Head of Trusts - Bury St Edmunds

Head of Trusts – Bury St Edmunds Job Details

• Location: Any location, with a requirement for one day a week in Bury St Edmunds.
• Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time
• Closing Date: 07 August 2026
• Salary: To be discussed on application
• Specific
  
  Hours:
  
  9:00 am – 5:00 pm (core). Flexible options available.

Our highly regarded specialist team works with clients on personal tax affairs and the administration of trusts. Our team removes the stress of completing annual accounts, tax returns, HMRC compliance and dealing with day‑to‑day requests from beneficiaries for funds.

We are looking for an experienced Tax Accountant to join our Tax and Trusts team, specifically to lead a team working on personal tax matters and estate and trust matters.

We would like you to have strong experience within personal tax accountancy matters across the board and be confident in working with private clients, executors and trustees. This will be an evolving role working alongside the wider team to grow our tax offering.

• Work as part of our Lifetime Planning team to provide proactive and strategic tax and trust compliance advice to our clients.
• Focus on the technical / advisory aspects of the role alongside the leadership and supervision of the team.
• Provide technical training of Trust & Tax members and the wider Lifetime Planning department as required.
• Promote and develop our Trust and Tax service.
• Engage in both external and internal business development – interaction with French Legal, Agriculture and Estates, Business, Residential and Family departments.
• Collaborate with our French Property Team regarding UK individuals with French properties and assets.
• Advise clients on income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax matters, including tax planning and mitigation.
• Advise clients on stamp duty land tax.
• Prepare tax returns for private clients, including 60‑day capital gains tax returns for disposals of residential property.
• Calculate tax liabilities and advise on payment of tax due under self‑assessment.
• Prepare estate accounts and manage the period of administration income and capital gains tax.
• Finalise a deceased individual’s lifetime tax affairs.
• Prepare annual trust accounts.
• Prepare self‑assessment trust tax returns.
• Prepare tax deduction certificates for our substantial portfolio of clients.
• Prepare inheritance tax forms as required for trusts.

• Management and supervision skills and experience.
• Experience in tax and trusts accounting matters.
• AAT, ATT, ACA, ACCA, or TEP qualification essential.
• Experience of complex estate and trust accounting.
• Experience of non‑resident and non‑domicile taxation.
• Knowledge and experience of UK taxation of individuals, estates and trusts.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent organisational and time‑management skills.
• Strong team playing skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.

• Opportunity to work within a professional legal environment.
• Supportive team culture.
• Professional development opportunities.

Ashtons Legal is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all communities and backgrounds.