Trust Assistant Manager/Manager

Mercer & Hole; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercer & Hole is looking for an experienced professional to join their Trust Team in Greater London. The role involves managing a portfolio of UK resident trusts, ensuring compliance, and delivering advisory services on matters like inheritance tax and wealth preservation.

The ideal candidate will be ACA, CTA, or STEP qualified with 3-5 years of experience in trust accounting and tax reporting within a private client environment. Opportunities to train junior staff are included in this position.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5 years experience in private client department of accountancy or legal practice.
• Experience in trust accounting and tax reporting is essential.
• Some experience with family offices and high net worth families is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Manage a mixed portfolio of UK resident trust clients and oversee annual compliance work.
• Prepare and assist on advisory work related to trusts.
• Liaise with clients and HMRC regarding trust affairs.
• Train and develop junior staff through mentoring.

Skills

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Initiative

Computer skills (Word, Excel)

Education

ACA, CTA or STEP qualified

Tools

CCH Trust Accounts

CCH Personal Tax

CCH Practice Management System

Job description

Main function of job

Become a key member of our Trust Team looking after and managing the accounting, administration, and tax affairs of UK resident trusts. The work is varied and high quality and there is also the opportunity to become involved with non-UK resident trusts, estates, and personal tax, if desired. The role will also involve assisting on the delivery of advisory work.

Responsibilities

• Responsibility for a mixed portfolio of UK resident trust clients and the annual compliance work, including trust accounts and self‑assessment tax returns.
• Assisting senior staff on the delivery of advisory work, which will include the preparation of reports on matters such as IHT planning, succession planning and wealth preservation, and trust restructuring.
• Preparation and attendance at both existing and potential new client meetings.
• Correspondence and liaison with clients, co‑professionals and HMRC, including promptly dealing with routine correspondence received in connection with those clients.
• Prioritising and organising own work to ensure a consistently high standard of client care and to meet both client and HMRC deadlines through working independently and taking initiative in dealing with clients’ affairs.
• Training and development of junior members of staff, through mentoring and delegating, and reviewing work.

Equipment used

• A working knowledge of CCH Trust Accounts and CCH Personal Tax would be advantageous, but training will be provided. The firm uses CCH Practice Management System.

Qualifications and experience required

• ACA, CTA or STEP qualified
• The successful candidate is likely to have at least 3-5 years of experience of working within the private client department of an accountancy or legal practice, with experience of trust accounting and tax reporting.
• Some experience of working with family offices, landed estates and high net worth families would be advantageous but not essential.

Particular aptitudes / skills required

• Ability to work as part of a team with minimal supervision, and to support the development of junior members of the team.
• Takes care to produce reliable work to a high standard with a keen eye for detail.
• Organised and able to manage a portfolio of clients, ensuring that all deadlines are met.
• Shows initiative and independently seeks to resolve issues faced.
• Motivated and resilient with a positive outlook, and a willingness to learn and develop.
• Good computer skills including a sound knowledge of Word and Excel.