UK/US Tax Director

About us

Big decisions deserve clear thinking.

At Sopher + Co, we've spent more than 50 years helping entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals navigate complex financial and commercial challenges. From tax planning and private office services to business advisory and technology, we bring everything together to make life simpler and help our clients focus on what matters most.

We don't just solve problems. We build relationships, offer clarity, and give our clients the confidence to move forward. And it's our people who make that possible.

We started in Elstree in 1975, working closely with clients in the media, entertainment and music industries. Today, we support a diverse and prestigious client base across more than 20 sectors, with a continued strong and long-standing presence in entertainment and media. While we've grown, our approach hasn't changed. We keep things straightforward and focus on advice that is practical, personal, and easy to act on.

If something's complex, we simplify it. That's where we add value.

The role

We're looking for an experienced UK-US Tax Director to lead our specialist US/UK tax team in our Mayfair office.

This is a senior practice leadership role. You'll lead our UK-US private client practice, own its strategic client relationships, and take accountability for its revenue, profitability and reputation. Your clients include US citizens and green card holders living in the UK, UK residents with US income or assets, internationally mobile executives, entrepreneurs, and clients from our long-standing entertainment and media base with earnings in both countries.

You'll set the direction for how the practice grows and delivers, develop its future leaders, and work with the Partners on the firm's wider UK/US tax offering.

Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Advisory and technical

• Provide strategic judgement on the most complex UK-US matters, including structuring, succession and cross-border moves.
• Advise business owners, executives and family offices on wealth structuring, trusts and family succession across the UK and US.
• Act as the practice's senior technical authority, and sign off its most sensitive advice and filing positions.
• Shape the practice's response to UK and US legislative change, and turn it into new client propositions.

Financial and commercial

• Take accountability for the practice's revenue, profitability, margins, WIP, billing and cash collection.
• Develop account and relationship strategies for sustainable growth, beyond individual engagements.
• Originate new business and lead major proposals, pitches and fee negotiations to conversion.
• Make commercial decisions on pricing, investment, resourcing and delivery.

People and team

• Lead and develop senior managers and associate directors, and champion future Directors and Partners.
• Set the tone for performance, quality, accountability and client service.
• Own succession and resilience across key individuals, clients and leadership roles.
• Take an active role in senior recruitment, retention and talent strategy.

Client and relationship

• Own strategic relationships with significant and complex clients as a senior adviser to owners, executives and family offices.
• Use insight into client objectives to identify broader relationships and new propositions.
• Mobilise UK, US and wider specialist teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Maintain senior relationships with lawyers, investment managers and other advisers, and build the firm's profile in the UK-US market.

Risk management

• Set and enforce risk standards and risk appetite across the practice.
• Own the most sensitive client, technical and regulatory matters.
• Take accountability for client acceptance, continuance and conflicts at practice level.
• Give the Partners clear visibility of material risks and how you manage them.

Embracing change

• Set the direction for how the practice delivers, and sponsor change across teams.
• Back investment in systems, standardisation and capability.
• Build a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement.

What you'll bring

You're a recognised authority on complex UK-US matters, inside the firm and in the market. Clients and referrers seek you out for strategic judgement on their biggest decisions.

You're a business builder. You originate meaningful new work, keep a live pipeline, and grow revenue and margin year on year.

You lead leaders. The associate directors and senior managers around you grow into autonomous leaders, and succession for your key clients is visible.

You communicate with authority, and set the tone for how the team works with clients and with each other.

You enjoy building a collaborative team where people share knowledge openly and support one another.

You'll also bring:

• The Enrolled Agent (EA) or US Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
• A UK tax qualification, such as Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) or Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT), or ACA or ACCA with a tax focus. Dual qualification is expected at this level.
• At least 12 years' experience in UK and US personal tax, including leadership of a significant portfolio at Associate Director level or above.
• Expert knowledge of UK residence and the FIG regime, trusts, UK inheritance tax, US gift and estate tax and both UK-US tax treaties.
• A proven record of originating significant new business and winning UK-US clients.
• An established network of referrers among lawyers, wealth managers, private banks and family offices.
• Experience leading and developing associate directors and senior managers.
• Experience managing practice-level risk, including client acceptance and sensitive regulatory matters.
• The ability to work with prestigious clients who require complete confidentiality.

What you'll get in return

We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, designed to support your health, wellbeing, financial security and career development.

Our benefits include (some available from day one, others after probation or length of service):

• Private Medical Insurance
• Life assurance (Death in Service)
• Group Income Protection (GIP)
• Employee Assistance Programme and 24/7 Digital GP access
• YuLife wellbeing platform
• Reward Gateway (employee discounts and cashback)
• Generous holiday entitlement, with the option to buy and sell leave
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Fully funded training packages with a generous exam reward structure
• Recognition and long-service milestones
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discounted wills and LPAs
• Social committee and regular social events
• Fresh fruit in the office

Just as important is the environment. We're a friendly, supportive team where people enjoy working together and take pride in what they do.

You'll have the opportunity to work with a well-known client base across a wide range of industries, gaining exposure that is genuinely unique and difficult to find elsewhere in a firm of our size.

Our commitment

Sopher + Co strongly believe in staff development and continuously encourage internal progression, supporting you to grow your career within the firm.

We are committed to equality of opportunity in employment and expect all employees to act in accordance with this principle, recognising its importance to the success of our business.