Director of Financial & Tax Planning

Position Summary

The Director of Financial & Tax Planning will lead Busey Wealth Management’s financial planning team and tax planning team, ensuring the delivery of high quality, integrated advice to our clients. This role combines deep technical tax expertise with strategic financial planning leadership. The Director of Financial & Tax Planning will bring extensive experience advising high net worth families and business owners as well as play a key role in advising top clients on complex family, business, and tax planning strategies, partnering closely with Busey’s team of financial experts and delivering the highest level of financial advice.

Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Financial Planning and Tax Planning teams.
• Establish best practice processes, planning standards, and quality controls.
• Foster collaboration between planning, tax, trust, and investment teams.
• Oversee workflow, capacity planning, and team performance metrics.

Client Strategy & Advisory

• Serve as a senior advisor for top clients, providing advanced financial, tax, estate, and business planning guidance.
• Partner with advisors and relationship managers to design and deliver comprehensive planning strategies.
• Participate in high level client meetings, family governance discussions, and business transition planning.

Technical Expertise & Oversight

• Provide subject matter leadership on tax planning, including income tax, estate tax, business entity planning, and multi-generational strategies.
• Oversee the development of financial plans, tax analyses, and planning deliverables.

• Stay current on tax law changes and emerging planning strategies; educate internal teams.

Strategic Initiatives

• Enhance and expand Busey’s planning capabilities, tools, and client experience.
• Support business development efforts by showcasing planning expertise in prospect meetings.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on long term planning strategy and service model evolution.

Education & Experience

Knowledge of:

• Federal and state laws and regulations.

• Sophisticated software systems.

• Excellent time and project management skills.
• Tax law, financial planning principles, and wealth management strategies.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to simplify complex planning concepts.

Ability to:

• Analyze and interpret numerical data.

• Prepare and present complex financial concepts.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to simplify complex planning concepts.

• Analyze and solve problems based on a broad knowledge of many factors, where advanced and technical concepts must be applied.

• Perform duties and make decisions under frequent pressure.
• Comfortably work with senior executives, business owners, and multi-generational families.

Education and Experience:

• CPA or CFP® designation required.
• Dual CPA and CFP® credentials preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in tax planning, financial planning, or related advisory roles.
• Experience advising high net worth individuals, families, and business owners.
• Proven leadership experience managing professional teams.