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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Inheritance Analyst

💰 $45,000 - $70,000

LegalEstate AdministrationProbateFinancial ServicesCompliance

🎯 Role Definition

The Inheritance Analyst is a specialist who supports executors, solicitors and trustees by administering estates from death to distribution. This role blends legal and financial work: assessing wills, preparing probate applications, valuing and locating assets, calculating inheritance tax (IHT), producing estate accounts, managing beneficiary communications, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and tax authorities. The role requires strong investigative skills, meticulous record-keeping, and the ability to explain complex technical matters to non-specialists.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Paralegal / Probate Assistant
  • Junior Estate Administrator or Trust Administrator
  • Financial Services analyst with exposure to estate or tax work

Advancement To:

  • Senior Inheritance Analyst / Probate Manager
  • Estate & Trust Manager or Fiduciary Specialist
  • Probate Team Lead / Head of Estates
  • Solicitor specialising in Probate or Tax (with legal qualifications)

Lateral Moves:

  • Probate Paralegal in Private Practice
  • Trusts & Estates Accountant
  • Estate Planning Advisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Manage the end-to-end administration of estates: open files, verify death and identity, compile wills and codicils, and obtain grant of probate or letters of administration where required.
  • Prepare, review and submit probate applications, including sworn affidavits, inheritance tax forms and probate registry documents; liaise with the court/probate registry to resolve queries and obtain grants.
  • Calculate inheritance tax (IHT) liabilities and exemptions accurately, prepare IHT forms and schedules, and coordinate payment arrangements or clearance with tax authorities.
  • Conduct full asset and liability investigations: identify and value bank accounts, investments, pensions, property, business interests, personal effects and overseas assets using valuations, market research and third-party enquiries.
  • Prepare detailed estate inventories and valuations, sourcing external valuers where necessary (property, antiques, art, shares) and document valuation methodologies and evidence for auditors and HMRC/IRS.
  • Liaise with beneficiaries and executors: explain processes and timelines, manage expectations, obtain beneficiary instructions, and resolve entitlement queries with empathy and clarity.
  • Prepare and reconcile estate accounts, detailing receipts, disbursements, administration expenses, tax liabilities and proposed distributions; present accounts to executors and beneficiaries.
  • Coordinate payment of debts, funeral expenses, creditor claims and ongoing liabilities in line with statutory obligations and estate priorities.
  • Trace missing beneficiaries and next-of-kin using genealogical research, public records, credit reference databases and professional tracing services; document all search steps for compliance.
  • Interact with banks, financial institutions, insurance providers and pensions administrators to freeze, release or transfer assets; prepare supporting documentation to satisfy KYC/AML requirements.
  • Complete AML/KYC checks on executors, trustees and beneficiaries, escalate suspicious activity, and keep accurate onboarding and verification records.
  • Prepare and manage tax returns and correspondence with tax authorities (HMRC, IRS or local authority equivalents) including estate tax, capital gains considerations and clearance certificates where required.
  • Coordinate sale or transfer of estate property and significant assets: liaise with real estate agents, surveyors, solicitors and liquidation partners to maximize net value and obtain authority to sell.
  • Draft legal correspondence, letters of administration, distribution schedules, deeds of variation and other statutory documents under guidance, ensuring legal accuracy and adherence to firm policies.
  • Maintain case files and system records (case management systems, CRM and document repositories) with clear audit trails, supporting documentation and version control.
  • Monitor and manage complex and high-value or contested estates, collaborating with legal counsel to address disputes, contested wills, creditor challenges and family provision claims.
  • Prepare and present regular status reports, timelines and estate performance metrics to internal stakeholders, line managers and client executors.
  • Apply professional judgement to recommend tax-saving strategies (e.g., reliefs, transfers, deceased spouse exemptions) where appropriate and escalate complex tax planning to senior advisers.
  • Ensure statutory deadlines and limitation periods are met for probate applications, tax filings and distributions; proactively manage risks to the estate and stakeholders.
  • Support probate litigation matters by compiling evidence, statements, schedules of assets and chronological case documentation for legal teams.
  • Reconcile and close estate matters: obtain approvals for final distributions, prepare indemnity forms or release letters, and archive files in line with retention policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Undertake cross-border estate coordination: manage foreign asset reporting, liaise with overseas lawyers and tax advisors, and ensure compliance with double taxation treaties or local probate regimes.
  • Implement process improvements, standard operating procedures and templates to simplify estate administration and reduce cycle times while maintaining regulatory compliance.
  • Train and mentor junior administrators and paralegals on probate processes, case management tools and best practices for estate valuations and beneficiary communications.
