Estate Manager (2 openings)

The general salary range for this position is  $70,000-$83,000. Salary offers will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, skills, training and education.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s most effective animal protection organization, is seeking two (2) Estate Managers for the Office of the General Counsel. In this position you will provide day-to-day management and administration of the organizations and affiliates’ portfolio of active estates and trusts, which are subject to an annual review by outside auditors.

You will be responsible for:
• Preparing and processing initial contact correspondence and responding to routine requests for information.  Reviewing receipts, releases, refunding bonds, claim forms, etc., requesting additional information, correcting errors, and/or making/suggesting revisions.  Completing document(s), securing appropriate signature(s), add attachments, if any, and return originals.  Monitoring estate/trust activity from notification through closure;
• Reviewing and analyzing estate documents, including wills, trusts, notices, petitions, pleadings, correspondence, insurance/annuity claim forms, accountings, etc., to determine the organization’s and/or affiliates’ interests and potential receivables.  Requesting additional information from executors, trustees, attorneys, etc., as necessary. Identifying any potential issues and informing Senior Associate General Counsel;
• Partnering with other team members, assisting with opening new initial files, including ROI database file.  Assisting with organizing and managing estates administration and bequest income records and files and updating ROI database as necessary;
• Drafting responses for non-routine estates and trusts-related matters for review by Senior Associate General Counsel;
• Assisting Estate Assistant and/or the Planned Gifts and Estates team with preparing and processing weekly deposits.  Reporting required information to the CFO, GC, Accounting Department, and/or other departments or affiliates.  Assisting Senior Estate Manager with report(s) to CEO, CFO, GC, and Accounting Department as requested;
• Assisting with reviewing and responding to internal inquiries to determine if checks received and/or deposited are from an estate, trust, annuity, etc.;
• Assisting Senior Estate Manager in the preparation of biannual certifications and Corporate Authorization for the organization and each affiliate. Assisting Senior Estates Manager with coordination of matters related to annual review by outside auditors;
• Assisting with departmental staff training;
• Performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned. 

Qualifications and Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, formal paralegal training, or equivalent work experience required;
• A minimum of seven (7) years’ experience in a law firm, nonprofit or corporate legal office, bank or trust department dealing with a very large and complex workload required;
• Proven ability to interpret wills, trusts, notices, petitions, pleadings, correspondence, telephone calls, emails, etc., to determine HSUS’s and/or its affiliates’ interest;
• Excellent, comprehensive understanding of probate and estate administration procedures;
•  Ability to recognize and highlight areas of concern in wills, trust documents, probate pleadings, and estate administration documents and report to Senior Associate General Counsel;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of matters being handled, including financial and tax information, and to use the utmost discretion in carrying out duties;  
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as the ability to handle complex situations and demonstrate sound judgment and problem-solving;
• Demonstrated ability to be proactive and self-motivated in completing assigned responsibilities;
• Organizational, project, and priority management skills for planning, executing, and following up on issues, projects, and daily responsibilities to meet established deadlines;
• Attention to detail and commitment to excellence demonstrated by the delivery of quality and timely outcomes;
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple and often changing priorities and issues of varying complexity, while meeting time sensitive deadlines and deliverables;
• Must be highly organized, have extraordinary attention to detail, and able to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision;
• Ability to confidentially manage several priorities daily, be adaptable, creative, self-motivated, discrete, and accommodate frequent changes in priorities;
• Ability to use intelligence and sound judgment in making independent, effective decisions within limits of established routines
•  Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
 
This position is located in Washington, DC

 
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability, marital or parental status or protected veteran status.  EOE