Associate Director - ITTS

Ernst & Young Global Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global professional services firm seeks an Associate Director specializing in Transaction Tax Advisory in Johannesburg. This high-profile role involves managing client relations, tax analyses, and oversight of project delivery with a focus on innovative tax planning. Applicants should have at least 8 years of related experience and a CA (SA) or equivalent qualification.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate complex tax concepts succinctly.
• Experience managing budgets, projects, and people.
• Minimum of 8 years’ related experience.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate understanding and application of tax knowledge.
• Conduct tax due diligence reviews and structuring engagements.
• Ensure timely delivery of reports and presentations.

Skills

Understanding of tax concepts

Client relationship management

Research of complex tax issues

Financial portfolio management

Interpersonal skills

Education

CA (SA), TA (SA) or admitted attorney

Job description

Overview

Job title : Associate Director - ITTS
Job Location : Gauteng, Johannesburg
Deadline : October 09, 2025

The Opportunity

As an ITTS Associate Director specialising in Transaction Tax Advisory, you will be at the heart of client centricity delivery. Based in Johannesburg but working nationally, you will be heavily involved at all stages of the project life cycle, making this a high-profile opportunity to take on a wide range of responsibilities and diversify your skills and experience. It is all about translating information from a variety of sources into quantitative and qualitative analyses to inform and advise our clients. That will include building relationships with clients in a spectrum of industries and getting to know their unique needs and aspirations to provide tailored global services.

Key Responsibilities

• You are required to demonstrate an understanding of increasingly complex tax concepts and effectively apply your tax knowledge to client situations, developing and delivering innovative tax planning ideas with timely, responsive services and work products that meet and / or exceed client expectations. You will conduct tax due diligence reviews, engage in structuring engagements, accurately analyse information and prepare quality, practical and creative approaches tailored to a client’s tax and economic situation, arriving at appropriate conclusions.
• Note: Additional responsibilities arise from the project life cycle and client needs as described in the role.

Skills and attributes for success

• Assisting with buy side and sell side due diligences
• Assisting in advising clients on the structuring of business transactions and tax implications thereof
• Drafting of opinions for clients on the tax consequences of restructures, mergers and acquisitions, as well as other pertinent matters
• Research of complex tax issues
• Interpretation of tax legislation
• Liaison with SARS and Counsel regarding complex and uncertain tax matters
• Assisting with the implementation of transactions, including :
• Review of financial models
• Review of tax implications of Transaction legal documentation

Responsibilities in respect of the above

• Planning assignment approaches including understanding client expectations and scoping work
• Pro-actively identifying areas of contention, discussing with the engagement team and proposing solutions where possible
• Ensuring timely delivery (this includes independently structuring complete reports / presentations of board level quality for even the most complex deal, focusing on creating impact)
• Financial portfolio management, including WIP management, billings and cash collection
• Complying with risk management procedures
• Training and performance management of consultants
• Managing the work performance of consultants
• Expanding professional network internally and externally
• Supervising office administration functions
• Supports broader service line leadership in diagnosing the health of the client relationships
• Heavily involved in identifying relationship building needs for the leadership team
• Positions self as a trusted adviser with senior clients on a broad range of TAX topics, and able to open up conversations on new areas

Key Internal Clients / Relationships

• ITTS partners and team
• The larger tax community and staff
• Cross-service line partners and managers
• Relevant firm subject matter experts
• Strategy and Transactions team

To qualify for the role you must have

• CA (SA), TA (SA) or admitted attorney
• Ability to communicate complex tax concepts succinctly and clearly to clients
• Experience managing budgets, projects and people
• Ability to develop relationships with clients and provide a high level of client service
• Excellent interpersonal skills and time management capabilities
• The ability to work at a fast pace, often with shifting responsibilities
• Minimum of 8 years’ related experience

Ideally, you will also have

• A consistent record of excellence in a professional services environment
• Experience in one of the Big 4 preferable
• Accounting / Financial Services jobs