Fiduciary Accountant & Assistant

Fiduciary Accountant \& Assistant

As of May 1, 2026

You may be asking yourself, “What exactly is a fiduciary?” The word "fiduciary" means "entrusted". A fiduciary is a person who acts on behalf of another, making important decisions for someone who can no longer do so without assistance, or in some cases, no longer wishes to do so. In the case of a Professional Fiduciary, we are charged with managing the financial and/or health care affairs of our community’s older adult and special needs individuals, in accordance with their wishes, and/or in accordance with the terms of an overriding document (trust, will, court order, etc.). Our financial services range from oversight of client banking, bill payment, mail management, bookkeeping, investment accounts, and tax preparation, to management of notes receivable, personal property, residential and/or commercial real estate, and business entities. We also assist clients in managing their health care, including scheduling medical appointments, organizing transportation and accompaniment to/from appointments, in\-home care logistics, end\-of\-life affairs, organization of memorial services, and sometimes scattering of cremains.

We are strong, independent, compassionate, professional advocates for our clients, their dignity, and their wishes. We are sometimes referred to as the quarterback or conductor of the client’s financial and/or medical team. We have the pleasure of working with a wide range of other professionals in our efforts to manage our clients’ affairs, including attorneys, CPA’s, investment advisors, real estate professionals, insurance agents, doctors, other medical professionals, caregivers, and of course client family members and friends.

In a nutshell, our work is never dull.

We encourage you to visit our website, www.hansenpereira.com, as well as the Professional Fiduciary Association of California’s website, www.pfac\-pro.org, and the website of our licensing body, the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau, www.fiduciary.ca.gov, for more information on Professional Fiduciaries.

Job Title \& Description: Fiduciary Accountant \& Assistant

Full\-time position (30\-34 hours per week) available with established local fiduciary firm owned and managed by husband/wife team of professional fiduciaries. Looking for a detail\-oriented, personable, professional, and above all, highly ethical individual with accounting experience and a strong work ethic to join our active team in serving, supporting, and safeguarding the most vulnerable older adult and special needs members of our community.

Hours: 30\-34 hours per week (depending on demands of position), flexibility in weekday schedule Monday through Friday between hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM, plus possible additional time as may be needed during tax season, February 1st – April 15th.

Compensation: $24 \- $34/hour to start, depending on experience, education, and skillsets, with possibility of $26 \- $36/hour after 90\-day introductory period

Benefits: Sick leave, vacation, 10 paid holidays/year, 3% retirement plan match

Location: Old Town, Eureka – office is on second floor of beautifully\-restored historic building (without an elevator); abundant natural light and view, open office floor plan, separate kitchen/dining area, private restroom; company\-paid parking (roughly 3 blocks from office); short walk to waterfront and dining/shopping options (Co\-Op, Ramone’s, Los Bagels, Dick Taylor, and numerous other cafes, coffeehouses, bookstores, and boutiques).

Job Duties:

The Accountant \& Assistant is a critical support person for the firm’s fiduciaries in managing the financial affairs of the firm’s individual and entity cases. Tasks include but are not limited to review and processing of client payables and entry of same into QuickBooks; recording and delivering bank deposits; monthly bank/investment account reconciliations and bookkeeping for client accounts in QuickBooks; preparation of quarterly financial statement packets for clients; preparation of formal court and private trust accountings in Excel; review and respond to written correspondence from third parties; assistance with completion of client tax return organizers; assistance with management of personal and real property for client cases; assistance with processing contents of client homes in preparation for downsizing or sale; personal shopping/errands for clients (both online and locally); visits to and correspondence with older adult and/or special needs clients; filing; and other administrative, business development, and/or client\-related tasks as needed.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Educational/Professional Experience:

· Bachelor’s degree required \- degree in Business Administration, emphasis in Accounting preferred, will consider MBA or another undergraduate degree with minor in accounting

· Two years full\-time equivalent work experience in a bookkeeping, accounting, or financial reporting capacity preferred

· Proficiency in QuickBooks; Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word; and Adobe required

· Keyboarding/data entry, minimum typing speed of 50 words/minute required

· Professional or personal experience working with the older adult and/or special needs populations a plus

· Customer service experience a plus

Personality Traits \& Skillsets:

· Requires the highest level of personal integrity, honesty, and confidentiality

· Following integrity, highly attuned attention to detail is a must

· Exceptional organizational and communication skills (both written and verbal)

· Excellent interpersonal skills and a team\-player mentality

· Strong work ethic and commitment to the needs of the firm and its clients

· Ability to work independently and to “switch gears” if/when needed based on client/case or firm needs

· Willingness to work in both an office setting as well as the field (client homes, assisted or skilled nursing facilities, storage units, etc.)

· Innate desire to help others and high degree of compassion, sensitivity, and understanding toward others in regard to age, special needs, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religious preference

· Ability to remain professional in the face of possible unexpected and socially inappropriate statements from clients with atypical neuro functioning

· Due to extremely high level of legal and ethical duties owed to fiduciary clients, professionalism is of paramount importance, including but not limited to appropriate attire, language, decorum, and demeanor. Visible body art will be scrutinized (face/neck/hand tattoos, piercings, unnatural hair colors, etc.) to ensure adherence with professional image of the company as perceived by existing clients, general target market, other client service providers, and referral sources. Strong odors (body products, body odor, or tobacco/marijuana smoke) are unacceptable due to sensitivity of elderly and immunocompromised clients, and members of H\&P team.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to:

· Ascend and descend long stairwell of both historic office building and historic post office in Eureka

· Reach, unlock/lock, and collect mail from post office boxes located between one foot and six feet off the ground

· Assist physically\-challenged adults with transfers into/out of vehicles, buildings, chairs

· Lift up to 40 pounds

· Sit for extended periods of time but also perform more physical tasks when needed (boxing and carrying records up/down stairs and to/from storage, sorting through contents of a client’s home, etc.)

Other Requirements:

· Regular access to operational vehicle with current registration, current auto insurance, and valid driver’s license

· Due to immuno\-vulnerability of H\&P clientele, current vaccinations for COVID, seasonal flu, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), and DTaP (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) are required

Please submit a cover letter and resume to Lisa Hansen at lisa@hansenpereira.com (or via Indeed), including professional references. Applicants must be willing to submit to eventual background and credit checks.

Job Type: Full\-time

Pay: $24\.00 \- $34\.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Physical Setting:

• Office

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

• CDL (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Eureka, CA 95501 (Required)

Work Location: In person