How to become a Trust Officer
Also called: Trust Clerk
Administers trusts, estates and settlements on behalf of beneficiaries.
Main tasks
- Receives and reviews legal documents related to trusts, estates and settlements
- Identifies and verifies beneficiaries and their entitlements
- Communicates with beneficiaries to provide information and answer queries
- Manages and maintains trust accounts, including processing payments and distributions
- Prepares and files legal documents, such as trust agreements and estate inventories
- Conducts research and analysis to support decision-making related to trust administration
- Prepares financial reports and statements for beneficiaries and regulatory authorities
- Ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
- Collaborates with legal and financial professionals
- Resolves disputes among beneficiaries or involved parties
Ways in
- University: Law & Justice degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
- TAFE and VET: Certificate IV in Personal Trust Administration (FNS42222); Diploma of Personal Trusts (FNS52022); Diploma of Superannuation (FNS50722)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $69,940 a year
- About 21,000 people work in this job group now, and about 22,700 are projected by 2035. (+7.8%)
- AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Trust Officer?
Ways in include: Law & Justice degrees; Certificate IV in Personal Trust Administration; Diploma of Personal Trusts.
How much does a Trust Officer earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $69,940 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Trust Officer a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2035, from about 21,000 to about 22,700 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Trust Officer?
Not always. 37% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Law & Justice degrees; Certificate IV in Personal Trust Administration; Diploma of Personal Trusts.
Will AI change the work of a Trust Officer?
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04