Tax Manager/Associate Director - Reward Advisory Services

Alternatively, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative.

With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

Job Description:

NEW GROUND WON’T BREAK ITSELF.

Location: London, Reading, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Birmingham

Grant Thornton works closely with businesses and entrepreneurs to achieve their goals and objectives, and support them through any challenges faced.

Our Reward Advisory Services team forms a crucial part of our specialist Tax offering – working closely with management teams, shareholders and investors to design and implement the right employee incentive arrangements for a wide range of clients across various sectors and from start-up businesses to large corporates, including privately owned businesses and those backed by private equity. We support the full life cycle of an incentive arrangement, from design and valuation to implementation, reporting and transactions.

We’re part of a wider national tax practice, with colleagues in corporate and multinational, private capital and specialist services such as employment taxes, global mobility and financial services.

To continue the growth of our Reward Advisory Services practice we will need specialist practitioners on the ground supported by the national team and local stakeholders. You’ll have real influence over how our practice grows. We’re happy to talk flexible working and consider reduced hours and job shares. We’ll support you to balance your work and life.

A look into the role

As a Tax Manager/Associate Director in our national Reward Advisory Services team you will:

•       Work across a wide range of organisations, providing highly technical reward advice in a commercial and practical context. This means that your experience can be with listed or private companies – we work across all parts of the market to deliver advice that is right for our clients.

•       Deliver and advise on equity reward projects from start to finish, including design, valuation, implementation, ongoing compliance and reporting.

•       Advise on the share scheme aspects of buy-side and sell-side transactions, from structuring management equity to dealing with existing plans on a change of control and employment tax exposures.

•       Work on a wide variety of projects including: tax-advantaged share plans (such as Enterprise Management Incentives, company share option plans (or “EMI 2”, following the budget!), Save As You Earn and share incentive plans), growth shares, long-term incentive plans, cash and phantom plans, and ad hoc employment-related securities (ERS) matters.

•       Create bespoke solutions for clients by considering their unique position, providing technical advice and valuable insight, whilst considering their wider structuring needs.

•       Use our technology to work smarter for clients, from share plan modelling and PAYE calculations to technology-enabled documentation reviews and use of our GT Augment tools, always with the review our professional standards require.

•       Collaborate across the network with many other service lines including Corporate Finance, Valuations and People Advisory.

•       Lead and develop graduates and trainees, understanding their career aspirations, supporting their progression and setting the standard for technical quality.

•       Take responsibility for managing client accounts and leading on day-to-day client relationships. Knowing you’re right for us

Joining us as a Manager or Associate Director, you’ll have a professional qualification (CTA/ATT/ACA/ACCA) or equivalent, or be a qualified lawyer. You’ll also have post-qualification experience.

It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box. We’ll help you develop along the way.

•       Technical expertise in employee incentive plans, with in-depth knowledge of the UK tax framework for employment-related securities and the employment tax treatment of cash and long-term incentives.

•       Hands-on transaction experience in share schemes: advising management teams, sellers, buyers or investors on the treatment of existing plans, structuring management equity, employment tax exposures and completion mechanics (for example management buyouts, private equity investments and exits, and trade sales).

•       A grounding in wider employer solutions, such as employment tax, executive remuneration & reward governance, payroll and global mobility.

•       An excellent record of client service and communication, including the confidence to answer client queries concisely, and an ability to manage your time efficiently working to tight deadlines.

•       Experience of managing a portfolio of clients, and of working in a professional services environment.

How we invest in you

We invest in our people because they make our clients’ ambitions possible. That means:

•       A clear route from manager to associate director and beyond, with regular conversations about where you want to go.

•       Tailored development programmes, coaching and study support for further qualifications and access to specialist reward and employer solutions expertise across the firm.

•       Early responsibility on varied clients, projects and transactions, so you grow by doing the work.

•       Investment in technology, so you spend more time on judgement and client insight and less on repetitive tasks.

Knowing we’re right for you

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

In addition to a competitive salary and reward package, you’ll also get:

•       Flexible bank holidays, allowing you to celebrate the days that are important to you.

•       Benefits including pension, life assurance and private medical, additional holiday purchasing and health benefits.

•       Benefits giving you access to shopping discounts, gym memberships and financial advice.

And more. Visit our benefits section to read more.

How we work

Our way of working is built on trust. Our ‘how we work’ framework gives flexibility in where, how and when we work to deliver the best results for our clients. We embrace hybrid working, and typically spend two days a week collaborating in the office or out with clients.

Our values are purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind. Read about our values in practice.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves.

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