Tax and Trust Graduate Trainee

About Payne Hicks Beach

Payne Hicks Beach is a leading 43 partner firm based in offices at 10 New Square, Lincoln’s Inn.  In total the firm comprises approximately 220 staff.

Renowned for our expertise in private client, family, and contentious trusts work, we are consistently recognised in Chambers and The Legal 500 as one of the top boutique firms serving high‑net‑worth and ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals.

Our offices are located in one of the finest squares in London, a building which the firm has occupied since 1770.

More information about the departments and the work of the firm may be found on our website, the address of which is www.phb.co.uk.

The Private Client Department

The Private Client department has two sections, the legal section and the trust and tax section.  These two sections work closely together on our clients’ affairs so as to provide a seamless service.

The legal section comprises solicitors, legal executives and secretaries. There are currently eight partners, one senior professional support lawyer, six directors, three senior associates and seven associates, and legal executives and trainees.

The trust and tax section consists of nine qualified and unqualified trust and tax accountants and practitioners, including four chartered accountants and four chartered tax advisers, and two secretaries.

The Role

Your key duties will include, but will not be limited to;

• Scanning legal documents onto the computer system.
• Dealing with incoming post.
• Posting and reconciling accounting records.
• Assisting with tax computations and tax return preparation.
• Producing meeting papers for client meetings.
• Arranging the payment of invoices and the distribution of funds.
• Assisting with more complex cases on ad hoc assignments when called upon by tax and trust managers and solicitors in the private client department.

The Individual

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and attributes:

• strong academic record – university graduate with a minimum 2:1 degree classification, and a minimum of three Bs at A‑Level;
• excellent command of both spoken and written English and numeracy skills;
• experienced IT user with intermediate Excel skills;
• good administrative skills and attention to detail, and the ability to prioritise a workload;
• ability to work as part of a team or on their own;
• well organised and able to act with discretion when dealing with confidential information ;
• a good telephone manner and customer service skills; and
• a positive outlook, flexibility and appetite for taking on challenges

The Training

The successful candidate will be appointed a mentor and be trained by and primarily work under the supervision of various senior members of the trust and tax section.

The successful candidate would be expected to undertake the ATT qualification as soon as practicable following joining the firm. If eligible, the successful candidate may undertake the ATT/CTA Tax Pathway.

External training will be either for one day a week or on block release and be supplemented by private study, periodic assessments and on the job training.