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High Net Worth Tax Senior

Northwestern Mutual · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 8, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

What's the most complex individual return you've prepared, and what made it complex?

What they are checking: Whether they have real experience with the multi-entity, multi-state returns typical of wealthy clients.

Tell me about a time you recommended a strategy to a CPA or senior reviewer. How did you make your case?

What they are checking: Whether they can analyze and recommend, which the posting expects, not just prepare forms.

Tell me about a mistake you caught in your own return before review.

What they are checking: Whether they self-review carefully, since errors cost wealthy clients real money and trust.

How do you keep up with tax law changes that affect high net worth clients?

What they are checking: Whether they stay current in a field where rules change often.

What would you do

An advisor wants a projection tomorrow but the client hasn't sent key documents. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they manage expectations honestly and work with what they have while flagging gaps.

How do you explain a complicated tax result to a financial advisor who isn't a tax expert?

What they are checking: Whether they can translate tax work so advisors can use it with clients.

About the work

Walk me through how a K-1 from a partnership flows onto an individual return.

What they are checking: Whether they understand pass-through taxation, which is central to high net worth work.

How do you build a tax projection for a client expecting a large capital gain this year?

What they are checking: Whether they can model the impact and spot planning chances before year end.

What's a planning strategy you'd suggest for a client with a big liquidity event coming up?

What they are checking: Whether they can think beyond compliance to ideas that help the client decide.

How do trust returns differ from individual returns, and what trips people up?

What they are checking: Whether they understand fiduciary income tax rules like distributable net income and compressed brackets.

How do you handle a client who has income in several states?

What they are checking: Whether they know how residency, sourcing and credits for taxes paid interact.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Mutual.

About the Job: Are you a detail-oriented tax professional with a passion for helping clients navigate the complexities of tax planning? Join our team at Northwestern Mutual, where you'll be instrumental in preparing federal and state individual and entity income tax returns and projections for our valued clients. Collaborate with a team of tax, financial, and legal experts to deliver comprehensive advisory services tailored to each client's needs. You will have the opportunity to engage in entity tax return preparation, further broadening your expertise. We prioritize work-life balance and offer a supportive environment that fosters professional growth and collaboration. If you have income tax preparation and planning experience, we invite you to apply and become a key player in delivering exceptional tax solutions to our high-net-worth clients. Experience the benefits of working with a company that values your well-being and career development. What You'll Do: • Prepare individual state and federal income tax returns, as well as passthrough entity and trust returns. • Prepare tax projections and other calculations to support tax planning deliverables or presentations for advisors’ clients. • Analyze clients’ financial and tax information to recommend strategies to lead CPAs that drive client decision-making and be willing to further develop these skills. • Assist with analyses that examine and position tax and financial solutions with a focus on Northwestern Mutual’s approach of integrating investments and life insurance. • Assist other CPA team members with presentations to advisors and clients. • Build and leverage relationships within the division to help address unique client circumstances in the high-net-worth marketplace. • Provide support to other CPA team members for consultations and tax planning as a stand-alone service, or to collaboratively build and integrate tax planning solutions into financial and estate planning. What You'll Bring to the Role : • Bachelor's degree in accounting required. • Minimum of 3 recent tax seasons, to include 2 full years of individual and entity income tax preparation experience, as well as experience in assisting HNW clients, other team members, and/or advisors with related individual tax planning. • Existing tax knowledge and a willingness to deepen experience and knowledge in individual tax optimization, business planning, and other high-net-worth tax strategies. • An advanced designation of CPA is preferred and passing all four parts of CPA exam required within 18 months of hire. • Strong analytical skills. • Effective written and verbal communication skills with a client-oriented approach to translating complex to understandable. • Experience with tax planning software, such as BNA Income Tax Planner or similar tools. • Experience with CCH Axcess Tax preparation software required. • Strong Microsoft Excel skills desired and some experience in PowerPoint preferred. • Tax research experience preferred, or a willingness to learn. • Team player, with the ability to work with others frequently. #LI-Hybrid Compensation Range: Pay Range - Start: $89,360.00 Pay Range - End: $134,040.00 Geographic Specific Pay Structure: Structure 110: $98,320.00 USD - $147,480.00 USD Structure 115: $102,800.00 USD - $154,200.00 USD We believe in fairness and transparency. It’s why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you’re living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more. Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now! Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

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