Cresset Jobs in Usa

About the Company

Cresset is seeking an Associate Director of Family Governance with a focus on wealth education, rising generation engagement, and family culture.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Family Governance, this position offers the opportunity to quickly grow into a multigenerational family consulting role, supporting complex family systems and long-term governance design. The ideal candidate is passionate about education, personal development, and intergenerational connection and brings a foundation in family dynamics, facilitation, or psychology. This role requires travel of up to 30%, including for family meetings, retreats, rising generation programs, and external conferences.

Responsibilities

• Rising Generation Engagement & Education
• Design, facilitate, and deliver educational programs for the rising generation focused on financial literacy, leadership, stewardship, and philanthropy.
• Build and maintain a network of rising generation participants across Cresset families, creating opportunities for connection, shared learning, and collaboration.
• Develop off-the-shelf and bespoke educational resources, including digital content, toolkits, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Collaborate with the governance team to measure program impact and refine curriculum over time.

• Family Governance Support
• Partner with senior team members to support family meetings, workshops, and retreats, with an emphasis on communication, shared purpose, and decision-making.
• Contribute to research and development of frameworks for family governance, including charters, family constitutions, and succession planning materials.
• Observe and participate in multigenerational family consulting engagements to gain exposure to complex governance and advisory work.

• Internal & External Collaboration
• Work with Cresset advisors and relationship managers to integrate rising generation and educational offerings into broader client service models.
• Support advisor training and development, helping team members better understand family systems, generational transitions, and engagement strategies.
• Collaborate with advisors and other colleagues to create cross-functional family learning experiences.
• Represent Cresset at external conferences and events relevant to family governance, rising generation education, and family enterprise; attend, speak, or present as appropriate.

• Peer Cohort Development
• Assist in the design and facilitation of peer learning cohorts for rising generation participants across Cresset families.
• Build scalable systems for community engagement, including digital platforms, events, and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience
• Bachelor's Degree Required
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working with HNW or UHNW families, or in a family office, educational, or advisory environment.
• Demonstrated experience in curriculum development, facilitation, or program design for young adults or family members.

Required Skills

• Exceptional interpersonal and facilitation skills, with comfort engaging across generations.
• Strong project management and collaborative skills, with the ability to bring structure to creative initiatives.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage both youth and senior family members.
• Curiosity, empathy, and a genuine interest in family systems, education, and human development.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with family systems theory and its application to governance and family enterprise.
• Knowledge of financial literacy education, philanthropy, or leadership development.
• Experience with coaching, mediation, or group facilitation.
• Desire to grow into a multigenerational family consultant, supporting families in governance, communication, and legacy planning.
• Strong comfort with technology, including designing high-quality presentations, using productivity and workflow tools to streamline and scale programs, and leveraging platforms such as Salesforce and AI-enabled tools to enhance efficiency and client experience.
• Experience with Asana, Chat GPT, Canva, and any educational platform software is a plus.

About Cresset

Cresset is a firm built by clients, for clients. As an independent, award-winning multi-family office and private investment firm, we are reimagining the way wealth is experienced. Our purpose is to help ensure that both wealth and life are fully optimized—integrated, intentional, and aligned with each client's vision of success.

We provide access to the caliber of talent, ideas, and investment opportunities typically available to the largest single-family offices and institutions. Our approach is personalized, entrepreneurial, and client-first.

Proudly owned by our clients and employees, Cresset was built to endure. We are creating a 100+ year firm—one focused on delivering an exceptional experience, not only for the families we serve but for the team that serves them. Recognized by Barron's and Forbes among the nation's top RIA firms, and as one of the industry's best places to work,* Cresset is guided by long-term relationships, shared success, and a belief that wealth should serve a life well lived.

Job Description

The Director, Wealth Strategist (DWS) is a member of the wealth strategy team and will work independently with Cresset clients and advisors as well as supporting senior wealth strategists. The DWS will also serve as an internal resource for advisors and collaborate on substantive issues with teammates. The DWS will work to support families as a subject area expert in basic estate planning, wealth transfer planning, philanthropy, and trust and fiduciary advisory. The DWS will be primarily responsible for reviewing and summarizing existing documents, providing observations for amendments or opportunities for additional advanced planning opportunities, running tax projections, modeling advanced planning techniques and providing ongoing advice regarding the administration of family structures.

Candidates must have experience in advanced estate planning including wealth planning/coordination, family risk management, and trust administration. The DWS will be part of a multidisciplinary team and must be a cultural fit in a collaborative, collegial team environment that is focused on impeccable client service delivery. It will be crucial to develop insight and understand the needs and dynamics of the families we serve.

The DWS will be a member of a national advisory team that provides, among others, open architecture investment management including direct private investments, financial management, and other complex services depending on the needs of the family such as family dynamics and family history. The compensation includes highly competitive cash compensation as well as equity.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree and five or more years of trust and estate experience required, preferably in a law firm environment, another financial institution, or trust company
• Familiarity with wealth transfer planning, trust administration, fiduciary knowledge, experience within context of HNW/UHNW clients; tax knowledge highly preferred; family business experience in planning or consulting preferred
• Exhibit high degree of initiative with excellent analytical, technical, and critical-thinking skills requiring an aptitude for detail, precision, and logic in order to analyze and research probate trust/estate data, process information, and perform essential duties
• Excellent reading, writing, grammar, spelling, punctuation, proofreading and formatting in order to interpret source documents and prepare concise, client-friendly materials
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations and apply mathematical concepts when computing, running estate tax projections and verifying numerical data on balance sheets and gift and estate tax returns
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn and grow
• Exhibits a probing mind, ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with peers and strategic partners
• Must be articulate, organized, and attentive to instructions and deadlines
• Self-starter with the ability to juggle several deadlines, and high personal accountability
• Approaches problems with a sense of urgency, creativity, and tenacity
• The ability to operate in a dynamic and fast-paced environment is essential
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion and demonstrate the highest level of client service, ethics, and integrity
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Visio, and other office software and technology
• Collaborative and able to work effectively in a team environment as a participant or leader
• Versatile, flexible, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities

What We Offer

Cresset offers a competitive compensation package including a discretionary bonus program and a benefits package to all full-time employees including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, health savings accounts, short and long-term disability insurance, voluntary critical and accident insurance, and pre-tax parking and transportation programs. Aligning employee and organizational interests, all employees receive equity in Cresset.

