International Tax Adviser

Job Title:                       International Tax Adviser

Department:                  Taxation & Partnership

Reporting to:                 Head of Tax & Partnership

Job Location:                London

Contract Type:              Permanent

The Firm

Holman Fenwick Willan is a fast-growing, international law firm with a strong global presence and a reputation for providing an excellent service to an impressive list of domestic and international clients.  With over 500 lawyers worldwide, we advise clients on the legal issues which businesses face in relation to all aspects of international commerce.

The Department

The Taxation & Partnership team is responsible for the partners' financial and tax affairs, as well as maintaining the firm's international financial structure and administering the firm's tax lodgings.

The Role

This is a varied and interesting role for a capable individual. Holman Fenwick Willan is an international law firm continuing to expand, opening in three new international locations over the past three years.  There are plans for further growth and expansion of the firm, offering the right candidate a wide-ranging role with great international exposure. The role itself offers a variety of work, ranging from high level tax advice on restructuring to exploration of withholding tax recoverability.

This is a senior role, overseeing the firm’s worldwide tax compliance (together with those of its associated undertakings), including management of partner and employee secondments, tax and structural advice on the set-up of new offices with assistance from our external advisers, withholding tax and permanent establishment (PE) advice and maintenance and review of the firm's transfer pricing policy.  The role also involves providing support to the firm's senior management on partner-related issues and tax planning matters, both in the UK and abroad.  There will be the opportunity for the right candidate to significantly develop their skills and broaden their knowledge base.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

-           Providing tax advice on secondments – of both partners and employees - either internationally or into the UK, which may include discussions with assignees before and during their secondment.

-           Review and advise on secondment arrangements and consultancy terms to manage tax exposures and permanent establishment risks, involving liaising with both external advisors and in-house lawyers.

-           Completion of the firm's short term business visitors report (STBV) on an annual basis.

• Liaise with the firm's overseas offices and tax advisors to resolve uncertain tax positions and address risks.

• Oversight of the firm's global tax compliance.

-           Ensuring the allocation of profits from the various group entities is undertaken in a tax efficient manner, as well as assisting in the management of the individual partners’ double tax relief positions.

-           Maintaining the firm's transfer pricing policy and reviewing the transfer pricing charges to help coordinate adherence with  base erosion and profit-shifting (BEPS).

-           Manage the firm’s exposure to withholding taxes internationally, including analysis of withholding tax recoverability.

• Evaluate permanent establishment risks for the firm on an ongoing basis..

• Provide US tax support, including working with the firm's advisors and local US office to ensure completion of US tax returns for partners outside of the US, correct completion of withholding tax certificates, and oversee the timely completion of the firm's US tax filings as required.
• Provide UK tax support on an ad-hoc basis to the team's UK group tax manager. This may include providing support and analysis for double tax relief claims.

-           Advise on the tax aspects of group restructuring, and the opening of offices in existing and new jurisdictions.

-           Ad hoc project work, including working with the firm’s external advisers.

Key Skills & Experience Required

-           Qualified Chartered Accountant and/or Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

-           A minimum of three years' prior experience of working within a professional services organisation.

-           Good working knowledge of UK tax and its application to partnership taxation would be beneficial.

-           Previous experience of tax accounting issues would be beneficial.

-           Good working knowledge of Excel.

-           The ability to work in a team, but also independently, researching and critically reviewing matters with an eye for detail and the ability to present findings lucidly.

-           Working to tight deadlines.

-           Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

-           Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to gain the confidence of a wide range of stakeholders, including senior management.

-           High levels of discretion, confidentiality and diplomacy.

-           Flexible with regard to working hours (normal London office hours are from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday).

Additional Information

Kindly note that this job description is not contractual.  It will be reviewed periodically and may be amended or altered to meet the needs of the firm.

Holman Fenwick Willan aims to ensure equality of opportunity and we are actively working towards improving the diversity of our staff.  All applications will be considered only on merit and the applicant's suitability to meet the requirements of the role.