Senior Tax Manager

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts. Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

About the role

In your role as Senior Tax Manager you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to be responsible for leading and managing all tax aspects of investment activity across multiple asset classes, including real estate, private equity funds, credit and direct equity. The role partners closely with investment, legal and finance teams, as well as external advisers to ensure all investments are structured efficiently and in line with our tax risk appetite throughout the life cycle of the investment.

What you will be doing

• Transaction support & execution:
• Provides tax advice for all Private Markets and Public Markets investment acquisitions and disposals.
• Leads tax structuring, due diligence, modelling and execution support for acquisitions, disposals, restructurings, and refinancings.
• Reviews and negotiates tax provisions in transaction documentation (SPAs, IMAs, LPAs, financing agreements).
• Provides commercially focused tax advice across asset classes (real estate, private equity funds, credit, direct equity) to the Private Markets Group, including in relation to material tax issues and associated mitigants, and recommendations on structures where optionality exists.
• Identifies tax risks, opportunities, and mitigation strategies throughout the deal lifecycle.
• Provides ongoing tax advice on portfolio companies and assets on an ad-hoc basis, including refinancing, dividend distributions, MIP implementation and exit planning.
• Manages the deal tax process effectively, including coordination of external tax advisers.
• Represents Tax at relevant committee meetings, including Private Markets Investment Committee and presents tax issues/responds to committee queries.
• Stakeholder engagement:
• Acts as the key tax contact for investment teams and proactively engages with them on key tax matters.
• Collaborates with internal teams (legal, finance, operations) to ensure aligned execution and articulates clearly key tax considerations/issues on investments.
• Establishes and manages relationships with external advisors, tax authorities, and other stakeholders.
• Presents tax considerations clearly to non-tax stakeholders, including senior investment decision-makers.
• Delivers technical tax training sessions to the broader business.
• Risk & governance:
• Develops and maintains tax governance frameworks for investment activity.
• Monitors and assesses the impact of global tax developments on investments.
• Provides proactive insights to investment teams on emerging tax risks and opportunities.
• Contributes to shaping internal investment tax policies and best practices.
• Supports with AI implementation and adoption as well as broader projects and tasks to meet department related projects and objectives.

About you

• Holds a professional UK tax and/or accounting qualification (or equivalent).
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships at different levels across the business and with external stakeholders.
• Significant M&A tax experience, preferably across one or more of the following sectors: real estate, private equity funds, infrastructure/direct equity and private credit.
• Good understanding of key tax technical considerations/issues that typically arise on transactions.
• Commercial & analytical skills - ability to translate complex tax issues into clear commercial insights.
• Project & process management – experience in managing multiple transactions simultaneously under tight deadlines, as well as ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and external advisors.

How we will reward you

• Great starting salary
• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. If you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.