Senior Manager/Associate Partner - M&A - Fund Advisory

Senior Manager/Associate Partner - M&A - Fund Advisory

Job Description :

This is a high-impact, client-facing role requiring a blend of deep technical expertise, strategic advisory capability, and a genuine appetite for business development and practice building. Lead complex mandates spanning AIF structuring, SEBI/RBI regulatory advisory, treaty planning, GIFT City / IFSC structuring, and cross-border fund tax while also playing a central role in driving client relationships, growing the practice, and mentoring a high-caliber team.

ROLE DETAILS :

Detailed Job Description :

Project & Engagement Management :

- Scope, plan, and resource engagements from the outset, defining deliverables, milestones, team composition, and fee structures in alignment with client expectations and firm economics

- Manage multiple simultaneous engagements across different clients and matter types, prioritizing effectively under time pressure and ensuring no client is underserved

- Establish and enforce quality control protocols across all client deliverables, conduct technical reviews, ensuring consistency with firm positions, and managing risk on complex advisory matters

- Monitor and manage engagement economics, including fee realization, WIP, billing timeliness, and profitability, taking corrective action where required

- Coordinate effectively with internal stakeholders (tax tech, legal, compliance, finance) and external advisors (counsel, fund administrators, custodians, auditors) to ensure smooth execution of complex, multi-party mandates

- Maintain documentation discipline ensuring matter files, advice trails, conflict checks, and engagement letters are current and compliant with firm risk management protocols

Technical Advisors & Engagement Delivery :

- Lead end-to-end advisory on fund structuring for AIFs (Category I, II & III), REITs, InvITs, and offshore fund vehicles including Mauritius, Singapore, GIFT City / IFSC, and Cayman structures

- Advise fund managers, LPs, and co-investors on tax-efficient entry and exit strategies, including capital gains characterization, treaty eligibility, Limitation of Benefits (LOB) provisions, Principal Purpose Test (PPT), and GAAR applicability

- Provide comprehensive advisory on pass-through taxation of AIFs, carry and management fee structuring, waterfall mechanisms, and tax treatment at the investor level including FPIs, resident and non-resident investors

- Counsel clients on the full spectrum of SEBI AIF Regulations, SEBI (Portfolio Managers) Regulations, FPI regime, FEMA, and RBI provisions relevant to fund formation, investor onboarding, and investment activities

- Advise on GIFT City / IFSC opportunities, fund domiciliation, IFSCA regulatory framework, tax incentives under Section 10(4D), fund manager entity structures, and operational considerations

- Advise on secondary transactions, co-investment structures, LP transfers, side pockets, and restructuring of existing fund vehicles

- Handle FATCA / CRS compliance advisory for fund structures; advise on entity classification, reporting obligations, and investor documentation requirements

- Provide opinions and advisory on treaty interpretation, withholding tax positions, and advance rulings strategy for fund-related transactions

- Oversee the quality and technical accuracy of client deliverables including opinion letters, transaction memos, regulatory submissions, and board presentations, ensuring they meet Tier 1 standards

Client Management :

- Serve as the primary relationship owner for a portfolio of fund manager and institutional investor clients; own the overall client experience, satisfaction, and retention

- Maintain regular, proactive client contact through structured check-ins, regulatory update briefings, and informal relationship-building ensuring the firm remains top-of-mind for advisory needs

- Anticipate client needs ahead of regulatory changes, market events, or fund lifecycle milestones (fund re-ups, expansions, exits) and position the firm's advisory support proactively

- Manage client expectations skillfully setting realistic timelines, communicating risks and complexities clearly, and escalating issues appropriately while maintaining client confidence

- Handle senior client escalations and sensitive advisory situations with maturity, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented approach

- Ensure seamless multi-partner / multi-practice coordination on complex mandates, acting as the orchestrating relationship partner across workstreams

Business Development & Client Origination :

- Proactively identify and pursue business development opportunities including cross-selling to existing clients, originating new mandates through relationship networks, and converting inbound inquiries into engagements

- Build and maintain a personal pipeline of client relationships with fund managers (PE, VC, hedge, credit, infrastructure), LPs, family offices, sovereign funds, development finance institutions, and intermediaries such as placement agents and fund administrators

- Represent the firm externally at industry conferences, SEBI / IFSCA consultations, fund forums, and investor summits; leverage these platforms to build the firm's brand and generate leads

- Develop and present pitch decks, capability statements, and proposals that effectively articulate the firm's value proposition, lead client pitches and beauty parades at the senior level

- Track developments in the regulatory and legislative landscape (SEBI, RBI, CBDT, IFSCA) and proactively communicate impact to existing clients using insights as hooks for client conversations and new mandates

- Collaborate with other practice heads (M&A, Transfer Pricing, Indirect Tax, Regulatory) to identify and pursue cross-practice opportunities and deliver integrated advisory to clients

- Contribute to the firm's thought leadership initiatives including articles, whitepapers, webinars, and client alerts to enhance the firm's standing in the funds advisory market

Knowledge Management :

- Act as an internal domain authority, providing technical leadership on complex tax and regulatory matters.

- Lead the development of thought leadership, including articles, publications, and knowledge pieces that strengthen the firms market presence.