Level: Experienced

Job Location: Chicago Office - Chicago, IL 60606

Salary Range: $175,000.00 - $200,000.00 Salary/year

Cresset is a firm built by clients, for clients. As an independent, award‑winning multi‑family office and private investment firm, we are reimagining the way wealth is experienced. Our purpose is to help ensure that both wealth and life are fully optimized—integrated, intentional, and aligned with each client’s vision of success.

We provide access to the caliber of talent, ideas, and investment opportunities typically available to the largest single‑family offices and institutions. Our approach is personalized, entrepreneurial, and client‑first.

Proudly owned by our clients and employees, Cresset was built to endure. We are creating a 100+ year firm—one focused on delivering an exceptional experience, not only for the families we serve but for the team that serves them. Recognized by Barron’s and Forbes among the nation’s top RIA firms, and as one of the industry’s best places to work, Cresset is guided by long‑term relationships, shared success, and a belief that wealth should serve a life well lived.

Cresset is seeking a Director of Tax Strategy to join our Tax Strategy team. This is a high‑impact, client‑facing advisory role focused exclusively on sophisticated income tax planning for ultra‑high‑net‑worth (UHNW) individuals and families. As a senior member of the team, the Director will design and implement advanced tax mitigation strategies that integrate with clients’ broader estate, investment, and philanthropic objectives.

This is a purely advisory position, with no responsibility for client tax return preparation or compliance work. The Director will engage directly with Cresset’s most complex clients, their family offices, external advisors, and internal stakeholders to provide deep technical insights and strategic guidance across a wide range of income tax matters. Areas of focus will include individual, trust, and pass‑through entity taxation; planning for concentrated stock positions and equity compensation; and structuring family offices and closely held businesses.

Beyond technical expertise, the ideal candidate will bring a collaborative and entrepreneurial mindset, with a passion for building and scaling a best‑in‑class tax strategy offering. This role offers the opportunity to shape the evolution of the team’s capabilities, contribute to thought leadership, and elevate the client experience. The Director will report directly to the Managing Director, Head of Tax Strategy, and will be instrumental in shaping the long‑term vision and growth of the tax practice within a dynamic and fast‑growing organization.

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• Conduct in‑depth research and analysis of individual, trust, partnership, and corporate income tax issues relevant to UHNW clients.
  
• Evaluate clients’ existing entity structures, including family limited partnerships and LLCs, to identify planning opportunities and risks.
  
• Design and assess advanced income tax planning strategies, philanthropic planning, and planning for concentrated stock positions, incentive benefits, non‑qualified stock options (NQSOs), incentive stock options (ISOs), and restricted stock.
  
• Build and review complex spreadsheets to model cash flows and income tax consequences of current and proposed planning strategies.
  
• Independently review planning documents (e.g., deal structures, operating agreements, equity compensation plans) and provide strategic feedback and recommendations.
  
• Translate complex tax and planning concepts into actionable insights for clients, helping them understand their options and make informed decisions.
  
• Work closely with internal estate planning attorneys and other specialists to deliver integrated, high‑impact tax strategies.
  
• Leverage your professional network to raise the profile of Cresset Capital in the UHNW market, particularly among attorneys, accountants, and other centers of influence.
  

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• JD or CPA required
  
• Additional advanced degrees or certifications preferred (LLM, MS in Tax, CFA, MBA)
  
• 8+ years of experience at a law firm, accounting firm, or in‑house tax department; wealth management or family office experience strongly preferred.
  
• Significant experience working with UHNW clients and family offices
  
• Deep knowledge of personal, trust, partnership, and corporate income tax disciplines
  
• Expertise in family entities, wealth transfer planning, philanthropic strategies, and executive compensation planning
  
• Strong modeling skills using Excel or similar tools to analyze tax and cash flow implications
  
• Skilled at working with a high degree of autonomy, setting priorities, and managing deadlines
  
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills
  
• Collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  
• Enthusiastic, polished, poised, and professional demeanor
  
• Self‑motivated and proactive, with a passion for delivering exceptional client service
  

At Cresset, we focus on people first. As a service business, our people are our assets. Engaging our clients and employees is our highest priority. Starting base salary range: $175,000 - $200,000. Salary will be based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, licenses/certifications, industry knowledge, and geographic location. Cresset offers a competitive compensation package including an annual incentive and a benefits package to all full‑time employees including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, health savings accounts, short and long‑term disability insurance, voluntary critical and accident insurance, and pre‑tax parking and transportation programs. Aligning employee and organizational interests, all employees receive equity in Cresset.

It is the policy of Cresset to ensure equal employment opportunity (EEO) for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, or related conditions), national origin or ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, uniformed servicemember status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a parent, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. It is Cresset’s policy to comply with applicable laws concerning the employment of persons with disabilities, including reasonable accommodation for applicants and employees with disabilities.