Esther S. Palmer
161 Washington Street, #2, Troy
Summary
A focused, detail oriented, quality-minded accountant with a history of achievement, outstanding work ethic and the proven ability to create, plan, develop, maintain and execute both routine and complex projects on budget and on time.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Fiduciary Accountant/Estates & Litigation Practice
PIERRO, CONNOR & STRAUSS, LLC
08.2023 - Current
- Prepare and review complex gift, generation skipping and estate tax returns for law firm clients.
- Prepare and review informal and judicial accountings for law firm trust and estate administration and litigation clients.
- Work with law firm partners and associate attorneys to ensure effective and accurate estate tax returns and estate and trust accountings for law firm clients.
- Assist law firm partners and associate attorneys with fiduciary representation and estate litigation matters, analysis and resolution of federal and state tax notices and audits for estate, gift and generation skipping tax returns.
- Assist law firm clients with fiduciary income tax and estimated tax matters.
- Assist Estates Practice paralegals with basic estate tax and accounting assignments.
Firm Administrator/Trusts & Estates Paralegal
R.A. FUERST LAW GROUP, P.C.
08.2019 - 07.2023
- Work with law group shareholder to hire, supervise and train legal assistants and paralegals.
- Support law group shareholder and staff with daily tasks and office coverage.
- Work with law group shareholder to set up and administer malpractice, health and supplemental insurance plans.
- Set-up, process and manage bi-weekly payroll via Paychex and upload employee and law firm 401K contributions.
- Set up and manage law group general ledger and communications with CPA regarding annual corporate tax returns and Forms 1099.
- Prepare monthly law group bank (including IOLA) and credit card account reconciliations and manage law firm receivables and payables.
- Maintain law group and shareholder records, order office supplies, organize holiday events, communicate with IT Administrator and building maintenance.
- Assist attorney(s) with effective estate and gift tax planning for high net worth law group clients.
- Review and edit estate planning and disclaimer documents prepared by attorney(s) and staff.
- Review and prepare judicial estate and trust accountings, individual, fiduciary, gift, generation skipping and estate tax returns for law group estate planning and administration clients.
- Responsible for additional estate administration tasks.
Fiduciary Accountant-Estates & Tax Practice
WHITEMAN OSTERMAN & HANNA LLP
12.2008 - 01.2017
- Prepared and reviewed individual, fiduciary, nonprofit, partnership, corporate, gift, generation skipping and estate tax returns for law firm clients.
- Prepared financial accountings and income tax work papers for law firm business clients.
- Prepared and reviewed informal and judicial accountings for law firm trust and estate administration clients.
- Worked with law firm partner and associate attorneys to ensure effective income, estate and gift tax planning for law firm clients.
- Assisted law firm partner and associate attorneys with fiduciary representation and estate litigation matters, analysis and resolution of federal and state tax notices, audits and federal OVDI and state voluntary compliance program submissions.
- Assisted Trusts and Estates Practice paralegals with more complicated accounting and tax assignments.
- Contributed to income tax illustrations for articles published by attorneys in professional financial and tax journals.
Tax, Trust & Estate Advisor
CURRAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
04.2007 - 12.2008
- Worked with investment firm clients to design effective income, gift, and estate tax planning strategies.
- Assisted investment firm clients with creation and review of estate planning documents and understanding of trust and estate administration matters.
- Responsible for research and writing in topics of interest for client meetings, internal information library and investment firm newsletter.
- Responsible for education of investment firm employees in areas of specialty.
- Worked with estate planning attorneys and accountants to provide investment firm client recommendations.
- Served to enhance communications between financial and legal professionals retained by investment firm clients.
Senior Accountant, Tax Reviewer & Advisor (Full & Part Time)
SANTORA ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICES, INC.
08.2005 - 04.2007
- Responsible for income tax planning and preparation for small business and nonprofit accounting firm clients.
- Responsible for daily, monthly, and quarterly accountings, sales tax reportings, and resolution of tax audit and accounting matters.
- Assisted internal accountants and bookkeepers employed by accounting firm clients.
- Performed consulting for trust and estate tax and administration matters.
- Performed research for firm client accounting and tax matters.
Senior Tax Accountant
STAFF CIAMPINO & COMPANY, P.C
10.2006 - 03.2007
- Responsible for preparation and review of individual, fiduciary, partnership, corporate, gift and estate tax returns for CPA firm clients.
- Responsible for preparation of business accountings and tax work papers.
- Responsible for preparation of trust and estate accountings.
- Responsible for federal and state tax correspondence and tax research.
Senior Tax Accountant
DORFMAN-ROBBIE CPA\'s, P.C
10.1998 - 04.2005
- Responsible for preparation and review of tax returns and work papers for CPA firm clients.
- Responsible for preparation of trust and estate accountings.
- Assisted CPA firm partners with fiduciary and gift tax planning.
- Assisted CPA firm partners and staff to effectively resolve federal and state income tax notices.
- Supervised and trained CPA firm employees in areas of specialty.
Tax Accountant & Analyst
THE AYCO COMPANY, L.P The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc
08.1995 - 10.1998
- Responsible for preparation and review of individual, fiduciary, gift, generation skipping and estate tax returns for high net worth financial firm private clients.
- Resolved federal, state and local income tax notices and completed special tax assignments for partner and associate attorneys.
- Trained tax department employees to prepare gift and generation skipping tax returns.
- Worked with substantive policy group partner and associate attorneys on gift, generation skipping and estate tax issues.
Education
Master of Science - Taxation
UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY
Albany, New YorkBBA - Accounting
SIENA COLLEGE
Loudonville, New YorkBachelor of Arts - Visual and Performing Arts
RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE
Troy, New YorkSkills
- Strong command of various software programs including but not limited to: QuickBooks, Quicken, Excel, Fast Tax, CCH Prosystem fx, Lacerte, ProSeries, ATX, OneSourceTax and Accounting, BNA Income Tax Planner, MS Office and a general tendency to learn new software very quickly;
- Exceptional communication(s), analytical, research, organizational and multi-tasking skills;
- Excellent writing capability, ability to prioritize and manage projects and to meet and exceed work load while meeting deadlines;
- A highly diplomatic and collaborative team player with an ability to work well with individuals and groups at all levels
Affiliations
-Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York, Inc.
Accomplishments
- Internal Revenue Service: Active in sponsored VITA program designed for the benefit of low income, disabled, elderly and non English speaking taxpayers in local communities who require information regarding applicable tax credits and assistance with preparation of income tax returns.
Timeline
Fiduciary Accountant/Estates & Litigation Practice
PIERRO, CONNOR & STRAUSS, LLC
08.2023 - Current
Firm Administrator/Trusts & Estates Paralegal
R.A. FUERST LAW GROUP, P.C.
08.2019 - 07.2023
Fiduciary Accountant-Estates & Tax Practice
WHITEMAN OSTERMAN & HANNA LLP
12.2008 - 01.2017
Tax, Trust & Estate Advisor
CURRAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
04.2007 - 12.2008
Senior Tax Accountant
STAFF CIAMPINO & COMPANY, P.C
10.2006 - 03.2007
Senior Accountant, Tax Reviewer & Advisor (Full & Part Time)
SANTORA ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICES, INC.
08.2005 - 04.2007
Senior Tax Accountant
DORFMAN-ROBBIE CPA\'s, P.C
10.1998 - 04.2005
Tax Accountant & Analyst
THE AYCO COMPANY, L.P The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc
08.1995 - 10.1998
Master of Science - Taxation
UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY
BBA - Accounting
SIENA COLLEGE
Bachelor of Arts - Visual and Performing Arts
RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE
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