At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead tax strategy and ensure compliance while driving business growth and efficiency.
- Company: Join St. James's Place, a diverse employer committed to inclusivity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and influence within a trusted advisory role.
- Why this job: Shape tax strategy and make a real impact in a dynamic financial services environment.
- Qualifications: Recognised tax qualification and strong leadership skills in financial services.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 80000 £ per year.
This job is with St.
James's Place, an inclusive employer and a member of my Gwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.
Please do not contact the recruiter directly.
About the role
This is a high-impact leadership role created to support our continued growth strategy, ensuring tax considerations actively support client outcomes, Partner propositions and shareholder value.
This role is about much more than technical tax compliance.
We are looking for a leader who can bring commercial insight, strategic judgement and strong business partnering capability to the tax function, building on the team's strong foundations in risk management and governance while further enhancing its strategic contribution to the business.
The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping tax strategy, strengthening governance, supporting business decision-making and embedding tax considerations into product design, operations and wider business outcomes.
In doing so, they will help further develop the function's role as a trusted adviser, ensuring tax expertise is brought into discussions early and contributes to the delivery of sustainable value for clients, Partners and shareholders.
What you'll be doing
- Technical Expertise & Credibility
- Deep, senior-level tax expertise across relevant regimes within Financial Services, with the judgement to apply complex legislation in a commercial context.
- Strong track record designing and overseeing control frameworks for tax reporting and operational processes, ensuring accuracy, resilience and regulatory compliance.
- Broad understanding of how tax interacts with product design, client outcomes and financial performance across a wealth management business.
- Strategic Judgement & Commercial Insight
- Applies forward-looking judgement to balance client outcomes, commercial objectives and the Group's low risk tax strategy.
- Anticipates emerging tax, regulatory and market developments, translating them into clear strategic implications and actionable recommendations.
- Makes sound, timely decisions in complex and ambiguous situations, resolving competing priorities across tax, legal, regulatory and commercial considerations .
- Delivers pragmatic, sustainable solutions that are technically robust while enabling business growth and efficiency.
- Business & Governance Insight
- Strong understanding of Group financials, business model and value drivers and how tax outcomes shape commercial performance.
- Navigates governance forums effectively, aligning decisions to the Group Tax Strategy, risk appetite and regulatory expectations.
- Understands the interaction between product, operational and investment tax considerations, ensuring alignment within clearly defined decision-making boundaries.
- Influence, Leadership & Stakeholder Impact
- Influences senior stakeholders through clear, concise and commercial communication, translating complex tax issues into strategic insights.
- Operates effectively, driving outcomes through influence rather than direct authority where required.
- Builds trusted relationships across the business, regulators and external advisers, enabling constructive challenge and high quality decision making.
- Provides leadership and coaching to develop capability within the tax function and wider business, setting clear expectations and raising performance standards.
About you
We are seeking a senior tax professional with strong leadership capability and commercial judgement. You will ideally bring experience from financial services , particularly wealth management, asset management or a closely related regulated environment.
However, we are open to exceptional candidates from broader industry backgrounds who can demonstrate the right blend of technical grounding, commercial acumen and leadership.
Essential Criteria
- A recognised tax or accounting qualification such as
CTA, ACA or ACCA .
- Strong tax expertise with the ability to apply legislation in a commercial and pragmatic way.
- Proven experience operating in a regulated environment with strong awareness of governance, risk and compliance.
- Excellent understanding of financial services, ideally with knowledge of product structures, client outcomes, operational tax and tax governance.
- Strong grasp of key tax and reporting concepts such as withholding taxes, AEOI, corporate criminal offence obligations and operational tax controls.
- Demonstrable experience of business partnering, influencing senior stakeholders and translating tax issues into clear, practical advice.
- Ability to lead, coach and develop others, creating a positive and high-performing team culture.
- Experience driving change, transformation, automation and improved ways of working.
Special Requirements
No major travel requirements but a willingness to travel throughout the UK to visit SJP locations, Partner business and HMRC; and overseas as necessary.
Product & Operational Tax Divisional Director employer: St. James's Place
St. James’s Place is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. Located in Cirencester, this hybrid role as a Data Privacy Manager not only provides competitive benefits such as parental leave and health insurance but also fosters an environment where employees can thrive through collaboration and engagement with diverse stakeholders in the regulated financial services sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product & Operational Tax Divisional Director
✨Join Tax Networks
Get involved in tax-focused networks or associations, like the Chartered Institute of Taxation. These communities often host events and workshops which can help you make connections with industry professionals, plus they might even have job boards exclusive to members.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for tax-related conferences and seminars. Events like these are not only great for learning but also for meeting potential employers face-to-face. Use these opportunities to ask questions and express your interest; it’s all about putting a face to the name!
✨Leverage Social Media
Follow leading tax advisory firms, such as St. James's Place, on social media. Engage with their posts – comment, share insights, or even ask questions. This can help you get noticed and show your enthusiasm for the industry before you even apply!
✨Showcase Your Knowledge
Consider writing articles or blogs on tax trends and issues. Sharing your expertise on platforms like LinkedIn can boost your visibility and establish you as someone who is serious about a career in tax advisory. Plus, it gives you something to discuss when you land that interview!
We think you need these skills to ace Product & Operational Tax Divisional Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tax Knowledge:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant tax qualifications, certifications, or coursework you've completed. We want to see that you understand tax laws, regulations, and compliance issues—so detail your academic background or any practical experience in tax advisory to catch St. James's Place's eye!
Quantify Your Achievements:In the tax consultancy field, showing measurable outcomes from your previous work can set you apart. Use your CV to include specific examples of how your advice helped clients save money or avoid penalties. Numbers speak volumes in our industry and can really highlight your impact.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express why you're passionate about tax consultancy and why you're excited about working at St. James's Place. Share any personal experiences or insights that fuel your interest in the tax advisory field—let your enthusiasm shine through!
Keep It Professional but Approachable:While your written application should maintain a professional tone, don’t be afraid to let a bit of your personality show. Tax advisory is about building relationships, so if you can convey your approachable nature in your writing, that's a bonus when applying for this full-time role at St. James's Place!
How to prepare for a job interview at St. James's Place
✨Know Your Tax Fundamentals
Brush up on the core principles of tax law, especially recent updates that might affect clients. During the interview, we could face scenario-based questions where we'll need to apply these principles to solve problems, so get comfy with hypothetical situations!
✨Show Your Analytical Skills
Tax advisory isn't just about knowing the rules; it’s about interpreting them. Make sure to prepare examples from your previous studies or experiences where you successfully analysed complex data. We want to demonstrate how we can bring those analytical skills to the table for St. James's Place.
✨Understand the Consulting Aspect
Since this is a full-time role, the interview might involve discussing how we communicate tax strategies to clients. Think about times we've interacted with clients or presented technical information in a digestible way. This shows we’re not just tax boffins but can also connect with people!
✨Your Long-Term Vision
As we're aiming for a full-time position, it's important to convey our enthusiasm and long-term interest in tax advisory. Be prepared to chat about why we’re passionate about this field and how we see ourselves growing within St. James's Place. It helps to show our commitment!
