Insights
7 ESSENTIAL SOFT SKILLS FOR A CAREER IN TRUST SERVICES
Victus Search, Multi-jurisdictional Recruitment Partner for Financial Services 310 310Read it in 3 minutes
Insights
Read it in 3 minutes
In pursuing a career within Trust and Fiduciary services, successful candidates need to strike a balance between essential qualifications and soft skills. Depending on the specific role, knowledge of trust management, estate planning, fiduciary oversight, tax, risk management or law is essential — but for employers recruiting in the sector, the differentiating factor for candidates often lies in the wider skillset that they bring to the table.
These skills enhance candidates’ attractiveness to employers, demonstrating their ability to navigate the complex relationships and high-pressure situations common to trust and fiduciary roles. In this article, we look at the seven most relevant soft skills for any candidate looking to make their mark in the trust and fiduciary sector.
In trust services roles, the ability to juggle multiple accounts while keeping track of priorities, reporting, and client needs is mission-critical. Exceptional organisational skills are needed to ensure that trust officers can manage their workload efficiently, and maintain consistently high standards of accuracy and reliability across their portfolio of client accounts.
The complexity of trust services often requires trust managers or officers to translate intricate financial information into easily understandable terms for beneficiaries and clients who may not be experts in the finer details of trust establishment and structuring. Mastery of both verbal and written communication is therefore vital for clarifying, persuading, and providing peace of mind to clients.
The fast-paced environment of trust services, characterised by competing priorities and demanding relationships, calls for a high degree of pressure tolerance. Professionals in this field must exhibit flexibility, resilience, and the capacity to maintain composure — even under considerable stress — to effectively meet the diverse needs of their clients.
Trust professionals must be able to navigate complex problems, evaluate opportunities, and assess risks with creativity and insight. Excellent analytical skills and an ability to think logically, evaluate options and make data-driven decisions are critical in order to protect and grow the assets under their management, ensuring clients’ interests are safeguarded.
Building and maintaining strong professional relationships — with clients, colleagues and other professionals — are a key part of any trust and fiduciary role. Empathy, responsiveness, and a deep understanding of client needs are fundamental to upholding client trust and delivering a personalised and proactive service.
Working within trusts, handling sensitive and confidential information is commonplace, and candidates need a well-developed understanding of both ethical boundaries and fiduciary duties. Trust officers must be able to demonstrate impeccable discretion and a firm commitment to ethical standards, ensuring they don’t take any action that could introduce liability or risk for their employers or clients.
Navigating conflicts, managing negotiations, and resolving disputes require a blend of diplomacy, tact, and negotiation skills. These abilities are essential to achieving favourable outcomes for clients while maintaining harmonious relationships between all parties — a crucial part of any trust role.
Understanding and honing these soft skills are just the first steps toward a successful career in trust and fiduciary services. Partnering with a recruitment specialist like Victus Search can further enhance your career prospects.
We offer a personalised service to candidates, taking the time to understand your unique skills mix and advising on the best fit in terms of available roles. If you’re considering your next move, or are actively seeking an opening within trust and fiduciary services, feel free to get in touch with us to discuss your options.
Whether you’re looking to fill a specialist role, or seeking the right position to deploy your unique skills and experience, the first step is to get in touch with one of our expert consultants.
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