WSJ seeks a personal finance reporter to cover death and taxes

The Wall Street Journal’s Personal Finance bureau seeks an ambitious reporter to turn Benjamin Franklin’s two great inevitabilities – death and taxes – into one new beat.

These themes are closely related: Taxes are where money meets its maker. The biggest bill most Americans pay every year is the tax bill. Policy changes, life and cultural changes ensure that navigating taxes will always be confounding, making this a ripe subject for vital service journalism.

As for death, how we plan for and reckon with the end looms over money decisions big and small, from our passions and pursuits, to insurance, healthcare, wills and estates. The largest wealth transfer in history is underway, and whether one inherits a huge windfall or inherits the wind, every will is a Shakespearean drama in miniature.

This reporter will approach the beat not simply as a financial adviser or a CPA would, but with an interdisciplinary eye and heart that explores the cultural, spiritual, philosophical, and psychological dimensions of a subject that only partially plays out financially.

This beat is an opportunity to tell distinctive stories that help people navigate challenges at every life stage. The goal is to change the way people talk and think about money and life, to use words, video, audio, and charts to produce unique and useful journalism that aids readers’ pursuit of richer lives for themselves and their loved ones.

You will:

• Jump on news and spot story angles and trends that keep us ahead of the competition.
• Write frequently, pursuing long, medium and short-term stories, often collaborating with other reporters in our newsroom.
• Be part of an innovative, nimble bureau that forges tight connections with its audience.
• Have opportunities for experimentation and participate in a range of off-platform activities, from podcast interviews to live events to Twitter videos.

You have:

• A passion for spotting the great story angles others pass by, discovering surprise and wonder in texts as dry as the instructions for Form 1040.
• A track record of producing rigorous, readable journalism in personal finance
• A fanatical devotion to accuracy and detail.

While you will likely start remotely, the job is based in New York or Washington D.C. and reports to the Personal Finance bureau chief. To apply, please submit your resume, a cover letter explaining how you would approach the job and examples of your work.

To apply, go here.