Senior Tax Specialist: Local & Offshore

Sanlam; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services firm is seeking an experienced Tax Specialist in Sandton. The role involves providing tax advisory services to high net worth clients and requires a deep understanding of various tax laws and regulations. A suitable candidate should possess a Bachelor's degree, relevant postgraduate qualifications, and at least ten years of experience in a tax role. The firm offers an inclusive workplace and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Minimum ten years of experience in a Tax specialist role, preferably in a global environment.
• SARS registered tax practitioner required.

Responsibilities

• Advise on local and international tax matters for senior clients.
• Draft formal opinions on jurisdictional tax consequences.
• Liaise with SARS regarding complex tax matters.

Skills

Verbal and written communication skills

Research skills on complex tax issues

Collaboration and communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

MCom (Taxation) or equivalent

CA(SA)

Job description

Who are we?

Sanlam Private Wealth crafts customised investment portfolios for high net worth private clients, charitable institutions, trusts and corporate entities.

With assets under management and administration of more than R240 billion, we offer a comprehensive and integrated suite of wealth management solutions. These include equity, retirement and offshore investment portfolios, fiduciary and tax services, an equity-backed finance offering, a global stockbroking service and derivatives trading.

At Sanlam Private Wealth, our clients are at the core of everything we do. For this reason, we employ people with passion – individuals who thrive in an entrepreneurial, high-energy environment.

Sanlam Private Wealth is part of the Sanlam Investment Group – the largest, most diversified investment firm in South Africa, with a growing footprint on the African continent and in India.

What will you do?

• Establish oneself as a trusted advisor to senior clients on local and international tax matters, including the ability to initiate discussions on new opportunities
• Draft formal opinions for clients on jurisdictional tax consequences of local and offshore structures, as well as other pertinent matters such as foreign estate and succession and tax laws, probate matters, double taxation treaties, etc.
• Liaise with SARS and Counsel regarding complex and uncertain tax matters
• Advise on the implementation of transactions, including:
  • Review of financial models
  • South African Exchange Control provisions and Common Monetary Area considerations
• Review tax implications of transaction legal documentation
• Plan assignment approaches including understanding client expectations and scoping work
• Pro-actively identify areas of contention, discussing with the engagement teams and proposing or developing solutions where possible
• Timeous delivery of various board reports and presentations on complex deals and structuring
• Comply with risk management procedures
• Training on technical tax, Excon and international matters
• Expand professional network internally and externally
• Provide sound advice and support to the broader business and stakeholders

What will make you successful in this role?

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• In depth knowledge of major jurisdictions tax and inheritance tax laws

Qualification and experience

• Bachelor’s Degree
• MCom (Taxation), LLB, LLM (Tax Law), HDip (Tax and International Tax), CA(SA)
• A minimum of ten years of experience in a Tax specialist role, preferably within a global environment
• STEP Membership
• Strong academic record
• SARS registered tax practitioner

Knowledge and skills

• Strong research skills on complex tax issues
• Regulatory Reporting in the financial services industry
• Collaboration and communication on senior stakeholder level

Personal qualities

• Strong report writing ability
• Accurate and detail orientated
• Critical and analytical capability
• Ability to perform well under pressure and show maturity, confidence and resilience
• Pro-active approach to work, clients, problem solving
• Learning agility and curiosity
• Assertive
• Passionate ownership for results
• High level of integrity

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realize their worth. Through its business clusters – Sanlam Personal Finance, Sanlam Emerging Markets, Sanlam Investments, Sanlam Corporate Santam, Mi-way, as well as the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers

• To be considered for the above opportunity please upload your detailed CV on or before 25 July 2025
• Please note that if you are not contacted within 2 weeks after the closing date your application has been unsuccessful

Our commitment to transformation

The Sanlam Group is committed to transformation and embracing diversity and ouremployment equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse workplace with employment equity as a key goal to create an inclusive workforce, representative of the demographics of our society as well as people with disabilities.