  • Escalate complex legal or tax issues promptly to senior legal counsel or tax specialists and support their investigations with full documentation and case histories.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to estate metrics, case throughput and tax exposures to help senior management make data-driven decisions.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap by feeding back on probate system capabilities, reporting gaps and automation opportunities.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering or product requirements for case management systems and reporting tools.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering or digital transformation team to prioritize probate automation initiatives.
  • Assist in quoting and budgeting for third-party valuations, probate fees and external counsel costs; monitor spend against estate budgets.
  • Maintain ongoing communication with relationship managers and financial advisors to coordinate estate-related investment instructions or custodial transfers.
  • Support client onboarding for new executor engagements: set up new client files, run conflict checks and ensure client care letters and authority forms are issued promptly.
  • Participate in internal and external audits by preparing requested documents, reconciliations and explanations of estate handling and tax computations.
  • Contribute to marketing and client education by drafting FAQ documents, client guides and staff training materials on probate timelines and inheritance tax basics.
  • Take part in continuous professional development and regulatory updates, ensuring estates team remains current with changes in probate law, tax rules and compliance requirements.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • In-depth knowledge of probate and estate administration processes, including grant of probate, letters of administration and estate winding-up.
  • Practical expertise with inheritance tax rules (IHT) and estate tax calculations for the relevant jurisdiction (e.g., HMRC IHT forms or IRS estate tax processes).
  • Experience preparing estate accounts, distribution schedules, tax returns and reconciliations to statutory standards.
  • Asset valuation skills across asset classes (residential/commercial property, investments, pensions, business interests, valuables) and working with external valuers.
  • Proficiency in genealogical and beneficiary tracing techniques, including use of public record searches, archival sources and online tracing tools.
  • Familiarity with case management and document management systems used in probate teams (e.g., Lighthouse, Osprey, Expert Systems, or proprietary platforms).
  • Strong Excel skills: pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, financial modelling, reconciliations and data validation for estate accounting.
  • Knowledge of AML/KYC procedures, client identification, source-of-funds documentation and suspicious activity reporting related to estates.
  • Experience liaising with banks, insurers, pension providers, HMRC/IRS and other third parties to obtain asset information and tax clearances.
  • Understanding of trust structures, powers of attorney, deeds of variation and their impact on estate distribution.
  • Basic legal drafting: preparing probate applications, correspondence with beneficiaries, and formal notices with accuracy and legal clarity.
  • Ability to manage multi-jurisdictional estate issues, international tax treaties and cross-border asset recovery or probate recognition processes.
  • Comfortable working with financial reporting packages and practice management software; ability to learn new systems quickly.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy when handling legal documents, tax computations and financial reconciliations.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills to explain complex legal and tax information to executors and beneficiaries with sensitivity.
  • High level of empathy, discretion and confidentiality when dealing with bereaved clients and sensitive personal data.
  • Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills to resolve creditor claims, beneficiary disagreements and third-party delays.
  • Effective time management, prioritization and organizational skills to meet statutory deadlines and client expectations.
  • Problem-solving mindset and resilience when dealing with contested estates, missing assets or incomplete documentation.
  • Team-oriented with the ability to mentor juniors, work with solicitors and coordinate cross-functional teams (tax, real estate, claims).
  • Commercial awareness and commitment to delivering value for clients while protecting estate assets and minimizing tax leakage.
  • Ethical judgement and professional integrity in handling client funds, reporting obligations and conflict-of-interest situations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Strong candidates may have a diploma in paralegal studies, finance, accounting or similar.

Preferred Education:

  • Degree in Law, Accounting, Finance or Business.
  • Professional qualifications or accreditation in probate, trust administration, paralegal practice, or tax (e.g., STEP, CILEX, ACA, ATT) are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Law
  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Estate & Trust Management
  • Paralegal Studies
  • Forensic/Investigative Studies

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2–5 years of hands-on experience in probate, estate administration, trust accounting or related legal/financial roles.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years managing complex or high-value estates, direct experience completing IHT returns and probate applications, and a track record of handling cross-border estate matters or contested wills.
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