Head Of Fiduciary

Stonehagefleming Hr; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious fiduciary services provider in Cape Town seeks a Head of Fiduciary to deliver expert advisory and legal services to ultra-HNW families. Responsibilities include managing client relationships, ensuring legal compliance in trusts and estates, and serving as the primary contact for client matters. The ideal candidate will have an LLB degree, be an admitted attorney in South Africa, and possess expertise in estate planning and fiduciary law.

Qualifications

• Proven track record advising HNW/ultra-HNW clients.
• Experience in trusts, estates & fiduciary law.
• Prior experience in a senior role in a fiduciary environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advisory and legal services to ultra-HNW families.
• Ensure compliance with South African legal and tax frameworks in trusts and estates.
• Serve as primary point of contact for HNW families.

Skills

Expertise in trusts

Estate planning knowledge

Strong legal drafting ability

Understanding of taxation

High integrity and trustworthiness

Client relationship management

Education

Law degree (LLB or equivalent)

Admitted Attorney in South Africa

Job description

Head of Fiduciary

OVERALL PURPOSE

Provide expert advisory, fiduciary, and legal services to ultra-HNW families regarding trusts, estate planning, wills, and related fiduciary matters.

Ensure clients' wealth and legacies are structured, preserved, and passed on according to their wishes and relevant law.

Fulfil the role of Expert Trustee for clients.

PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS & ACCOUNTABILITIES

Trust & Estate Planning

• Forming, structuring, and advising on trusts including tax implications and drafting of trust amendments.
• Reviewing and drafting of Wills.
• Reviewing and drafting of Trust Deeds and Letters of Wishes.
• Advising on estate planning strategies for HNW clients.
• Advising and establishment of philanthropic structures.

Fiduciary / Trustee Role

• Acting as independent trustee or adviser for families internationally.
• Ensuring fiduciary duties are met.

Legal Compliance & Governance

• Ensuring compliance with South African legal, tax, and regulatory frameworks in trusts and estates.
• Staying current with changes in trust law, estate law, taxation, curatorship rules, etc.
• Liaising with courts, regulatory bodies if needed.
• Understanding of foreign trusts and their interactions with South African trusts and wills.
• Drafting of basic legal agreements.

Client Leadership & Relationship Management

• Serving as primary point of contact for HNW families on their trust & estate matters.
• Managing expectations, communication, transparency.
• Coordination with other advisors (tax, investment, legal, financial planning).

Advisory & Strategic Input

• Developing strategic long‑term plans for preservation and transfer of wealth.
• Advising on cross‑jurisdictional considerations where relevant.
• Succession planning for families and their businesses.

Mentoring & Knowledge Transfer & Marketing

• Training, mentoring junior legal / trusts staff.
• Internal training sessions to wider client teams.
• Presenting at client events on areas of specialities.
• Documenting processes and precedents.
• Ensuring institutional knowledge is preserved.

KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Expertise in trusts, estate planning, wills, under South African law.
• Understanding of foreign trusts and interactions with South African trusts.
• Strong legal drafting ability.
• Deep understanding of taxation and legal compliance.
• High integrity, discretion, trustworthiness.
• Ability to manage multiple complex client relationships.

FAMILY OFFICE

• Head of Fiduciary (South Africa) – Strategic thinking, able to anticipate future issues.
• Excellent communication (legal & non‑legal), negotiation.
• Leadership / mentorship capacity.
• Proactive.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Law degree (LLB or equivalent) plus relevant commerce / tax background.
• Admitted Attorney in South Africa.
• Experience in trusts, estates & fiduciary law.
• Prior experience in senior role in a law firm or corporate fiduciary / trust & estate environment.
• Proven track record advising HNW / ultra‑HNW clients.

PERFORMANCE METRICS

• Quality and timeliness of trust & estate structuring work.
• Client satisfaction / retention.
• Compliance record (no legal / regulatory issues).
• Effectiveness of mentorship / knowledge transfer.
• Contribution to strategic family office goals (e.g. growth, cross‑jurisdiction service).