Employer Solutions - Associate Director

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 Employer Solutions team advises a broad range of clients on employment taxes, reward, payroll and workforce-related matters, helping businesses manage risk, meet their compliance obligations and support their people strategy in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

The Employer Solutions team works with clients across that diverse base, from owner-managed businesses to large corporates and multinational groups. A key part of our offering involves supporting transaction-related work, working alongside our Transaction Tax Advisory team to help clients identify, manage and navigate employment tax issues that arise before, during and after a transaction. 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 will build on the close working relationship between the two teams, helping clients receive integrated, commercially focused advice across both employer tax and transaction-related matters.

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 to lead complex employer tax engagements, develop key client relationships, support business development activities and contribute to the continued growth of the practice. The successful candidate will also play a key role in supporting our Transaction Tax Advisory team, leading the employment tax aspects of transactions and helping clients navigate tax issues throughout the transaction life-cycle.

As an Associate Director, you will work closely with Directors and Partners to deliver high-quality, commercially focused advice to clients. Your primary focus will be Employer Solutions work, including advisory, compliance, risk management and client relationship leadership, while also supporting transaction projects where specialist employment tax input is required. You will oversee multiple engagements, develop junior team members, identify opportunities to expand client relationships and play a key role in the continued growth of both the Employer Solutions and wider Belfast Tax practice.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Leading 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. 

• Supporting Transaction Tax Advisory engagements by leading the employment tax aspects of transactions, helping clients identify, manage and navigate people-related tax risks and opportunities throughout the transaction life-cycle. 

• Owning and developing key client relationships, acting as a trusted adviser and identifying opportunities to support clients' wider business objectives across both Employer Solutions and transaction-related work. 

• 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 project timelines, quality standards and coordination across internal teams, clients and external stakeholders, ensuring the successful delivery of both Employer Solutions and transaction-related assignments. 

• 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 opportunities with new and existing clients, preparing proposals and contributing to the growth of both the Employer Solutions and wider Tax practice. 

• 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.

• Demonstrable experience of Transaction Tax Advisory assignments, including tax due diligence, structuring and transaction support, or a strong ability to apply Employer Solutions expertise within a transactions environment.

• 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.

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