Estate Settlement Officer

U.S. Bank•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

The Estate Settlement Officer is primarily responsible for administering post-death settlement accounts when U.S. Bank serves in a fiduciary capacity. The role manages settlement activities to meet client needs and expectations, support timely and effective administration, and comply with applicable legal requirements, fiduciary standards, business-line policies, and internal procedures. The officer also assists with prospective and existing client opportunities involving potential post-death settlement matters, reviews matters for acceptance or refusal of a fiduciary role, and serves as a subject matter resource for colleagues. The role reviews and interprets trust agreements, wills, and other estate-planning documents when the bank acts as trustee, executor, administrator, conservator, guardian, depositor, or agent. It coordinates information among clients, external attorneys, and internal specialists to support accurate, timely, and efficient estate settlement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
Eight or more years of personal trust and/or estate-planning experience.

Nice To Haves

Advanced knowledge of estate settlement, gifting, income, estate and multi-generational taxation, and trusts.
Advanced knowledge of fiduciary services.
Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to make critical decisions independently.
Excellent writing, speaking, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

Administer probate estates, post-death trusts, and other post-death fiduciary relationships in accordance with the decedent’s objectives, governing documents, fiduciary principles, and beneficiaries’ best interests.
Plan and coordinate settlement activities by identifying required actions, assigning responsibilities to internal and external resources, and monitoring progress through completion.
Recognize and resolve trust, tax, banking, investment, and compliance issues under relevant laws and fiduciary responsibilities.
Meet regularly with family members and beneficiaries to provide information, address questions, and support effective administration.
Arrange for the collection, valuation, retention, liquidation, transfer, or distribution of estate and trust assets.
Coordinate the valuation, management, liquidation, or transfer of complex and specialty assets with internal and external subject matter experts.
Coordinate federal and state tax filings with internal tax experts and external professionals.
Identify fiduciary, operational, legal, tax, and reputational risks and implement mitigation strategies throughout the settlement process.
Manage relationships with beneficiaries, family members, attorneys, advisors, accountants, court personnel, and other interested parties in coordination with the internal relationship team.
Provide a high level of service to external parties involved in post-death settlement administration.
Ensure compliance with the U.S. Bank Code of Ethics and applicable Anti-Money Laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, information security, suspicious activity reporting, account opening, corporate training, and business-line requirements, policies, and procedures.
Review and interpret trust agreements, wills, and other estate-planning documents.
Assist with prospective and existing client opportunities involving potential post-death settlement matters, review matters for acceptance or refusal of a fiduciary role, and serve as a subject matter resource for colleagues.

Benefits

Healthcare benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Basic term and optional term life insurance.
Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Pregnancy disability and parental leave.
401(k) and employer-funded retirement plan.
Paid vacation of two to five weeks, depending on salary grade and tenure.
Up to 11 paid holiday opportunities.
Adoption assistance.
Sick and Safe Leave accruals of one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 80 hours per calendar year unless otherwise provided by law.
Incentive and recognition programs.
Equity stock purchase.
401(k) contribution and pension, subject to eligibility requirements.