Advanced Tax Planning Strategist

Advanced Tax Planning Strategist

Renaissance Financial is a comprehensive financial services firm with locations in St. Louis, Overland Park, Omaha, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. Our mission is to help our clients achieve financial freedom one opportunity at a time. Our true team approach and entrepreneurial atmosphere set us apart from other firms in our industry. Joining our close-knit team at Renaissance Financial will inspire professional growth through numerous opportunities while creating a lasting impact on our organization and community. We support and reward our staff through team outings and industry leading benefits because we sincerely care about the well-being of our team members.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The mission of this full-time position is to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) in income tax planning and strategy, working closely with clients and internal partners to deliver sophisticated tax solutions. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical foundation, exceptional client-facing skills, and the ability to navigate complex tax laws across multiple states.

The Advanced Tax Planning Strategist is a senior, CPA-level specialist responsible for developing proactive, multi-year tax strategy for complex high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth households, while also serving as a broad-based tax resource for financial advisors and clients across the firm.

This role is designed for a CPA with strong technical depth, sound judgment, and the ability to operate directly with clients, advisors, attorneys, and outside accountants. It encompasses tax architecture, modeling, planning analysis, business tax review, internal business valuation, and implementation coordination across every major family wealth decision including entity structuring, liquidity events, trust planning, charitable strategies, concentrated positions, and retirement distribution planning.

This is not a tax preparation or compliance role. The ideal candidate thinks strategically, models across multiple years, advises on major wealth decisions, and has the presence to lead substantive discussions in client and professional meetings.

Primary Responsibilities

• Advanced Tax Planning: Design and implement sophisticated federal and multi-state tax strategies for individuals and businesses, optimizing for current and future financial goals. Lead tax planning analysis and implementation coordination across major wealth decisions, including: entity structuring and restructuring for operating entities, investment entities, and family wealth structures; liquidity events (business sales, M&A transactions, and equity compensation); trust planning, trust funding, and trust-related income tax considerations; charitable giving strategies (DAFs, CRTs, CLTs, and private foundations); concentrated stock transitions and capital gains planning; retirement distributions and Roth conversion planning; multi-state taxation and domicile planning.
• Tax Forecasting & Modeling: Prepare detailed tax projections and multi-scenario analyses to support strategic client decision-making. Analyze the tax implications of major client decisions including business sales, trust funding, Roth conversions, and entity changes before implementation. Review tax projections, K-1s, and basis issues to surface risks and opportunities.
• Business Tax Return Analysis: Analyze complex individual and business tax returns (including pass-through entities, C-corps, and trusts) to identify planning opportunities, risk areas, and actionable recommendations for clients and advisors. Review returns through a planning lens, coordinating with outside preparers rather than serving as preparer of record.
• Business Valuations: Develop internal business valuations to support estate planning, buy-sell agreements, succession planning, gifting strategies, and other client engagements.
• Financial Statement Analysis: Review and interpret business financial statements to assess financial health, support tax planning, and inform advisory recommendations.
• Client Advisory: Provide clear, trusted guidance on complex tax matters including multi-state taxation, entity structuring, income tax optimization, and business succession. Participate directly in client meetings as the tax planning specialist. Help translate complex tax concepts into actionable recommendations and maintain proactive communication on changes that affect client strategy.
• Collaboration & Implementation: Partner closely with Senior Planners, Portfolio Strategist, Financial Advisors, estate planning specialists, internal attorneys, and outside CPAs to deliver integrated financial and tax planning solutions. Support implementation of agreed-upon strategies by coordinating with external preparers, tracking follow-through, and contributing to team planning templates and internal best practices.
• Regulatory Compliance: Monitor and interpret changes in federal, state, and local tax laws; ensure compliance and proactively adjust client strategies as needed. Ensure client planning positions are well-documented and defensible.
• Risk Management: Identify potential tax risks and develop mitigation strategies to protect client interests.
• Thought Leadership & Education: Contribute to internal training, client education, and thought leadership on emerging tax trends and strategies. Serve as an internal tax resource for financial advisors across all RFC offices and assist with income tax planning questions for moderate-net-worth client relationships ultimately overseeing a Junior tax Strategist on this work.
• Technology Utilization: Leverage tax planning software and analytical tools to enhance accuracy and efficiency in client deliverables.
• Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, long-term client relationships through proactive communication and exceptional service.

Essential Characteristics

• Strong technical tax planning depth with a clear orientation toward strategy not just compliance or return preparation.
• Comfortable working across individual, trust, partnership, pass-through, C-corp, and transaction-related tax issues.
• Deep knowledge of federal and multi-state income tax law, with experience advising both individuals and business entities and expertise regarding trust and estate taxes.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze business tax returns, financial statements, K-1s, basis issues, and ownership structures.
• Experience developing or supporting business valuations (familiarity with standard approaches and methodologies).
• Strong analytical and modeling skills with the ability to explain complex recommendations clearly to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Experience working with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and complex business structures.
• Polished communication and professional presence able to lead substantive tax discussions in client and professional meetings with credibility.
• Collaborative, practical, and comfortable operating in a highly integrated, multi-disciplinary planning environment alongside advisors, attorneys, and outside CPAs.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, client-driven environment.
• Familiarity with tax technology tools and financial planning software
• Self-motivated, coachable, and committed to continuous learning and professional development.

Education, Training & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field required.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation required.
• Minimum of 8-15 years of relevant tax experience in public accounting, private client tax, family office, transaction advisory, or advanced planning.
• Strong experience with individual, fiduciary, pass-through, and closely held business tax issues.
• Experience building tax projections and evaluating multi-year planning strategies.
• Experience advising high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth families, including pre- and post-liquidity event planning, strongly preferred.
• Strong familiarity with trust planning, charitable planning, and business-owner planning strongly preferred.
• Background that combines public accounting experience with planning or advisory work strongly preferred.
• Experience coordinating with legal, investment, and estate planning professionals preferred.
• Experience with business valuations or working alongside valuation professionals preferred.

Computer Equipment and Software

• Microsoft Excel (advanced proficiency required)
• Microsoft Outlook
• Salesforce (or comparable CRM)
• Tax planning and modeling software
• Financial analysis and business valuation tools
• Typing of at least 40 wpm

Working Conditions

• Business professional work environment.
• Standard 40-hour work week; some periods may require additional hours based on client needs.
• Ability to travel up to 1020% of the time.
• We are committed to providing an accessible work environment. If you need accommodations during the application or employment process, please let us know.

Benefits and Incentives

• Employer Paid Medical Insurance.
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions of up to 10% of team member eligible compensation annually.
• Potential for Annual Variable Compensation and Bonuses.
• Employer Licensing Coverage and Growth Opportunities.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment