Cerity Partners is seeking an experienced and highly credentialed Principal Tax Advisor to join our Tax Advisory Services team. In this senior-level role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to a dedicated list of high-net-worth individual, family, and business clients, providing expert tax compliance and planning services. The Principal Tax Advisor holds signing authority for tax returns, leads and mentors junior staff, and is expected to contribute meaningfully to client retention, team development, and firm growth.
Primary Responsibilities:
Client Relationship Management
- Maintain and grow a dedicated client portfolio, serving as the primary point of contact for all tax-related matters.
- Develop deep, trusted advisor relationships with clients including high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and entities.
- Proactively identify and communicate tax planning opportunities, legislative changes, and risk areas relevant to each client.
- Conduct client meetings and presentations to discuss tax strategies, return results, and year-round planning initiatives.
- Manage client expectations and ensure timely, high-quality deliverables throughout the year.
Tax Return Review & Signing
- Review and sign federal and multi-state individual (Form 1040), trust (Form 1041), partnership (Form 1065), S corporation (Form 1120-S), and C corporation (Form 1120) tax returns, as applicable.
- Ensure technical accuracy, completeness, and compliance with current tax laws and regulations across all signed returns.
- Apply professional judgment to complex tax positions and document conclusions in accordance with firm standards.
- Coordinate timely filing and extension management for all returns within your client portfolio.
- Oversee quality control procedures and ensure all workpapers and supporting documentation meet firm and regulatory standards.
Staff Management & Development
- Directly supervise, mentor, and develop assigned staff member(s), including setting performance expectations, conducting reviews, and providing ongoing coaching.
- Delegate work appropriately to staff, review their work product, and provide constructive feedback to support professional growth.
- Foster a collaborative, learning-oriented team environment consistent with firm culture and values.
- Assist in recruiting, onboarding, and training new staff members as needed.
Technical & Advisory Responsibilities
- Research complex federal and state tax issues and provide well-reasoned written and verbal guidance to clients and colleagues.
- Lead or contribute to tax planning engagements including income tax projections, entity structuring, Roth conversions, charitable giving strategies, and estate/gift tax planning.
- Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and assess the impact on clients and firm service offerings.
- Represent clients before the IRS or state taxing authorities on examination and notice matters, as applicable.
Required Qualifications:
- Active CPA license in good standing (required); EA credential may be considered in lieu of CPA for certain roles.
- Minimum of 6-8 years of progressive tax experience in public accounting or a wealth management/multi-family office environment.
- Demonstrated experience reviewing and signing complex tax returns across multiple entity types.
- Prior supervisory or management experience with direct reports.
- Strong technical knowledge of federal and multi-state individual and business income tax.
- Exceptional client relationship and communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Proficiency with professional tax preparation software (e.g., UltraTax, Sureprep, or similar).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience serving high-net-worth individuals, families, and closely held business owners.
- Familiarity with trust and estate taxation, partnership taxation, and/or international tax matters.
- Advanced degree (MST, LLM in Taxation) strongly preferred.
- Experience working in a wealth management or integrated advisory firm environment.
Why Cerity Partners:
Our people drive our success by working together to deliver exceptional service to our clients. Below is a glimpse of the key elements of our total rewards package:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance – day 1!
- 401(k) savings and investment plan options with 4% match
- Flexible PTO policy
- Parental Leave
- Financial assistance for advanced education and professional designations
- Opportunity to give back time to local communities
- Commuter benefits
Cerity Partners is committed to providing an environment where all individuals can be their authentic selves. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer who respects each individual and supports the diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences of our colleagues. We are dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.
Cerity Partners is committed to working with and providing accommodations to applicants with disabilities or special needs. For those needing accommodations, please reach out to [email protected]. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.
Skills Required
- Active CPA license in good standing
- EA credential may be considered in lieu of CPA for certain roles
- Minimum of 6-8 years of progressive tax experience in public accounting or a wealth management/multi-family office environment
- Demonstrated experience reviewing and signing complex tax returns across multiple entity types (1040, 1041, 1065, 1120-S, 1120)
- Prior supervisory or management experience with direct reports
- Strong technical knowledge of federal and multi-state individual and business income tax
- Exceptional client relationship and communication skills, both written and verbal
- Proficiency with professional tax preparation software (e.g., UltraTax, SurePrep, or similar)
- Authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.
- Experience serving high-net-worth individuals, families, and closely held business owners
- Familiarity with trust and estate taxation, partnership taxation, and/or international tax matters
- Advanced degree (MST, LLM in Taxation)
- Experience working in a wealth management or integrated advisory firm environment
Cerity Partners Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Cerity Partners and has not been reviewed or approved by Cerity Partners.
-
Retirement Support — An employer 401(k) match is part of the package, supporting long-term savings. Feedback suggests retirement benefits are a consistent component across materials.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible PTO, paid holidays, and paid parental leave are explicitly included, enabling time away when needed. Feedback suggests time-off policies are viewed as a strong element of the offering.
-
Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Hybrid work, commuter benefits, employee assistance resources, and optional spending accounts broaden the total rewards beyond base pay. Feedback suggests these perks contribute to perceived overall balance.
Cerity Partners Insights
What We Do
Our mission is to positively impact the financial well-being of our clients by delivering objective financial advice. We serve high-net-worth individuals and their families, businesses and their employees, and nonprofit organizations. Our advice, comprehensive oversight and fiduciary duties extend well beyond investments. We bring together all the experts necessary to address the various facets of a client’s financial life, including attorneys, tax advisors, financial planners and investment professionals. This approach to advice and service along with our private partnership business model have made us one of the premier investment advisers in the country, and a desired home for talented and passionate financial advisors who seek to serve clients the proper way. https://ceritypartners.com/award-disclosures Cerity Partners LLC reserves the right, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to retain and,monitor all electronic communications. Cerity Partners LLC is not responsible for content posted by third-parties, and does not accept any endorsement, recommendation, or like statement made by third-parties. Third-party content shared, liked, or commented on by Cerity Partners LLC should not be construed as a recommendation of any kind, and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as to its value, accuracy, or suitability with respect to any person. Statements and messages are subject to the following terms: https://ceritypartners.com/terms-and-conditions/.
