Financial Services (“FS”) Tax Director – Belfast

The Grant Thornton Advisors (NI) Tax Team is a growing team of over 70 specialists with deep industry, sector and technical knowledge across all our tax solutions.

As a result of unprecedented growth and the exciting opportunities presented by our recent merger with Grant Thornton US, our tax team is expanding, and we are excited to establish a new UK FS Tax practice in Belfast to serve a growing portfolio of clients in this sector. We are therefore looking for an ambitious Director to spearhead this initiative and help us shape the future of FS Tax at Grant Thornton Advisors.

While this is a new offering in Belfast, the role will be integrated into and receive full support from the wider firms FS Tax teams, including our team in RoI.

The Grant Thornton RoI FS tax team is led by two partners and includes over thirty employees which specialises in delivering comprehensive tax advisory and compliance servicesto financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, institutional investors, asset managers, and private equity firms.

They provide specialised tax solutionsacross key financial sectors, including:

• Banking & Capital Markets– tax compliance, transaction structuring, and cross-border tax planning.

• Insurance– Tax optimization and reinsurance tax strategies.

• Asset Management & Private Equity– Fund structuring, carried interest taxation, and investor tax reporting.

• Aviation & Leasing– Tax-efficient financing structures and compliance for aircraft leasing and aviation investments.

With deep industry expertise, the team ensures that clients stay compliant with evolving tax legislationwhile optimizing their tax positions. They help financial institutions mitigate risk, maximize tax efficiency, and navigate complex tax environments with confidence.

The Opportunity
This is a unique opportunity to join our Belfast office in a leadership capacity, driving the growth of a new and dynamic service line. As a Director in FS Tax, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and driving our UK FS Tax offering, building a high-performing team, and delivering value to a diverse range of clients across the financial services industry linking in with our colleagues across the firm.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Development: Develop and implement the FS Tax strategy for the Belfast office, aligning with the firm’s broader objectives and growth plans.

• Team Leadership: Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing UK FS Tax team, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. Working closely with other FS Tax leaders across the firm as part of the wider network.

• Client Leadership: Build and nurture relationships with new and existing clients in the financial services sector, offering tailored tax solutions that address complex business challenges.

• Technical Excellence: Provide expert advice on a wide range of UK FS Tax issues, including corporate tax compliance, tax structuring, transfer pricing, VAT, and operational taxes.

• Market Development: Identify and pursue business development opportunities within the FS sector, contributing to the firm’s presence and reputation in the market.

• Cross-Service Collaboration: Work closely with other service lines, including Audit, Advisory, and Consulting, to deliver integrated solutions to clients.

• Governance and Risk Management: Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal risk management policies.

What We’re Looking For
We are seeking a driven and experienced UK tax professional with a passion for financial services and a proven track record in building teams and client relationships.

This role is ideal for an ambitious FS tax specialist looking to take ownership of a priority practice area within the firm.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• ACA/ACCA/CTA(UK) qualified (or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience in FS Tax.

• Proven experience in a leadership role, ideally within a Big 4, a top-tier professional services environment or in house at an FS organisation.

• Deep technical expertise in tax issues relevant to financial services, including current regulatory and market developments.

• Strong business development and client management skills, with the ability to identify opportunities and deliver innovative solutions.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire confidence in clients and colleagues alike.

• Strategic thinker with a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset.

What We Offer

• A unique opportunity to lead and shape a new UK FS Tax practice.

• A collaborative and supportive environment that values innovation and diversity.

• Competitive remuneration and benefits package.

• Clear progression pathways and ongoing professional development.

Life at Grant Thornton

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.

Equity, diversity and inclusion
At Grant Thornton, we provide equitable opportunities for all our colleagues. We are a responsible, sustainable business where equity,diversityand inclusion(ED&I)isattheforefrontofourworkplace 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 backgrounds, racial differences, cultures, sexual orientations, religious orientations, ages, gender identities, abilities and family types 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.

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.

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