Tax & Legal Services - Corporate Tax Advisory - Director

Role overview 

We are seeking an experienced Corporate Tax Director to lead complex engagements across the UAE, advising multinational groups, regional conglomerates, family offices and sovereign wealth funds on UAE Corporate Tax and related advisory matters. The role combines market leadership, technical excellence, and people management, with accountability for client portfolio growth, quality execution, and risk management. You will be a senior member of the leadership team, shaping our go‑to‑market strategy and coaching high‑performing teams to deliver exceptional client outcomes. 

Key responsibilities 

You will support the Corporate Tax Partners and lead and oversee a diverse portfolio covering advisory, compliance, controversy, and transactions: 

Client leadership and advisory 

• Serve as lead advisor on UAE Corporate Tax matters under Federal Decree‑Law No. 47 of 2022 and implementing decisions, including group structuring, free zone regimes, participation exemption, interest limitation, deductibility, loss utilisation, business restructuring, and permanent establishment and nexus analyses. 

• Lead complex transactions and reorganisations, including due diligence, tax structuring, SPA tax clauses, step‑plan design, post‑deal integration, and tax accounting implications. 

Engagement delivery and quality 

• Set engagement strategy, scope, budgets, and staffing plans; ensure timely, high‑quality deliverables aligned to global methodologies, independence, and risk management requirements. 

• Review and sign‑off technical analyses, memoranda, models, and client reports; ensure clear articulation of positions and defensibility under UAE law and OECD standards. 

• Oversee tax compliance for complex groups, including registrations, elections, group relief/consolidation, returns, and tax accounting/disclosures under IFRS; ensure robust documentation and workpapers. 

Market development 

• Drive business development with existing and new clients; originate and convert pipeline; lead proposals, thought leadership, and market eminence initiatives focused on priority sectors (financial services, energy, real estate, technology, consumer/retail, logistics, sovereign/PE). 

• Build executive‑level relationships (CFO, Tax Director) and cultivate a trusted‑advisor profile through insights on regulatory developments and market trends. 

People leadership 

• Lead, coach, and develop high‑performing teams across grades; provide on‑the‑job training, formal feedback, and sponsorship; promote inclusion and psychological safety. 

• Foster collaboration across service lines (TP, Deals, Legal, Audit, Consulting) to deliver integrated solutions and develop next‑generation leaders. 

Risk, ethics, and operations 

• Uphold the firm’s quality, independence, confidentiality, and information security standards; proactively manage engagement risks and escalation protocols. 

• Ensure accurate WIP, billing, and cash collection; deliver profitable growth against targets. 

Qualifications and experience 

• 12+ years of relevant corporate/international tax experience, with significant time in a Big Four or leading law/consulting firm; strong UAE/GCC exposure required. 

• Deep technical command of UAE Corporate Tax law and guidance. 

• Proven track record leading large, multi‑jurisdictional engagements and managing senior client stakeholders. 

• Demonstrable business development success, with experience originating and closing sizable advisory projects. 

• Strong understanding of IFRS tax accounting (IAS 12) and reporting for groups; familiarity with GloBE deferred tax, safe harbours, and data requirements will be an advantage. 

• Experience with Revenue Authority interactions, audits, rulings/clarifications, and dispute strategies will be an advantage. 

Education and professional credentials 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Law, Economics, or related field; advanced degree preferred. 

• Recognised tax/accounting qualification preferred (e.g., ADIT, CTA, ACA, CPA, CFA, or equivalent). 

• Arabic language skills are advantageous; fluency in English is required. 

Technical and leadership competencies 

• Expert written and oral communication, with the ability to translate complex rules into pragmatic, commercially grounded advice. 

• Strong financial modelling and data literacy; ability to guide clients on tax data, systems, and controls, including Pillar Two data readiness. 

• High judgment and negotiation skills; capable of defending positions and navigating regulatory dialogue. 

• Inclusive leadership, team building, and coaching at scale; resilient under pressure with excellent project management discipline. 

Technology and data 

You are proficient with MS Office and tax compliance platforms, and familiar with data extraction and transformation for tax compliance and reporting. You are comfortable utilising and developing market leading tax technology to support your role and deliver value to our clients, including AI, automation and analytics.