STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust and Estate Accounting (England and Wales)

This course provides practitioners with the practical and technical knowledge and skills required to deliver advice in England and Wales relating to trust and estate accounting. This Advanced Certificate can be taken as part of the STEP Diploma.

Course details

This course provides practitioners with the technical knowledge and practical skills required to deliver holistic advice in England and Wales relating to trust and estate accounting.

Gain in-depth expertise: Improve your technical knowledge of the issues arising in relation to trust and estate accounting and the laws and procedures involved.
Practical focus: Practical advice and guidance written by practitioners, for practitioners.
Build valuable connections: Network with like-minded professionals in varied roles and firms.
Industry recognition: A recognised ‘gold-standard’ professional qualification for those working in the industry. Successful completion provides 30 Diploma Level credits towards STEP membership, enhancing your professional standing, and is awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, a School of the University of Manchester.

Course fees: £1,150 + local taxes

View the course timetable - Jun 2025

View the Jan 2026 course timetable

Course dates, fees and enrol now:

Entry requirements may apply. Applicable local taxes and discounts will be added to your basket on checkout.

Find out more about The STEP Diploma

Entry requirements

60 Entry Level credits which can be achieved through:

Completion of a STEP Certificate (30 credits)
Previous learning - confirmed through Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) application - 30 credits
Work experience - confirmed through Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) - 30 credits

Note: You do not need to apply for APEL or APCL if you already have confirmed, or if you have studied for at least two STEP Certificates previously.

Apply for APCL or APEL

Become a member of STEP

This is a STEP course/qualification. STEP membership is required to study this course and must be maintained throughout the duration of your studies.

You will need 60 Entry Level credits and if you are not already, you will become an Affiliate member by enrolling on this course. STEP will contact you regarding membership 4-6 weeks after course enrolment.

Successful completion of the course will provide 30 Diploma Level credits as part of the STEP Qualification and Membership framework.

Find out more about STEP Membership

What will I learn?

Download syllabus

The principles of trust and estate accounting
How and why trustees and personal representatives should keep accounts
How to prepare and interpret trust and estate accounts
The principal trusts for which accounting may be required
The special rules relating to the accounting treatment of testamentary trusts or children
The law governing the investment of a trust fund by trustees
The practicalities of distributing a trust fund, including the trustees’ duty to account to beneficiaries and disclose information
How assets are valued for probate and appropriation purposes
How the principal type of legacies are accounted for

Is this course right for me?

Ideal for practitioners looking for professional accreditation, moving into or already working within the trusts and estates profession.

Students of this course typically include:

Legal and trust professionals
Support staff and paralegals
Accountants and banking professionals
Charity specialists
Tax advisers
Independent financial advisers
Executorship administrators

You will need a working knowledge of Excel for this course.

Course format

This course is available for study twice a year.

The course is delivered through a combination of online learning and three workshops and will take four months to complete.

Enrolment onto this course will include the following:

access to the online learning platform containing:

o Tailor-made webinars

o eLearning modules

o distance learning support

o Attendance at three live online workshops

o Self-assessment materials

Examination fees.

The course is assessed by way of an end of course five-hour open-book written examination.

Once you have successfully completed this course, you will gain 30 Diploma Level credits towards STEP membership and be awarded the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust and Estate Accounting (England and Wales).

Course dates

Download the course timetable

Any questions?

Tutors

Scott Clayton

Tutor