Basic Info

Job Description

Role Overview
The Tax Planning Manager will play a commercial, deal-focused role supporting the Group’s M&A, investments, restructuring, and regional expansion across multiple jurisdictions, with a strong focus on Southeast Asia.

This role sits close to decision-making, working alongside Corporate Finance, Legal, and senior management to structure transactions efficiently, manage tax risks pragmatically, and optimise post-deal outcomes. The role is ideal for candidates transitioning from Big 4 tax advisory / M&A tax into an in-house, commercially driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

M&A, Investments & Restructuring (Core Focus)

• Act as the tax lead for M&A transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, and minority investments.
• Advise on deal structuring, including share vs asset deals, holding structures, financing structures, and profit repatriation.
• Perform and/or review tax due diligence, identifying deal risks, exposures, contingencies, and value-creation opportunities.
• Work closely with Corporate Finance and Legal teams on SPA tax clauses, warranties, indemnities, and completion mechanics.
• Support post-acquisition integration, restructuring, and tax optimisation initiatives.
• Advise management on exit structuring and divestment strategies.

Commercial Tax Planning (In-House Focus)

• Design and implement practical, business-driven tax planning strategies aligned with commercial objectives.
• Support regional business units on tax implications of new products, pricing models, supply chain changes, and expansion plans.
• Evaluate tax efficiency of group structures, intercompany arrangements, and financing flows.
• Provide clear, actionable tax advice to non-tax stakeholders (management, operations, business heads).

International & Regional Tax Management

• Manage tax matters across multiple jurisdictions, particularly Southeast Asia (e.g. Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines).
• Assess cross-border tax implications including withholding taxes, tax treaties, permanent establishment risks, and profit repatriation.
• Work with external advisors to address country-specific tax issues while maintaining a group-wide perspective.

Transfer Pricing & Intercompany Matters

• Oversee commercial aspects of transfer pricing frameworks, ensuring alignment with business reality.
• Review intercompany charges (management fees, service fees, royalties, cost allocations) from a value-creation and risk perspective.
• Coordinate preparation of transfer pricing documentation with advisors where required.

Governance, Risk & Stakeholder Management

• Partner with external tax advisors (Big 4 and local firms) on complex or high-risk matters.
• Support tax audits, enquiries, and negotiations with tax authorities.
• Contribute to group tax governance, risk management, and internal controls.
• Prepare concise tax papers and recommendations for senior management and Board discussions.

Job Requirements

Requirements & Qualifications
Education
•    Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, Economics, or related disciplines.
•    Professional qualification (ACCA, CPA, CTA, ICAEW, etc.) is an advantage.
Experience
•    Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in:
o    M&A tax, international tax, or transaction tax; or
o    Big 4 tax advisory with strong deal exposure, followed by in-house experience.
•    Big 4 background is strongly preferred, particularly in M&A / International Tax.
•    Proven exposure to cross-border transactions and multi-country tax jurisdictions, especially in Southeast Asia.
•    Experience working closely with Corporate Finance, Legal, and senior management is highly desirable.
Skills & Attributes
•    Strong commercial judgement with the ability to balance tax efficiency and execution risk.
•    Hands-on, solution-oriented mindset (not purely compliance-driven).
•    Good articulation skill.
•    Comfortable working in fast-moving, deal-driven environments with changing priorities.
•    High integrity, ownership mindset, and strong stakeholder management skills.