Private Client Estate Administrator

Higgs LLP; Brierley Hill; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A law firm in Brierley Hill seeks an Associate to manage estate administration files. Responsibilities include client interaction, preparation of tax returns, and ensuring compliance with legal standards. Candidates should have excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and a desire to learn, with a STEP qualification being advantageous but not essential. The role offers the opportunity to work autonomously while engaging with a supportive team in a full-time capacity.

Qualifications

• Experience in estate administration including IHT returns.
• Ability to prepare estate accounts and engage with clients.
• Good working knowledge of the Probate Registry systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of estate administration files.
• Engage with clients via various communication methods.
• Prepare relevant IHT returns and maintain estate accounts.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Initiative

Education

STEP qualification or intention to pursue

Tools

Microsoft Office

Inland Revenue systems

Job description

About Higgs

We are an energetic, stable law firm where long-term relationships, community, reputation, partnership and balance matters.Our future strategy is built on a set of three strategic principles: Our clients, Our People, Our Way.

When it comes to our people, the team is everything at Higgs – an environment of sharing and collaboration, and a real sense of loyalty to each other and the firm.That is coupled with a desire for everyone to learn and develop.We are always striving to be better.We enjoy what we do. We are genuinely interested in our clients and want them to feel a part of the firm too.

Our approach to our people draws on enjoyment, health & wellbeing, developing talent, technical excellence, training, reward and recognition.

When recruiting, we:

• Value enthusiasm and personality
• Want to be an employer of choice for talented, driven and client-focused people
• Are always looking for the very best to strengthen our team and bring new skills and ideas
• Integrate new people to realise their potential

Overview

To take responsibility for a varied caseload of estate administration files to include taxable and non-taxable estates.

Key responsibilities

• A good understanding of the process of estate administration
• Ability to engage with clients by telephone, email and face to face meetings
• Preparation of all relevant IHT returns, to include IHT205, IHT400 and IHT421
• A good working understanding of relevant inheritance tax allowances to include the nil rate band and the transferable nil rate band.Experience in business relief and agricultural relief are also desirable but not essential.The ability to handle estates that are often high in value and that include trust structures e.g. discretionary wills, nil rate band wills and life interest trust wills.
• A working understanding of will validity and interpretation (with assistance provided on complex matters from the Private Client, wealth team)
• Maintenance and preparation of estate accounts
• Ability to interact with external advisers e.g. accountants and tax advisers
• Experience of administering estates where a trust corporation acts as Executor is desirable but not essential
• Confident to take and exercise initiative to ensure responsibility for the completion of an estate administration file
• The ability to work autonomously but also alongside more senior fee earners in the team and to engage with a number of more junior members to include paralegal level
• Good working knowledge of the Probate Registry systems
• Good working knowledge of Inland Revenue processes and procedures

Person specification

• Good communication, organisational and team skills, good attention to detail and strong on numbers
• Flexible and dependable, able to take the initiative
• Able to remain calm under pressure and work to tight deadlines, conscientious, approachable and enthusiastic
• Able to quickly build confidence, respect and trust with others

Technical knowledge

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products
• Excellent all round IT skills
• STEP qualification an advantage but not essential or a desire to work towards a STEP qualification or an equivalent

Seniority level

• Associate

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Administrative and Legal

Industries

• Legal Services and Law Practice