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Tax Manager or Director - Gift, Estate and Trust - Bellevue, Lacey, Tacoma, WA

Cliftonlarsonallen Open · verified Oct 22, 2026
Bellevue LaceyTacoma Full-time Director Tax

At a glance

Director-level Tax role at Cliftonlarsonallen. Bellevue · full-time · $114,800–$174,000 base.

SalaryStated by Cliftonlarsonallen
$114,800 – $174,000
Base salary for this role, in USD per year, as published in the posting.
RoleTax
SeniorityDirector
LocationBellevue
EmploymentFull-time
Base pay$114,800–$174,000
PostedOct 19, 2026 · 3d ago
Also hiring inLacey, Tacoma
Role brief

financeroles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

  • Deliver gift, estate and trust tax planning, including strategies for estate taxes, business succession and asset protection
  • Review trust, estate, gift and high-net-worth individual income tax returns
  • Work with the wealth advisory practice and other client-facing professionals on client tax needs
  • Advise clients and CLA colleagues with technical tax expertise and consultation
  • Lead and develop the local team focused on gift, estate and trust services

What you bring

  • A bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in accounting, finance or a related discipline
  • At least six years in professional accounting, finance or a related field
  • A CPA is required, though an EA or JD may be accepted instead

Who this fits

You can choose a Director path focused on existing client relationships or a Manager path that includes building a book of business and advancing toward principal. The role suits a tax professional with gift, estate and trust experience serving high-net-worth clients. You can join the Bellevue, Lacey or Tacoma office in Western Washington.

From the employer

At CLA we create inspired careers.

We recognize that not everyone wants to grow their career in the same way. That’s why CLA exists to create opportunities. We promise to know you and help you.

This is why we’ve created our Director and Manager career paths! These positions share the same level of seniority, but they allow YOU to choose which path is right for you.

  • Director — If you love servicing existing client relationships and want to grow your career without the pressure of having to bring new client relationships into the firm, then this is the opportunity for you!
  • Manager — This is a great path for those who have a passion for servicing clients, want to build a book of business, and want to advance into a principal role. If you love being a tax professional, thrive when identifying business opportunities for clients, and desire to be a principal, then this is the opportunity for you!

We currently have a fabulous opportunity to join our Private Client Tax Practice as a Tax Manager/Director – Gift, Estate & Trusts!

We are open to candidates joining any of our Western Washington CLA offices (Bellevue, Lacey, Tacoma)

This Inspired Career includes the opportunity to:

  • Make a HUGE impact, serving as a Gift, Estate and Trust tax expert on our Private Client Tax team
  • Advance your career on a clear path to a tax leadership position with a top national firm
  • Thrive in an entrepreneurial environment that offers a ton of flexibility, autonomy, and the encouragement to make things happen
  • Help build CLA’s Private Client tax practice in the Pacific Northwest by strengthening existing client relationships and fostering new business development opportunities
  • Be part of a firm that leads with tax services, invests significant resources in nation-wide tax initiatives, and focuses on knowing and creating opportunities for our people, our clients, and our community.
  • Lead and help develop our existing local team of tax professionals specializing in Gift, Estate and Trust services

What you will do as the Tax Manager or Tax Director:

  • Develop phenomenal client relationships by delivering a full range of gift, estate & trust tax planning and consulting services, including planning strategies in minimizing estate taxes, business succession, and asset protection, reviewing trust, estate, gift and high net worth individual income tax returns, and collaborating with CLA’s wealth advisory practice and other client-serving professionals.
  • Enjoy work that is meaningful and creates the opportunity to continually increase your marketplace value by providing consultation services and technical expertise to clients and CLA professionals.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree required. Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related strongly preferred.
  • 6 years of experience in professional accounting, finance, or related field required. Experience in gift, estate and trust and individual tax planning and compliance including working with HNW clients is strongly preferred.
  • CPA required (EA or JD may be accepted in lieu of CPA certification)

Our approach to compensation emphasizes collaboration and career growth. We pay competitive wages and view compensation as an investment in our people. Factors such as geography, experience, education, skills, and knowledge may impact position of pay within the range.

The compensation range for this position in Washington is: $114,800.00 – $174,000.00


Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

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Wellness at CLA

To support our CLA family members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options that include health, dental, vision, 401k and much more.


To view a complete list of benefits, click here.