Trust and Tax Manager

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Trust and Tax Manager to join their dynamic team in Cheltenham. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work closely with private clients, providing expert tax planning and trust management services. In a nurturing environment, you will manage your own caseload, collaborate with partners, and develop specialized expertise in trust and estate administration. The firm prides itself on delivering a premium service and fostering lasting client relationships. If you are passionate about tax and trusts and thrive in a supportive team atmosphere, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Experience in tax planning and trust management is essential.
• Strong understanding of trust accounts and taxation of trusts required.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload and client relationships effectively.
• Prepare trust accounts and tax returns, ensuring compliance.

Skills

Tax Planning

Trust Management

Client Relationship Management

Problem-Solving

Attention to Detail

Team Collaboration

Time Management

Education

STEP Qualification

Relevant Degree

Tools

Trust and Tax Software

MS Office (Excel, Word)

Job description

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Trust and Tax Manager to join our Trusts and Probate team in the Tax, Trusts and Succession group in Cheltenham.

We offer City work based in the beautiful Cotswolds with all that has to offer, working in a friendly and nurturing environment. The office size of just over 100 means that there is a strong sense of community and togetherness. With our other UK and international offices, your horizons for the work and clients you will get involved with are limitless, all from our Cheltenham office.

We are looking for a first-rate Trust and Tax Manager to work with the Firm’s private clients, working for a range of partners within the Tax, Trusts & Succession group. This is an opportunity for those looking to develop their careers within a friendly collegiate team that is widely recognised for its expertise in this area.

The team works closely with the Firm’s Private Property, Tax, Trusts and Succession teams across all of the UK offices and some international offices. We offer a dedicated personal service for our clients; we work hard to develop and build lasting relationships and truly get to know our clients to deliver a premium service.

The recruit will be working primarily with the Cheltenham office Partners and there will be an opportunity to work with other Partners in the wider Tax, Trusts & Succession group. The successful candidate will, therefore, develop broad experience in trust/estate administration and tax advice, whilst developing a more specialised expertise in the type of work that the team’s core client base requires.

We advise on every aspect of tax planning, at all levels of the team – and we strive for excellence and empower our colleagues to do so. Forming an integral part of the Tax, Trusts & Succession team, the Trust and Tax Manager will advise a range of UK clients on their tax planning.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Managing your own caseload, client relationships and engaging with all those that may be involved with any given matter, including trustees, beneficiaries and other advisers.
• Pro-actively managing your clients to ensure any tax-planning and/or succession planning issues are considered and acted upon when appropriate.
• Management of relationships between grant-making and applicant charities, dealing with prospective beneficiaries, drafting deeds and associated policies.
• Overseeing and contributing towards the timely preparation of trust accounts and tax returns including inheritance tax returns and dealing with HM Revenue and Customs as required.
• Calculating trustees’ liabilities to IHT, CGT and Income Tax and making use of annual exemptions.
• Preparing for, attending trustees’ meetings, and taking minutes of those meetings.
• Dealing with payments and distributions from trusts, both capital and discretionary income distributions.
• Activating investment reviews.
• Monitoring the performance of investment portfolios.
• Preparing and reviewing trustees’ investment policy statements.
• Reviewing and interpreting trust deeds and related documentation with input from the wider team, as appropriate.
• Keeping managers and partners regularly updated with progress on assignments and assisting with billing.
• Manage a substantial and varied workload efficiently and cost-effectively with supervision, appropriate to the level of expertise.
• Where appropriate, delegate, co-ordinate and supervise the work of more junior members of the team.
• Complying with all relevant regulatory obligations including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations, and Principles.

Person Specification

• A STEP qualification would be an advantage but is not essential.
• Good understanding of Trust Accounts is essential.
• A good understanding of the taxation of trusts is essential, to include calculation of trustees’ liabilities to IHT, CGT and Income Tax, and their interaction with personal taxes.
• Have experience working with computerised accounts and Trust and Tax software.
• Experience working in a similar role, or looking to move up to a more senior role.
• Possess excellent team working skills with the ability to collaborate with colleagues of all levels, including mentoring and guiding less experienced members of the team as required.
• Demonstrate good judgement and a good legal and commercial understanding of clients’ particular needs.
• Understand the scope of tasks, manage time effectively and perform well under time and work pressures.
• Take a ‘hands on’ approach to managing own files and a broad case load.
• Have a high degree of attention to detail.
• Have strong problem-solving skills.
• Be flexible and willing to undertake a wide variety of tasks.
• Be a pro-active team player, who is also highly self-motivated and able to work on their own initiative.
• Be able to build rapport with clients and develop an effective working relationship.
• Have excellent all-round IT skills, MS Office including Excel and Word.