Head of Trusts & Tax

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

Our specialist Wealth Protection team is experienced in managing and implementing the strategies required to safeguard our clients personal wealth and business assets. The team are renowned for providing the specialist knowledge needed for even the most sensitive of cases.

Our expertise ranges from the preparation of Wills and trusts, estate administration, inheritance tax and succession planning to legal advice concerning mental capacity issues, dealing with the Court of Protection and charity law matters. Our clients expect solutions that combine expertise, diligence and imagination to protect their assets and safeguard their wealth both short and long term.

Thoughtful and informed planning as well as professionally executed strategies are the hallmarks of the service provided by Shoosmiths' Wealth Protection team. They have proven expertise in advising high net worth individuals ranging from advising salaried professionals and high profile business leaders to stars of stage and screen, National Lottery winners, establishment figures and landed estates.

Shoosmiths are seeking to appoint a Head of Trusts & Tax to join our Wealth Protection team as part of an exciting period of growth. 

Please note, this role can be based in any of our English offices.

The Head of Trusts & Tax will have the following responsibilities:

• Overseeing the day-to-day administration of the Trusts & Tax team whose remit is to manage our trust portfolio on a day to day basis and whose responsibilities include payments to HMRC and beneficiaries, investment of trust funds, cash flow management, management of annual trust accounts and tax returns, FATCA registration and all HMRC and other necessary compliance tasks.
• Ensuring the Trusts & Tax team meet all deadlines on tax payments, income tax and inheritance tax return submissions and income / capital distributions to beneficiaries.
• Supervising the completion of the preparation and submission of annual tax returns of both in-house and external clients.
• Supervising the completion of the preparation and submission of any necessary inheritance tax returns of both in-house and external clients.
• On occasion, assisting with estate administration matters relating to tax or trusts including the preparation of estate accounts, trust accounts and estate tax returns.
• Providing tax advice and reports relating to trust matters and other estate planning when required including guidance and advice on all personal tax issues to clients, either directly or via colleagues in a supporting role.

In addition to the above, the Head of Trusts & Tax will utilise a number of different systems and protocols on a day-to-day basis and will also be responsible for identifying improvements to these systems. 

• Demonstrable experience of trust accounts and tax return preparation is essential.
• Demonstrable experience in managing team members is essential.
• Thorough understanding of general legal and taxation principles of trust administration and personal taxation. 
• Knowledge of SRA principles to ensure full compliance is preferable but in house training can be provided.
• To be considered you will have worked in a similar role advising clients with trust and tax matters where you will liaise with intermediaries such as stockbrokers, insurance brokers and land agents.
• As well as having a strong technical background, you should also be confident in client management and have the ability to build relationships easily with both new and existing clients.

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.