Overview

Group Head of Talent Acquisition at Affinia

Job title: Tax Director – Private Client Advisory

Reporting to: Director/ Regional Head

Hours: Full time Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm (37.5 hours per week)

Location: Any Affinia office locations / hybrid (Stratford, Colchester, Chelmsford, Ipswich, Halstead, Harlow, Leigh on Sea, Orpington, Sidcup and Sutton)

Affinia is a leading UK Top 50 Accountancy firm. We launched the Affinia brand in October and bring together LB Group and six other firms to form a combined accounting, tax and business advisory firm with more than 400 professionals across the listed locations.

We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across seven practice groups: Accountancy & Advisory, Tax and Planning, Audit Services, Corporate Finance, Digital Solutions, Payroll and Financial Planning.

Purpose of the role:

As a Director within our Private Client team, you will grow our Private Client offering both within the existing client portfolio and externally through your professional contacts. You will act as a key advisor to clients, support business development, and identify opportunities to add value. You will oversee and mentor Managers and Senior Managers, model the firm’s values, contribute to service line strategy, and lead process improvements, risk management, and cross-location collaboration. You will work with the Director or Service Line Head to achieve team and firm objectives.

You will receive line management and leadership training and CPD access via Tolley’s, Croner-i, Mercia and LinkedIn Learning as required. Together with your line manager you will craft a development plan for your success and future progression.

Accountabilities:

You will manage a comprehensive client list, provide line and performance management, and contribute to the growth of a Private Client tax practice. You will build and maintain relationships with third parties such as trustees, lawyers, wealth managers and more. You will advise clients on their tax affairs and onboard them to the team for bespoke advice.

You should be an experienced senior manager seeking to develop your role through technical advisory, client management and business development.

Responsibilities

• Lead service delivery for a portfolio of high-value or technically complex clients, ensuring timely, high-quality output.
• Work with target clients such as UHNWs/HNW clients, family-owned businesses, SMEs.
• Provide advice and implement Inheritance Tax planning strategies including Family Investment Companies and Trusts structures.
• Have strong understanding of Trusts and Estates with practical advisory experience.
• Collaborate with professional connections such as lawyers and financial advisers.
• Provide high-level, strategic and holistic advice to private clients and third-party advisers.
• Act as a trusted advisor, identifying opportunities to add value.
• Maintain strong client relationships through regular contact and understanding client needs.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Monitor WIP, billing, and recovery rates; maximise profitability and manage scope.
• Identify tax risks and cash savings opportunities; support mitigation or realisation initiatives.
• Meet targets for billable hours, utilisation and portfolio profitability; manage budgets and timelines.
• Contribute to fee discussions, service scoping, and pricing strategy with Directors and Partners.

Strategic and Operational Contribution

• Contribute to service line and group strategy, especially in areas of specialism or market knowledge.
• Support Directors and Service Line Leaders on strategic initiatives and planning projects.
• Own service line projects; drive outcomes for efficiency, quality or growth.
• Stay informed on market trends to inform service line positioning.

People Leadership and Culture

• Provide development opportunities to junior team members, particularly Managers and Senior Managers.
• Model firm values and foster collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Conduct or support performance appraisals, 1:1s and feedback processes.
• Champion diversity and inclusion; promote open communication across locations.

Process Improvement and Change

• Lead process improvements to enhance service efficiency, quality, or client experience.
• Support adoption of new technology or systems and smarter working.
• Lead change projects within the service line or wider group.

Risk Management and Compliance

• Ensure services meet firm quality standards, ethical policies and regulatory requirements.
• Manage risks in client engagements, including reputational, legal and compliance risks.
• Escalate internal risk incidents as per firm protocols.

Business Development and External Profile

• Support business development activities including proposals, pitches and client onboarding.
• Identify cross-selling or upselling opportunities within your client portfolio.
• Represent the firm at industry events and networking opportunities to enhance the firm’s public profile.

Professional skills/qualifications

• CTA qualification or equivalent professional tax qualification.
• Ideally 10+ years in practice with experience managing large or complex clients.
• Experience managing KPIs such as Chargeable Time, Recoveries, Utilisation and Gross Margin.
• Track record in commercial portfolio management, billing oversight and client retention.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills; mentoring Managers and future leaders.
• Strategic thinker with ability to contribute to business planning and change initiatives.
• High-level communication and interpersonal skills; credibility to represent the firm.

Core Benefits

At Affinia, we offer a flexible and inclusive work environment with the following core benefits:

• Auto enrolment Pension Scheme with True Potential
• Death in Service
• Professional membership support
• Paycare – claim money back for Dental / Optical / Professional Therapies
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy
• Dress for your Diary Policy

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties; you may be required to take on additional responsibilities as requested.

Affinia is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not tolerate discrimination. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection is based on individual merit.