Trust Lead

BCLMA; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Mental health support

Parental leave top-up

Health spending account

Generous vacation

Personal days

Team socials

Professional growth

Referral bonuses

Job summary

Clark Wilson LLP in British Columbia seeks a Trust Lead to oversee trust administration, financial controls, compliance, and client service requirements.

Reporting to the Controller, you will supervise trust receipts, payouts, transfers, stale-dated cheques, and tax reporting, coordinating with lawyers, accounting, banking, and auditors to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant trust transactions. We offer a comprehensive benefits package and salary range CAD 70,000–85,000.

Qualifications

• Experience in trust accounting or legal accounting (3–5 years).
• Experience processing trust transactions including receipts, payouts, transfers, cheques, and related documentation.
• Strong understanding of trust accounting practices, Law Society requirements, regulatory obligations, and internal controls.
• Post-secondary education in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage trust receipts and record transactions accurately.
• Review and file supporting documentation for trust transactions.
• Monitor unclaimed trust funds and resolve items with lawyers/assistants.
• Administer stale-dated cheques, obtain instructions, reverse transactions, and issue replacements.
• Process trust fund transfers between pooled and invested accounts with required approvals.
• Manage daily trust transfers to settle bills and maintain accurate records.
• Process trust payouts by cheque and wire, ensuring forms and approvals are complete.
• Coordinate electronic fund transfers with lawyer approvals and EFT documentation.
• Process trust transfers between clients and matters, including USD/CAD currency conversions.
• Administer invested trust savings accounts and post monthly interest.
• Coordinate annual T3 and T5 tax reporting for clients.
• Provide vacation coverage for trust-related transactions.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication

Teamwork

Independent work

Education

Accounting/Finance degree

Tools

CMS portals & banking portals

Job description

Who We Are

Clark Wilson LLP is a leading, innovative law firm in British Columbia. For over 100 years, we’ve proudly advised clients on a comprehensive range of legal issues and with over 200 professionals serving some of the most recognizable brands in the world, we’ve built a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and excellence.

As leaders in our markets, we continue to grow by fostering strong relationships, delivering exceptional service, and empowering our people to succeed. We are consistently recognized for our professional achievements, and we take pride in creating a workplace where people enjoy coming to work every day.

How You’ll Help Us Better Service Our Clients

The Trust Lead supports the Firm’s trust administration, financial controls, compliance, and client service requirements, ensuring trust transactions are processed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with applicable legislation, Law Society requirements, and Firm policies.

Reporting to the Controller, this role is responsible for overseeing and coordinating day-to-day trust activities, including trust receipts, payouts, transfers, stale-dated cheques, invested trust accounts, and related tax reporting. The Trust Lead works closely with lawyers, Legal Administrative Assistants, Accounting, banking representatives, and internal and external auditors to ensure trust transactions are properly authorized, documented, recorded, and completed within required timelines.

This role serves as a key resource for trust administration within the Firm, providing guidance on processes and requirements, identifying and escalating potential risks or discrepancies, and supporting consistent and compliant practices.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Manage trust receipts by processing retainer and non-retainer funds received through wire transfers, cheques, credit cards, and direct deposits, ensuring transactions are accurately recorded and appropriately documented.
• Review and maintain supporting documentation for trust transactions and ensure records are complete, accurate, and properly filed.
• Monitor and follow up on unclaimed trust funds, working closely with lawyers and legal assistants to resolve outstanding items.
• Administer stale-dated cheques, including obtaining instructions from responsible lawyers, reversing transactions in the case management system, coordinating stop payments with the bank, and issuing replacement cheques.
• Process trust fund transfers between pooled and invested trust accounts, including preparing Letters of Direction, obtaining required approvals and signatures, and coordinating transactions with banking representatives.
• Manage daily trust transfers required to settle outstanding bills and maintain accurate trust account records.
• Process trust payouts by cheque and wire transfer, ensuring all required forms, approvals, signatures, and supporting documentation are complete and compliant with applicable requirements.
• Coordinate electronic fund transfers, including obtaining appropriate lawyer approvals and ensuring Law Society EFT documentation is properly completed.
• Process trust transfers between clients and matters, including coordinating USD/CAD currency conversions and ensuring all transactions are accurately documented and recorded.
• Administer invested trust savings accounts, including organizing monthly bank statements and accurately posting interest to client files.
• Coordinate annual T3 and T5 tax reporting, including collecting, organizing, and distributing tax forms to and from clients.
• Coordinate and process trust-related transactions for projects, ensuring transactions are completed accurately and within required timelines.
• Provide vacation coverage for trust-related transactions and responsibilities as required to support continuity of operations.

Education and Experience

• 3–5 years of relevant experience in trust accounting, legal accounting, financial administration, or a related function, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Demonstrated experience processing trust transactions, including receipts, payouts, transfers, cheques, wire transfers, and related documentation.
• Strong understanding of trust accounting practices, applicable Law Society requirements, regulatory obligations, and internal controls.
• Post-secondary education in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Proficiency in using CMS and banking portals.
• Strong understanding of trust regulations and procedures.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

We recognize that experience can come in different forms. If this opportunity interests you but you don’t meet every qualification, we still encourage you to apply.

The Exciting Extras

The expected salary range for this role is likely to be between $70,000 and $85,000, with the final salary determined based on the successful candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and internal equity.

In addition, we provide a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you at work and outside of work, including:

Health and Wellness Coverage:Medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, paramedical services, mental health supports, life insurance, and emergency medical coverage while travelling.

Mental Health and Wellbeing:Access to mental health practitioners and wellness supports through our benefits plan and Health and Wellness Spending Account.

Pregnancy and Parental Leave Support:Top-up benefits to 100% of salary for a portion of your leave.

Health and Wellness Spending Account:Flexible coverage you can use in the way that works best for you, from fitness classes and wellness supports to pet care expenses.

Time Away:Generous vacation, along with five personal days each year.

Community and Culture:Weekly socials, team-building events, Employee Appreciation Week, and opportunities to give back through firm-supported initiatives.

Professional Growth:Training, resources, and opportunities to support your continued development.

Referral Program: Bonuses for successful employee referrals.

Clark Wilson LLP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Diversity, inclusion, and respect are fundamental to our culture—we don’t just celebrate them, we rely on them to drive innovation, foster belonging, and grow together.

To learn more about what it’s like to work at Clark Wilson, visit our Careers Page

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.