on tax laws, regulations and proposals impacting Spinnaker’s clients.

Technology Specific Responsibilities:

· Learn to master the tax group’s primary software, One Source Trust Tax (OSTT). Become the OSTT firm champion, maintaining responsibility for keeping up to date with current software developments and attending annual conferences and trainings.

· Become proficient with the firm’s trust accounting system, Innotrust, from which OSTT derives its information. Understand transactional flow and coding. Generate system reports and create custom reports, as needed.

· Maintain responsibility for data bridge between OSTT and Innotrust, and implementation of any necessary changes.

Relational Responsibilities:

· Serve as a resource to the firm and clients on tax related items.

· Work closely with Relationship Managers, Portfolio Managers, Trust Officer, Real Estate and Operations groups as needed to better achieve efficiencies and compliance from a 360-degree perspective.

· Develop and maintain relationships with outside preparers, client CPAs and other professional advisors.

· Assist with managing client relationships with outside trustees.

· Work on individual client tax planning items and requests, as needed.

· Willingness to lead internal trainings on select topics.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Assist with formulating tax group procedures to create efficiencies and high-level client service.

· Represent the tax group (on a voluntary or as requested basis) on company committees.

· Participate in special firm or departmental projects.

· Attend weekly firm meetings and scheduled group meetings.

· Pursue educational and professional development opportunities.

· Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/TRAINING REQUIRED:

· Bachelor of Science Degree in Business or Accounting.

· Fiduciary tax experience.

· Minimum 1 to 3 years’ experience in accounting firm, preferably in a tax preparation role.

· Demonstrated tax knowledge and expertise.

· CPA designation preferred or working toward CPA designation.

· Microsoft Office programs.

· Excellent time management skills with the ability to multitask and maintain workflow to meet both internal and external deadlines.

· Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

· Strong verbal and written communication skills.

· Must be technologically adept with the ability to learn new software programs quickly and intuitively.

· Organized, responsible, loyal to and enthusiastic about the firm’s purpose/goals/values.

· Customer service, diplomacy, ability to observe strict confidentiality policies.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/TRAINING ENCOURAGED:

· Prior experience advising high-net worth clients.

· Knowledge of, or ability to learn about various kinds of trusts and unique assets such as closely held businesses, commercial real estate, private investments, etc.

· Knowledge of, or experience in, financial institutions and banking.