Private Client Estates Manager

Higgs LLP; Brierley Hill; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Higgs LLP is looking for an Estate Manager to join their Private Client department. This role involves managing a diverse caseload of estate administration, preparing IHT returns, and working alongside clients and advisers. The ideal candidate should demonstrate strong communication and organisational skills while managing high value estates. Additionally, Higgs promotes hybrid working and values diversity and inclusion within their workforce.

Qualifications

• Good understanding of estate administration processes.
• Experience with IHT returns and inheritance tax allowances.
• Ability to handle high value estates involving trust structures.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for a varied caseload of estate administration files.
• Prepare relevant IHT returns and maintain estate accounts.
• Interact confidently with external advisers.

Skills

Communication

Organisational

Team Skills

Self-Management

Initiative

Job description

To forge long-term relationships that have a positive impact on our people, our clients, our business partners, and our community.

Our Commitment to Our People

We do not think there is a magic formula to the Higgs culture. The key is to listen to and respect our people. If we take care of our people and our people take care of our clients, then everything we want as a firm will take care of itself. We are friendly and open to new ideas.

Our Core Values

Higgs core values are “CLEAR” – Care, Legacy, Excellence, Authenticity, Relationships

Role Purpose

• To join the Private Client department as an estate manager in the Estates team. 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
• Preparation of all relevant IHT returns
• 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
• Confident to take and exercise initiative to ensure responsibility for the completion of an estate administration.
• 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

• Personal effectiveness and self-management
• Good communication, organisational and team skills
• Flexible and dependable, able to take the initiative
• Able to remain calm under pressure and work to tight deadlines
• Able to quickly build confidence, respect and trust with others

What You Need to Know

Higgs offers hybrid working wherever possible. Our Higgs’ Best FIT (flexible, inclusive, together) principles are designed to ensure that people can complete their best work from the most appropriate location. If you are looking to work flexibly then let us know and we will do what we can to accommodate your request.

We encourage a ‘dress for your diary’ approach which means dressing in a manner appropriate for your schedule or the specific appointments you have on any given day.

As charter signatories to The Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Charter, Higgs are committed to developing a diverse business by engaging with the widest pool of talent. We recognise this is an ongoing journey and regularly monitor our figures which can be viewed here .