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Private Client Accounts and Tax Manager (Trusts and Estates)

Russell-CookePutney, UK

30+ days ago

Job type

Full-time

Job description

Private Client Accounts and Tax Manager (Trusts and Estates)

Job Description

Hours

9.30am – 5.30pm

Department

Private Client

We are seeking a highly organised and professional individual to join our large and expanding Private Client team.

The Accounts and Tax Manager provides assistance to the lawyers in the Private Client team with tax advice and tax reporting for trusts and estates, including the preparation of detailed estate accounts and annual trust accounts.

This role does not include the provision of legal advice or legal work which is undertaken by the lawyers in the team - it is an accounting and tax role.

About you

We are looking for an ambitious individual who should ideally be at least 3+ years PQE with excellent academics, with a breadth of experience and a keen desire to develop their knowledge and practice.

The successful candidate should be highly motivated and be able to demonstrate expertise and experience in trust administration, accounting and taxation and estate administration, accounting and taxation.

Recent experience of working within a team, co-ordinating with multiple colleagues in private practice will be an advantage.

STEP qualification, accountancy and tax focused qualifications, such as ATT or CTA, will be strongly supported, if not already achieved.

Developing and maintaining excellent relationships with colleagues and with other professionals is central to this role. There is limited direct client contact in this role, as the lawyer with conduct of the matter will manage the client relationship.

About us

The Private Client team at Russell Cooke has a well-established reputation and broad experience over the entire sector. With offerings based in Putney, Kingston and Bedford Row, the whole team now numbers almost 60 people, led by 9 partners. The technical expertise in the team rivals many other Top 100 law firms.

The team policy is for all lawyers in the private client team to be STEP qualified and several are ATT / CTA dual qualified.

The team is well known for its Cross-Border expertise in international matters and includes a very long-standing dual qualified French / English team which assists clients with French property and private client matters, and a newly formed dual qualified Italian / English Law offering as well.

This role is based in our Putney office. Attendance at our other offices in Holborn (8 Bedford Row) and Kingston will depend on client need or meetings with referrers.

We have an agile working policy which includes working from home for up to 40% of working time each month.

Our client base is extremely varied. Russell Cooke is a full service law firm (17 areas of practice) and often legal advice is provided to clients collaboratively by several teams within the firm. Russell Cooke has a high reputation within the profession and is often instructed by other lawyers, including for their own personal affairs. Many lawyers are ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers directories.

Russell Cooke offers an excellent opportunity to join a stimulating work environment, working alongside friendly and supportive colleagues. The Private Client Team is client-focused in its approach and offers superb career development opportunities.

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The role

The work is predominantly accounting-based, yet will require some understanding of the tax treatment of estates, trusts and individuals. It will involve significant interaction with the Private Client team to ensure a complete service to clients. The work can be complex and will include analysis of property and share portfolios, discretionary trusts, life interest trusts, family wealth management, and also general tax and accounting advice on other specific matters.

We also assist with operating the firm’s trust company, Russell-Cooke Trust Company (RCTC), which acts as a professional executor, trustee and attorney.

There will also be elements of work involving the Trusts including assisting with the preparation of trust accounts, data entry, trust tax returns, trust administration and Trust Registration Service as required.

We are looking for a successor for our current Trust Accountant, so there will be an opportunity to develop this role and the private tax offering of the department and the firm.

Key Responsibilities and Duties include :

Main Duties :

Assisting lawyers in the Private Client team with the preparation of full and detailed estate accounts (in STEP format), estate tax returns and beneficiary income statements for multiple matters, many of which are complex

Preparing 60 day Capital Gains Tax (CGT) returns for estates and individuals

Preparing Non resident CGT returns

Co-ordinating tax payments and clearance for individuals, estates and trusts

Assisting with preparation of accounts information needed for Inheritance Tax form IHT100 returns for Trusts

Data input for estate and trust accounting of bank, brokers and dividend information into the firm’s pro-forma estate accounts and trust accounts

Reconciling to third party and internal accounts records

Monitoring of client funds

Contact with other professional advisors

Supporting the RCTC board of directors with reports on the estates and trusts which RCTC is executor and trustee and also an attorney

Updating Trust Registration Service accounts

Service Levels :

To provide a high quality service to all Russell-Cooke clients (within team and externally)

To develop and maintain good client and colleague relationship skills, being reliable and gaining confidence

Provide advice as requested in a timely manner, with excellent communication and time frames

Establishing what needs to be done to solve a client’s problems

Personal Development :

Develop this area of work to increase work for the wider team

Qualify into and maintain professional development in a professional body such as STEP

Support internal procedures and systems of Russell-Cooke including file and financial management

Participate in team meetings

Attend internal training and external training as and when required

Read journals and attend courses as part of continuing professional development

Maintain high standards of professional conduct while generating adequate practice income, ensuring that the fees earned sufficiently exceed total costs and expenses incurred

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications & Experience

We are looking for a candidate who wants to develop their professional skills and will work towards qualification of a relevant professional accounting or tax body and / or become a STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) member

Ideally, at least 3 years’ experience in a practical accountancy background

Highly numerate, IT literate, with excellent working knowledge of Excel. These are essential for the successful candidate

Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax practical knowledge

Previous experience of using CCH Personal Tax software, CCH Trust Accounts software or similar software is an advantage. These are used for management of long-standing trusts in the team and will be of use for tax returns and some aspects of estate accounting.

Motivation & Competencies

Evidence of interest in, and commitment to, the success of the firm.

Relevant experience within a professional services firm.

Understanding of and commitment to Russell-Cooke’s values and ethos which can be seen at

Excellent communication both written and verbal - the role involves liaison with internal and external people at a senior level

A self-starter, able to demonstrate high levels of initiative and motivation, but also work closely with other team members and displaying trust and loyalty

The successful candidate will be highly organised with an ability to manage assigned tasks in an assertive, efficient and timely manner whilst keeping all parties up to date on time frames

Good interpersonal skills, demonstrating professionalism in all dealings

Excellent attention to detail and a positive professional attitude

Must be able to multitask and keep calm under pressure

The flexibility to work outside normal office hours as may be required from time to time

Salary and benefits

We offer competitive salaries and generous benefits. Discretionary bonuses are awarded based on performance. Salary commensurate with experience and expertise.

We have a diverse workforce and aim to attract high calibre applicants who reflect the demography of our geographical location and client base. Individuals will be employed solely on merit and the requirement of the position. No applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, race, marital status, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender Identity or religion. Reasonable adjustments will be made to eliminate or reduce disadvantage.