Job Summary
We are recruiting for an Estate Tax Specialist to join a respected legal services environment in Haddonfield, NJ. This direct hire opportunity is ideal for a Tax Accountant, CPA, experienced trust and estate tax professional, or Trusts and Estates Paralegal with hands-on experience preparing and filing estate, gift, fiduciary, and individual tax returns.
This role is heavily focused on tax return preparation, not traditional paralegal work. The position supports a high-level Estates and Trusts practice serving high-net-worth individuals, estates, and trusts. It is an excellent opportunity for candidates coming from public accounting who want to continue performing complex and meaningful tax work in a more predictable, collaborative, and professional law firm setting.
The work environment offers stability, strong internal teamwork, supportive attorneys and professional staff, and an opportunity to build a long-term career path within the legal industry. Candidates who value detail-oriented work, client service, confidentiality, and work-life balance will find this role especially attractive.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare Federal Estate Tax Returns, including Form 706, as well as NJ and PA estate and inheritance tax returns.
- Prepare Federal Gift Tax Returns, Form 709, fiduciary income tax returns, individual income tax returns, and related supporting schedules.
- Maintain financial records and prepare schedules for tax returns, estate administration matters, and Orphans’ Court accountings.
- Assist with estate and trust administration tasks, including probate petitions, asset collection and valuation, informal settlement agreements, and beneficiary communications.
- Organize and maintain detailed files for high-net-worth clients while tracking deadlines and communicating project status.
- Collaborate with attorneys, paralegals, accountants, banks, investment firms, and clients to gather information and complete tax filings accurately and on time.
Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary: $85,000 to $100,000 per year, based on experience.
- Direct hire opportunity.
- In-office role in Haddonfield, NJ, with potential for one work-from-home day per week for the right candidate.
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, FSA, and 401(k) with profit-sharing.
- Medical plan includes firm-paid 85% of the employee premium and 100% of the deductible on the high-deductible plan.
- Annual discretionary bonus, historically 1% to 3% of salary.
- Generous PTO including vacation based on years of service, personal days, sick leave, paid holidays, and a floating holiday.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans
The Know Your Rights poster is available here:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf
The pay transparency policy is available here:
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf
For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.
AppleOne participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf
We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
Required Qualifications and Skills
- Prepare complex estate, gift, fiduciary, and individual tax returns for high-net-worth clients.
- Manage tax schedules, financial records, supporting documentation, and filing deadlines.
- Support estate and trust administration activities in coordination with attorneys and professional staff.
- Communicate with clients, financial institutions, beneficiaries, and internal team members to obtain information and move matters forward.
- Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience preparing estate, gift, fiduciary, and individual tax returns.
- Experience preparing or filing Forms 1041, 706, 709, and related estate and trust tax filings.
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- CPA strongly preferred, with experienced tax professionals also encouraged to apply.
- Trusts and Estates Paralegals may be considered if they have direct experience preparing and/or filing relevant estate, gift, and fiduciary tax forms.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and client service skills.
- High attention to detail, sound judgment, integrity, and ability to handle confidential information.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively in a team-oriented professional environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA designation.
- Experience with ProSeries, OneSource, or similar tax preparation software.
- Background in public accounting with an interest in transitioning to a more predictable legal services environment.
- Experience working with high-net-worth individuals, estates, trusts, attorneys, financial institutions, and investment firms.
- Familiarity with NJ and PA estate and inheritance tax filings.