Estate Administrator

About Northern Trust:

Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889.

Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Estate Administrator
Administers basic probate estates and taxable trusts which require filing federal estate tax returns. Implements decedents'' estate plans in all areas where the bank has responsibility. Manages relationships among internal support divisions, outside counsel, co-fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and advisors.
Marshals and administers assets in small to medium-sized probate estates and taxable trusts.

Decides all substantive questions arising within the estate, including tax elections, use of tax reserves, disposition, valuation and collection of assets, raising of cash, resolution of liabilities, audits, and litigation.

Functions as the decision point for virtually every estate issue that arises in asset management, tax compliance, tax planning, fundings, distributions, and tax audits. Articulates the logic of these decisions to all appropriate parties.
Works with internal tax support, co-fiduciaries, and outside counsel to consider all tax elections and determine the most appropriate tax reporting.

Enables preparation of tax returns (estate, gift, generation-skipping, fiduciary, and personal income tax) through locating and marshaling assets, arranging for valuation, quantifying expenses, and securing and reviewing financial records.

Approves all tax returns and signs estate tax returns. Oversees preparation and filing of all pertinent court documents.

Advises investment division of all pertinent circumstances related to cash requirements of estate and investment objectives of beneficiaries.
Coordinates the balancing of account requirements and customer needs during the estate settlement period.

Ensures that appropriate communication of investment decisions occurs between the bank and interested outside parties.
Make certain that all fiduciary requirements and restrictions pertaining to investments are observed during the settlement process.

Establishes and maintains strong relationship with beneficiaries responding to their needs and explaining issues that arise in the estate. Educates clients on bank products and services, emerging issues, and regulatory/tax changes.
Cultivates relationships for expanded business opportunities with the bank (personal trust, Northern Trust Securities, investment management, private banking, etc.).
Plans, reviews, and implements all fundings and distributions including coordinating the input of co-fiduciaries, beneficiaries, investment division, tax division, and others. Reviews all accounting documentation pursuant to fundings or distributions.
Oversees special tasks, including sale of real estate or family business interest, disposition of qualified plan assets, coordinating response to estate tax audit, and facilitating beneficiaries'' credit requests.
Coordinates discussion and review of technical tax, investment, and legal issues using outside counsel, in-house legal or tax counsel, and senior administrators as resources in reaching a decision.

Minimum 5 years' experience in estate administration or personal trust, with exposure to legal, tax, investment, and operational elements.
Knowledge of estate planning and tax laws, trust, fiduciary income, investments, real estate, basic accounting, trust operations, and current issues within the field such as generation-skipping and environmental liability usually acquired through formal education in law or related field and work experience is required to implement estate plans.

Analytical and organizational skills are required to translate complex client problems into concrete account situations when processes are not established.
Negotiating skills are required to mediate conflict.

Salary Range: $97,000-$110,000. Salary range is an estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package, including retirement and pension plan contributions, health and welfare benefits, paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life insurance, and other wellbeing benefits.

Working with Us:

As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.

Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.

We’d love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world’s most admired and sustainable companies! Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater

Reasonable accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at .

We hope you’re excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.

Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.