Role details
The Senior Manager of Tax and Partner Compensation provides strategic and operational leadership for the Firm’s tax strategy, compliance, and partner compensation programs within a complex law firm partnership structure. This hands-on role oversees all partnership and business tax matters and administers equity partner compensation. The Senior Manager will serve as a trusted advisor to the CFO, Managing Partners, and Firm leadership on tax compliance, planning, partner compensation, and financial implications. Primary Job Functions:
- Direct and oversee the Firm’s tax policies, objectives, and tax strategy in alignment with partnership structure.
- Monitor and interpret federal, state, local, and international tax developments impacting law firm partnerships and professional entities.
- Perform quarterly and year-end tax review processes and ensure accurate, timely delivery of all required tax information.
- Facilitate and manage preparation, review, and filing of partnership, business, property, and other required tax returns.
- Compile and prepare tax schedules supporting U.S. federal, state, local, and international tax filings.
- Coordinate with external tax advisors, auditors, and internal legal counsel.
- Manage and support tax audits, examinations, and inquiries.
- Monitor, implement, and enforce equity partner compensation structures, distribution policies, and analytical models.
- Collaborate on cash flow management, quarterly and annual tax payments, and supplemental partner distributions.
- Track, reconcile, and report partner income accounts and K-1–related information.
- Serve as a key point of contact for partners and their personal tax advisors on matters related to compensation, quarterly tax estimates, and tax reporting.
- Collaborate with Accounting and Finance to analyze and monitor financial trends, forecasts, and Firm performance.
- Enhance tax and partner equity reporting by integrating tax, accounting, and financial data.
- Supervise a Payroll Coordinator responsible for non-partner payroll processing. Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA, JD, or MST strongly preferred. - 10+ years of progressive experience in partnership taxation, preferably within a law firm or professional services organization.
- Deep expertise in partnership tax compliance, planning, and partner compensation models.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
- Excellent communication and client service skills; ability to advise and present to senior attorneys and executive leadership.
- Advanced hands-on proficiency with tax and financial reporting systems and software.
- Collaborative; ability to work effectively with lawyers and other professionals across the Choate platform and manage multiple priorities.
- Proficiency in using AI tools is desirable.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with BI tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) and workflow automation platforms a plus.
- Decisive, hands-on leadership; experience managing a team. Work Authorization: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship by the Firm (either now or in the future).