Description

Job Title: Head of Tax Structuring - Private Equity - (Frankfurt / Zurich Based) - Global Asset Manager

Location: Zurich (Potentially Frankfurt)

About the Group

The firm is a leading provider of active asset management, advisory and wealth management service. Few investment managers can match the combination of capabilities and global reach that the firm offers. This breadth of services across public and private markets allows for distinctive solutions for the diverse needs of clients, who look to the firm to provide superior long-term investment outcomes.

The private markets business manages over $100bn of AUM. They work as a global network of specialised, entrepreneurial teams, combining a global perspective with local market expertise to serve institutional and private wealth clients. The offering spans the private markets universe and provides access to unique capabilities across private debt and credit alternatives, real estate equity, private equity, and infrastructure equity.

The firm has deep expertise in creating bespoke solutions for institutional clients and is committed to providing scalable capabilities across the spectrum of risk, return and sustainability and impact objectives.

Supported by the resources, experience, and institutional framework of one of the world's leading asset managers, the firm is dedicated to helping investors achieve their goals and is at the forefront of product innovation to meet the evolving needs of investors.

We see our role as being a driver of positive change drawing on deep skills to select, acquire, and improve the assets we own.

Position Overview

The Head of Tax Structuring - Equity, has responsibility for managing tax across the Private Equity business and reports to the Head of Product and Solutions, Private Equity.

Product Structuring:

1. Lead client discussions and manage the development of tax-efficient and tax-neutral investment structures, including proposals for setting up Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) as needed.
2. Adopt a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating with Product Management, Legal & Regulatory, Investment Management, Operations, and Group Tax.
3. Manage tax obligations across all fund entities, carry vehicles, and taxes including Corporate Income Tax (CIT), Withholding Tax (WHT), Transfer Pricing (TP), and Value Added Tax (VAT).

Tax Due Diligence on Investments:

1. Manage all aspects of tax exposure across new and existing investments
2. Conduct a holistic analysis encompassing investments, funds, and investors
3. Ensure tax compliance and efficiency through reducing local tax filing obligations for the firm and their investors.
4. Design investment strategies focused on capital gains and mitigation of withholding taxes.
5. Facilitate SPV setups, side letter drafting, negotiations, and implement Most Favoured Nation (MFN) elections.

Tax Compliance:

1. Oversee external tax consultants managing tax compliance processes, including partnership tax returns, investor tax reporting and SPV tax returns.
2. Review tax returns and reports for various jurisdictions, including Germany, US, Luxembourg, UK, and others.
3. Handle US tax reporting requirements.
4. Ensure accurate SPV tax reporting in jurisdictions such as UK, Luxembourg, Mauritius, and the Netherlands.
5. Navigate potential tax audits.

Key Requirements

1. Strong experience, either as: Qualified tax lawyer (or equivalent legal qualification) with significant post-qualification experience in tax law, ideally with a strong focus on Private Equity and alternative investments; or
2. Experienced tax accountant or adviser with significant private equity or private markets tax structuring experience.
3. Demonstrable experience advising on: Fund structuring and fund documentation from a tax perspective;
4. Cross-border investment structures and SPVs; and
5. Transaction support (buy-side/sell-side), including tax diligence and structuring
6. Experience working across multiple jurisdictions (e.g., UK/EU, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Ireland, US structures) and coordinating external counsel.
7. Able to deliver clear recommendations under time pressure, balancing technical rigour with pragmatic solutions.
8. Strong ability to explain complex tax issues to non-specialists; confident influencing senior stakeholders.
9. Comfortable operating in a regulated financial-services environment with strong attention to controls, documentation and audit trail.
10. Proven ability to work effectively with investment teams, finance, compliance, risk, and operations.
11. Strong people and management capabilities.
12. Excellent communication skills with fluency in English; fluency in German would be an important advantage; additional European languages are a plus.