Job Description

Competition # : 37139

Department: Office of the Public Trustee

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 11/11/2022 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Public Trustee of Nova Scotia is independent of government. It is set up as a corporation to protect the financial and personal well-being of its clients, and offers a wide range of unique services.

The Public Trustee is committed to the proper administration of estates of deceased persons, incompetent persons, children, and missing persons. It is also committed to provide informed consents for health care, placement to a continuing care home or home care services using an approach that is client-centred, respectful of human rights and freedoms, and in the client's best interests if prior wishes, values, and beliefs are not known.

About Our Opportunity

As the Trust Officer, you will report to Director of Trust Services and will be responsible for the management and administration of assigned estates of deceased persons, incompetent persons and trusts for adults, minors and custodianships. You will pro-actively administer the assigned accounts in accordance with the terms of governing documents and relevant legislation in an efficient, accurate and timely fashion to ensure seamless delivery of quality client service. In this role, you will identify and implement a proactive approach to account administration (according to client needs) and will seek out, develop and implement innovative solutions for client service and financial performance which are consistent with trust law and the procedures established by the Public Trustee Office.

Primary Accountabilities

As a Trust Officer, you will be responsible for-

• Conducting preliminary interviews with heirs-at-law, beneficiaries, relatives, social workers, medical staff, lawyers, bankers, stockbrokers, etc. ascertaining and determining various estate assets, liabilities, and incomes.
• Obtaining necessary estate appraisals to determine acceptable evaluations for court inventories, Revenue Canada, insurance coverage, auction sales, real estate sales, etc.;
• Ensuring all tax returns are prepared on a timely basis.
• Monitoring the cash flow daily to ensure availability of funds required to meet expenses and investments.
• Assisting staff solicitors or outside legal representative in obtaining any required information.
• Ensuring the timely filing and renewal of applications or reports.

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this opportunity, you have a Bachelor's degree (in a related field such as Business or Commerce) with five (5) years of administrative experience with estate, trust and guardianship accounts. An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered.

Working knowledge of accounting, budgeting, investments, income tax and personal trust administration is required. In addition, you must be knowledgeable of community services, programs, acts, legislation and trust law regarding the elderly, incompetent and deceased estates and infant trusts.

Furthermore, you have excellent organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and multitask under pressure while meeting deadlines associated with taxation, estate administration and audit requirements. You have effective verbal, written and electronic communication skills working effectively with clients and staff. Your sound judgement and decision-making abilities gives you the ability to work with minimal supervision.

The following are considered assets:

• Designation of Trust Officer or the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation through the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
• MTI Estate and Trust Professional designation issued by the Canadian Securities Institute
• Successful completion of the Canadian Securities course
• Previous experience and/or the ability to deal with sensitive/complex personal and family dynamics, the grieving process and conflict
• Knowledge of Public Trustee Act

We will assess the above qualifications using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

Equivalencies include, but not limited to-

• Bachelor's and a Master's Degree (in a related field such a Business or Commerce) with 3 years of administrative experience with estate, trust and guardianship accounts
• Minimum 9 years of administrative experience with estate, trust and guardianship accounts

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and Union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click to learn more about our various benefits offering and eligibility criteria.

Working Conditions

• The nature of this work is at times stressful and emotionally charged.
• This work requires the ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Information

This competition is to fill a Permanent employment opportunity based in Halifax.

This is a re-post of Competition 36667 and candidates who applied earlier need not apply again.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• countless career paths.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.

Pay Grade: PR 13

Salary Range: $2,469.30 - $3,001.65 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.