Role Overview:

A leading Management & Professional Services Consulting Firm is looking for a senior Chartered Accountant to lead its Succession Planning & Family Advisory practice. The role involves advising business families, promoters and High Net-worth Individuals (HNIs) on complex succession, estate planning, wealth structuring, family governance, ownership transition and business continuity matters.

The professional will work closely with promoters, family members and senior stakeholders to understand family dynamics, ownership structures, business objectives and long-term wealth and succession requirements, and develop practical and commercially viable solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead complex succession and estate planning assignments involving business families, promoter shareholdings, operating businesses, immovable properties, investments, artwork and other family assets. Develop succession strategies covering ownership transition, management succession, business continuity and next-generation transition.

- Advise clients on trusts, Wills, family arrangements, Family Charters, gifts, partitions, holding structures and family governance mechanisms. Evaluate appropriate ownership and wealth-transfer structures based on family objectives, business requirements and applicable legal, tax and regulatory considerations.

- Work on complex transactions and business matters including M&A, restructuring, business sale and pre-IPO/IPO assignments. Advise on relevant promoter contribution, lock-in, holding period, disclosure and listing considerations. Handle matters relating to listed companies, including promoter/promoter-group classification, SEBI requirements, disclosures, transfer restrictions and applicable approvals.

- Provide advice on Indian tax, stamp duty, Companies Act, FEMA, SEBI regulations and applicable succession laws. Handle cross-border succession and estate planning matters involving NRIs, non-resident trustees or beneficiaries, foreign trusts, overseas foundations and assets held outside India. Undertake research and provide guidance on overseas tax, succession, estate and inheritance laws, working with international specialists where required.

- Lead the drafting, review and finalization of trust deeds, Wills, family arrangements, shareholder agreements, Family Charters, partition deeds, structure notes, technical opinions and client presentations. Lead discussions with clients and family members, present recommendations and assist in implementation of agreed structures.

- Coordinate with tax, legal, regulatory, valuation and transaction specialists to develop and implement integrated solutions. Supervise and mentor junior professionals, review their work and ensure quality and timely delivery of assignments. The role will also involve contributing to the growth and development of the Succession Planning & Family Advisory practice.

Candidate Profile:

- The ideal candidate should be a qualified Chartered Accountant with 10+ years of post-qualification experience and strong exposure to Succession Planning, Estate Planning, Family Business Advisory, Private Client Advisory, Wealth Structuring, Tax Structuring, International Tax or Transaction Advisory.

- Candidates should possess strong technical, analytical, research, drafting, presentation and client-management skills, with the ability to independently lead complex assignments and manage senior client relationships. Experience working directly with business families, promoters, HNIs, family offices or closely held businesses will be strongly preferred.

- The candidate should have the ability to understand complex family, commercial and ownership objectives, identify tax, legal and regulatory considerations, and work effectively with multiple specialists to develop practical solutions. Complete knowledge of every applicable law or regulation is not mandatory; strong problem-solving ability, structured research skills and the ability to integrate inputs from tax, legal, regulatory and transaction specialists are key requirements.