Trust & Estates Manager

Churchgates brings together a unique and powerful combination of Accountants, Tax Advisers, Solicitors, Financial Planners, Investment Managers, and a dedicated team of operational support staff all under one roof. We believe in treating everyone with respect, and our culture reflects this through a friendly yet professional environment where traditional values still matter.

This role is based within the Tax Department at our Bury St Edmunds office and will focus predominantly on the private client sector as part of our Trusts and Estates team. The team advises families and individuals on the legal, compliance and tax aspects of Trusts and Estates, alongside providing bespoke advice on trust and tax structuring.

We are seeking an experienced Trust & Estates professional who can confidently manage their own workload to tight deadlines, demonstrates exceptional attention to detail, and is comfortable working with complex technical matters. Strong communication skills are essential, as is the ability to build trusted relationships with clients and colleagues. You will have considerable experience working with Trusts and be a natural fit for our collaborative, professional culture.

The role:

• Acting as a trusted adviser to clients, identifying advisory opportunities and ensuring clients’ tax positions are optimised while balancing their wider personal and family objectives.
• Preparing and reviewing ad hoc advisory reports and providing general advice for clients with Trusts and Estates.
• Providing trust technical support to the wider Tax Department and the firm as a whole.
• Managing your own portfolio of clients, ensuring compliance deadlines are met and a consistently high standard of client service is delivered, including attendance at meetings and handling written and verbal correspondence.
• Reviewing Trust & Estate self-assessment tax returns and personal tax returns, including related tax calculations, and dealing with all associated correspondence with clients, HM Revenue & Customs and third parties.
• Reviewing Trust & Estate Accounts prepared using the firm’s software (CCH Trust Accounts).
• Reviewing Inheritance Tax returns for Trusts and Estates.
• Taking on new clients via the firm’s website, email and telephone enquiries, as well as through marketing initiatives.
• Promoting the Trust department through publications, seminars and social media activity.
• Supporting, mentoring and training other members of the Trusts and Estates team.

Skills Required:

• A minimum of five years’ relevant experience working in Trusts and Estates.
• CTA and/or STEP qualification.
• Strong technical knowledge of Trusts, Estates and private client taxation, with the ability to interpret and apply complex legislation accurately.
• Sound commercial awareness, with an understanding of recoverability, WIP management and client service standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex trust and tax matters clearly to clients and professional intermediaries.
• A professional and confident client facing manner, capable of building long term trusted adviser relationships.
• Highly organised and methodical, with strong time management skills and a calm, pragmatic approach under pressure.
• A collaborative team player, able to work effectively with tax, accounts, legal and financial planning colleagues to deliver a joined up service.

What you will receive:

• 27 days holiday (excluding bank holidays).