Manager - Financial Services Operational Tax Advisory

EY’s Financial Services (FS) Operational Tax Advisory (OTA) team provides operational tax advice to clients in the financial service industry. Our London-based team works closely with the global FS practice.

The team is made up of core professionals in the UK supported by a strong EMEIA and global tax network, focusing on customer and operational taxes. The nature of our work means that developing relationships within the global network is essential to successfully delivering to our clients. The core team in London is close knit, dynamic and enthusiastic with a real sense of shared purpose and community.

You would be exposed to a large variety of clients from FinTech start-ups to mid-sized and global financial services businesses across the banking, asset management and insurance sectors: you will work with some of the biggest names in the industry.

The successful candidate would have the opportunity to be involved in some of the most important issues currently facing the financial services industry, with high profile experience to be gained and the opportunity to become a broader strategic and commercially minded tax advisor.

Your key responsibilities:

• Contributing to building and maintaining key client relationships by delivering exceptional client service - manage the successful delivery of tax projects, ensuring technical excellence and practical/business driven approach taken.
• Identifying and driving opportunities - use your knowledge gained from other projects, our technical training and our knowledge sharing sessions to add input to projects and proposals.
• Building your own strong client and internal relationships - develop and use your relationship skills to create your own external and internal networks in the Banking, Insurance or Wealth & Asset Management markets.
• Counsel and develop junior staff through delegation and on the job training.

Skills and attributes for success:

• Significant technical tax expertise, including familiarity with current international developments (e.g., BEPS, MDR, operational tax changes including the EU FASTER initiative).
• An ability to work to tight deal deadlines.
• Excellent relationship management skills with the ability to manage client expectations.
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills.
• Pragmatism and the ability to solve problems creatively.
• Results orientation and a willingness to take on responsibility.
• A strong client focus allied to strategic and commercial awareness.

To qualify for the role, you must have:

• ACA / CA / Law qualification or equivalent.
• Significant operational tax experience and strong tax technical skills.
• Strong client relationship management skills.
• The ability to develop quality outputs to clients and to convey complicated technical concepts in easy-to-understand deliverables.
• Strong presentation and writing skills.
• Experience of working with financial services clients and industry bodies.

Ideally, you will also have:

• Be a self-starter, with project management skills, the ability to plan and prioritise work, meet deadlines, monitor own budget.
• Understanding of financial instruments / financial activities such as – derivatives, securities lending, collateral arrangements.
• Understanding of how the financial industry operates – use of custodian banks; role performed by a broker-dealer etc.

What we look for:

You will be a driven tax professional and will proactively maintain your strong technical knowledge so that you can better advise our clients. The types of projects you’ll contribute towards may include:

• Multi-country projects to determine the correct operational tax treatment of a product / business etc.
• Working on operational tax risk reviews to identify areas of risk.
• Benchmarking operational tax models against peer best in class alternatives.
• Reviewing global withholding, capital gains and transaction tax obligations.
• Reviewing operational tax obligations, assessing compliance and advising on an appropriate target operating model.
• Working on investment compliance matters such as tax agency.
• Working on building and maintaining best practice collateral and developing best in class procedures.

What working at EY offers:

We offer a competitive remuneration package. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings, and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions.

Plus, we offer:

• Support and coaching from some of the most engaging colleagues around.
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career.
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you.

EY is committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We strive to achieve the right balance for our people, enabling us to deliver excellent client service whilst allowing you to build your career without sacrificing your personal priorities. While our client-facing professionals can be required to travel regularly, and at times be based at client sites, our flexible working arrangements can help you to achieve a lifestyle balance.