- Mentor Senior Managers and Managers, guiding them to build deep specializations and become trusted experts within their domains.

Brand Management :

- Representing & endorsing Firm's expertise and scope of service at various external forums. Interacting with peers and building a high-quality network in industry.

- Publishing articles & research papers on regular basis. Sharing knowledge and learning at external forums to increase visibility and credibility.

People Management :

- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of managers, senior associates, and associates providing technical guidance, structured feedback, and career development support

- Foster a high-performance, learning-oriented team culture where junior professionals are stretched, supported, and developed into future leaders of the practice

- Participate in talent acquisition for the practice interviewing candidates, making hiring recommendations, and contributing to the firm's campus and lateral recruitment efforts

- Conduct periodic performance reviews and support the firm's appraisal process with fair, developmental, and commercially grounded assessments

Ideation/ Innovation :

- Initiate and drive development of proprietary structuring models

- Design and implement forward-thinking litigation strategies, leveraging deep technical knowledge and creative problem-solving.

- Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

- Promote knowledge sharing and cross-collaboration.

Internal Process/MIS :

- Owns project health reviews.

- Ensures billing discipline, receivables management, and data accuracy.

Essential Skills, Experience & Attributes :

- 10-15 years of post-qualification experience in funds tax, financial services tax, or regulatory advisory with the bulk of experience at a Big 6 accounting firm (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, BDO, Grant Thornton), a Tier 1 Indian law firm (AZB & Partners, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Trilegal, Khaitan & Co, JSA), or leading boutique funds / regulatory advisory practice.

- Prior experience in a Big 6 firm or a reputed law firm is strongly preferred and will be a significant differentiator in the selection process, such candidates bring structured methodology, exposure to complex multi-jurisdictional mandates, rigorous quality standards, and professional networks that are directly relevant to this role

- Demonstrated track record of advising on at least 15-25 fund structuring or fund investment mandates, with increasing seniority and responsibility across the career arc

- Experience of having independently managed client relationships and engagement P&Ls at a senior manager / director level or above

Technical Skills & Domain Knowledge :

- AIF framework mastery, deep knowledge of SEBI AIF Regulations across all three categories, including registration, investment conditions, diversification norms, related party transactions, and SEBI reporting requirements

- Fund taxation expertise pass-through taxation of Cat I & II AIFs, business income characterisation for Cat III AIFs, carry taxation, management fee structuring, and investor-level tax implications across resident and non-resident investor categories

- Cross-border fund structures, expert-level understanding of Mauritius GBC structures, Singapore VCC / LP vehicles, GIFT City IFSC fund structures, Cayman exempted limited partnerships, and treaty shopping / anti-avoidance considerations

- DTAA expertise, deep working knowledge of India-Mauritius, India-Singapore, India-Netherlands, India-UAE, and India-France treaties, including MLI modifications, PPT, LOB clauses, and their application in fund investment contexts

- FEMA & RBI framework, FDI and FPI regulations, downstream investment conditions, ODI framework, external commercial borrowings, and RBI approval / filing requirements for fund structures

- FATCA / CRS entity classification under FATCA / CRS, due diligence obligations, reporting requirements, and investor documentation (W-8BEN-E, self-certifications)

- GIFT City / IFSC familiarity with IFSCA regulations, GIFT City fund structures (IFSC Fund, FME entities), applicable tax incentives, and operational set-up considerations

- Litigation and dispute awareness ability to evaluate litigation risk on novel positions and to provide practical, risk-calibrated advice rather than purely theoretical opinions

Competencies :

Innovation & Problem Solving :

- Generating new ideas, challenging assumptions to create new solutions that create significant value for client and firm.

- Framing and analyzing problems deeply to create solutions with long term perspective.

Firm Building :

- Striving to improve the firm's image, offerings and overall performance.

- It demands organizational commitment and blending of visionary thought with pragmatism and perseverance to meet and balance the client's and firm's needs.

- Institutionalizing values, practices, processes, policies, developing capability and culture to create the platform for firm development.

Building Biz :

- Committed to think about the ongoing and evolving needs of the firm, learning how new and different solutions can be leveraged to move the organization forward and monetized into revenue.

- Entrepreneurial mindset in creating new opportunities where none exist.

- Systematically deepening accounts and creating desired value positioning for creating steady and sustainable business performance.

Continuous Learning & Expertise Building :

- Committed to think about the ongoing and evolving levels of expertise and perspective required to cater to changing client and industry requirements.

- Driven to consistently expand technical knowledge, distribute work-related knowledge to others in order to help the firm stay ahead of the curve.

Nurturing Relationships :

- Working to build and maintain warm and strategic relationships or networks with people who are part of the firm's immediate and extended circle.

- Helping everyone in experiencing the "Firm way" and thereby create long lasting, trusted and mutually beneficial relationships.

Developing Others :

- Developing Others involves a genuine intent to foster the long-term learning or development of others through coaching, managing performance and mentoring.

- Entrusting responsibility to others as per their strength, performance and development needs, and keeping track of accomplishments.

- It plays a key role in creating leadership pipeline to fuel the firm's aspirations