Senior Tax Manager

Business Area: Finance

Place of Work: London

Contract Type: Permanent

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

About the role

In your role as Senior Tax Manager, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset.

This role will provide a great opportunity to be responsible for leading and managing all tax aspects of investment activity across multiple asset classes, including real estate, private equity funds, credit and direct equity.

The role partners closely with investment, legal and finance teams, as well as external advisers to ensure all investments are structured efficiently and in line with our tax risk appetite throughout the life cycle of the investment.

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the Finance team you will be responsible for:

Transaction support & execution – provides tax advice for all Private Markets and Public Markets investment acquisitions and disposals, including:

1. Leads tax structuring, due diligence, modelling and execution support for acquisitions, disposals, restructurings, and refinancings.
2. Reviews and negotiates tax provisions in transaction documentation (SPAs, IMAs, LPAs, financing agreements).
3. Provides commercially focused tax advice across asset classes (real estate, private equity funds, credit, direct equity) to the Private Markets Group, including in relation to material tax issues and associated mitigants, as well as recommendations on structures where optionality exists.
4. Identifies tax risks, opportunities, and mitigation strategies throughout the deal lifecycle.
5. Provides ongoing tax advice on portfolio companies and assets on an ad-hoc basis, including on refinancing, dividend distributions, MIP implementation and exit planning.
6. Manages the deal tax process effectively, including coordination of external tax advisers.
7. Represents Tax at relevant committee meetings, including Private Markets Investment Committee and presenting tax issues/responds to committee queries.

Stakeholder Engagement – partners with investment teams and functional stakeholders on deal execution, including:

1. Acts as the key tax contact for investment teams and proactively engages with them on key tax matters.
2. Collaborates with internal teams (legal, finance, operations teams) to ensure aligned execution and articulates clearly key tax considerations/issues on investments.
3. Establishes and manages relationships with external advisors, tax authorities, and other stakeholders.
4. Presents tax considerations clearly to non-tax stakeholders, including senior investment decision-makers.
5. Delivers technical tax training sessions to the broader business.

Risk & Governance

1. Develops and maintains tax governance frameworks for investment activity.
2. Monitors and assesses the impact of global tax developments on investments.
3. Provides proactive insights to investment teams on emerging tax risks and opportunities.
4. Contributes to shaping internal investment tax policies and best practices.
5. Supports with AI implementation and adoption as well as broader projects and tasks to meet department related projects and objectives.

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

1. A professional UK tax and/or accounting qualification (or equivalent).
2. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships at different levels across the business and with external stakeholders.
3. Significant M&A tax experience, preferably across one or more of the following sectors: real estate, private equity funds, infrastructure/direct equity and private credit.
4. Good understanding of key tax technical considerations/issues that typically arises on transactions.
5. Commercial & analytical skills – ability to translate complex tax issues into clear commercial insights.
6. Project & process management – experience in managing multiple transactions simultaneously under tight deadlines, as well as ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and external advisors.

Why join us?

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team. Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

– Great starting salary

– Generous annual leave package

– Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme

– Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)

– Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing

– Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e