Employer Solution - Associate Director
Belfast
Grant Thornton is part of a fast-growing and rapidly evolving international platform, bringing together specialist teams across the UK, Ireland, the US and an expanding global network of member firms. This creates opportunities for our people to work on complex, cross-border assignments, collaborate with leading specialists across the network and build expertise across the full spectrum of UK and international tax services. From Belfast, our team supports a diverse client base that includes owner-managed businesses, large corporates and multinational groups, giving our people exposure to some of the most interesting and complex tax challenges in the market while benefiting from the scale, resources and opportunities of a growing international platform.
Against this backdrop, the Grant Thornton Advisors (NI) Tax Team brings together over 100 specialists with deep industry, sector and technical knowledge. Within this wider platform, our Transaction Tax Advisory team works closely with specialist tax teams, including Employer Solutions, to support clients on acquisitions, disposals, reorganisations and wider transaction-related projects.
The Employer Solutions team works with clients across that diverse base, from owner-managed businesses to large corporates and multinational groups. A significant part of this role will be transaction-led, working alongside our Transaction Tax Advisory team to provide employment tax input on due diligence, structuring, SPA and disclosure matters, post-deal integration and wider transaction planning. This gives our people the opportunity to be involved in some of the most interesting and high-profile deals in the market, while continuing to deliver broader Employer Solutions advisory services.
As our business continues to grow and client demand increases, we are investing in the continued development of both our Employer Solutions and Transaction Tax Advisory capabilities in Belfast. This role is intended to strengthen the link between the two teams and support the growth of our transaction offering by ensuring employment tax considerations are identified early, considered commercially and delivered as part of an integrated TTA service.
We are therefore seeking to recruit an Associate Director to join our Employer Solutions team in Belfast. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and commercially focused tax professional who wants to operate at the centre of transaction activity, leading the employment tax aspects of deals while also supporting wider Employer Solutions advisory work. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting our Transaction Tax Advisory team, advising on people-related tax risks and opportunities throughout the transaction lifecycle and helping to grow our transaction-focused offering in Belfast.
As an Associate Director, you will work closely with Directors and Partners to deliver high-quality, commercially focused advice to clients. A core focus of the role will be supporting transaction projects, leading the employment tax workstream within wider TTA engagements and helping clients navigate employment tax issues before, during and after a deal. Alongside this, you will continue to support where required Employer Solutions advisory, compliance, risk management and client relationship leadership, while developing junior team members and contributing to the continued growth of both the TTA and wider Belfast Tax practice.
Main responsibilities will include:
- Leading the employment tax workstream on Transaction Tax Advisory engagements, including due diligence, structuring input, transaction documentation support, disclosure matters and post-deal implementation.
Where required, supporting the delivery of Employer Solutions engagements, ensuring high-quality outcomes, effective risk management and exceptional client service across a range of employment tax advisory and compliance matters.
- Owning and developing key client relationships, with a particular focus on identifying transaction-related opportunities and positioning Employer Solutions input as part of wider TTA support.
Leading technical delivery and review, providing direction and coaching to Managers and junior team members, while remaining actively involved in complex technical matters, key judgements and client-facing discussions.
- Managing transaction workstreams and project timelines, coordinating with TTA, Corporate Finance, clients and legal advisers to ensure employment tax matters are delivered clearly, commercially and on time.
Overseeing engagement economics, including WIP, recoverability and billing, proactively managing build-up and supporting strong recovery performance.
Taking responsibility for quality, risk management and compliance, ensuring work is appropriately reviewed, signed off, documented and escalated in line with firm procedures and professional standards.
- Supporting business development activities, including identifying deal-related opportunities, preparing transaction-focused proposals and helping to build our profile in the TTA market.
Working collaboratively with colleagues across Tax, Advisory, Audit, Corporate Finance and third-party advisers to deliver integrated solutions and maximise client value.
Developing and mentoring team members, helping to build technical capability, engagement and retention across the team.
Skills and attributes:
ACA/ACCA and/or CTA qualified.
Significant Employer Solutions experience within a large practice is desirable (although equivalent industry experience will be considered), with strong technical knowledge of employment taxes and related advisory services.
- Strong experience of Transaction Tax Advisory assignments is highly desirable, including employment tax due diligence, structuring input, transaction documentation support and post-deal implementation.
- Proven ability to manage and develop client relationships and contribute to practice growth.
Strong project management and commercial awareness, including responsibility for engagement economics, budgets, WIP and recoverability.
Experience leading, mentoring and developing high-performing teams, with a proactive interest in team performance, development and wellbeing.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex tax matters clearly to clients and colleagues at all levels.
#LI-GK1
About UsWe are Grant ThorntonAt GT Ireland we don’t just predict your future, we build it.
What does this mean for you?
At Grant Thornton, we provide equitable opportunities for all our colleagues. We are a responsible, sustainable business where equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) is at the forefront of our workplace culture agenda, and today, we continue to build and develop on our existing ED&I structure and strategy to meet our workplace culture needs. People are at the heart of our business and teams built with varied individuals present diverse viewpoints, which need to be heard and valued.
We are all at our best when we are able to be ourselves and we view integrity and authenticity as integral values to bring to our day-to-day work-life at the firm. We are excited to see the personality and perspectives you will bring to our team because we know we will all benefit from them. Diversity of thought, background and experience enables better decision-making, improves the quality of our delivery, and helps us to meet the needs of our clients. Our firm is built on people and their ideas, so we want to hear all the new perspectives and fresh thinking you have to offer. You form the bedrock of our firm’s best-practice principles and we will champion you as leaders from day one.
Reward and benefits
Our reward and benefits are designed to create an environment where our people can flourish. We are committed to building a culture where our people have access to the necessary benefits to help promote a healthy lifestyle and thrive.
Recognition
We want to create a culture of recognition and celebrating success, by saying thank you to people who surpass our expectations and recognising the right values and behaviours. Our Shout Out recognition scheme is our way of highlighting and promoting achievements. Whether you simply want to say thank you, celebrate a special occasion or give an award for doing something exceptional, you can do all of this and more through the scheme.
