Senior Manager / Associate Director - Transaction Tax | EY South Africa

Ernst & Young Global Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global consulting firm is seeking a Senior Manager / Associate Director in Transaction Tax to lead complex engagements and provide tax insights on significant deals. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical knowledge and the ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams while mentoring junior professionals. Join a dynamic team that collaborates on landmark transactions shaping the South African economic landscape.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing budgets, projects, and teams.
• Relevant experience in transaction tax within a law firm or advisory environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex engagements for corporate and private equity clients.
• Advise on structuring, diligence, and modeling for transactions.
• Collaborate with global teams for tax considerations.
• Coach and develop your team for high-quality client delivery.

Skills

Leading multi-disciplinary teams

Corporate and transaction tax knowledge

Analytical skills

Strong communication skills

Commercial acumen

Education

CA(SA) or equivalent professional qualification

Job description

Job title : Senior Manager / Associate Director - Transaction Tax | EY South Africa

Job Location : Gauteng, Johannesburg

Deadline : December 11, 2025

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• As a Senior Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in helping clients unlock value, manage risk, and navigate the tax implications of their most strategic decisions. You’ll collaborate closely with senior leaders and some of the most recognised tax minds in the profession - while developing the next generation of high-performing professionals around you.

The opportunity

• EY’s Transaction Tax practice is growing rapidly, supporting a dynamic market where tax is increasingly central to deal strategy and execution.
• You’ll be part of a team that advises on all stages of the transaction lifecycle – from due diligence and structuring, to post-deal integration and internal reorganisations. The role offers exceptional breadth and visibility, working across sectors and borders, often on landmark deals shaping South Africa’s economic landscape.

Your key responsibilities

• Lead complex engagements across buy-side and sell-side transactions for both corporate and private equity clients.
• Advise on structuring, diligence, and modelling, providing commercially focused tax insights and identifying value opportunities.
• Review transaction documentation (including sale agreements, merger terms, and financing structures) and provide technical input on tax exposures and mitigations.
• Collaborate with cross-border teams, coordinating global advice and integrating international tax considerations.
• Coach and develop your team, ensuring technical excellence and high-quality client delivery.
• Contribute to business development and thought leadership by staying across emerging trends in corporate and international tax.

Skills and attributes for success

• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage complex engagements.
• Strong technical knowledge of corporate and transaction tax, including restructurings and M&A-related issues.
• Deep understanding of South African tax legislation, and awareness of international principles impacting cross-border deals.
• Strong analytical, writing, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.

To qualify for the role, you must have

• CA(SA), Admitted Attorney, or equivalent professional qualification.
• Relevant experience in corporate, M&A or transaction tax within a law firm, professional services or in-house advisory environment.
• Demonstrated experience in tax due diligence, deal structuring, and post-acquisition planning.Proven experience managing budgets, projects, and people.

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Experience advising private equity and multinational clients.
• Exposure to cross-border tax structuring or international tax planning.
• A passion for mentoring, developing talent, and sharing technical knowledge.
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