Job Description:

We are looking for an experienced Senior Manager - Direct Tax to lead high-value direct tax advisory and litigation engagements and provide strategic tax solutions to clients across industries. The role will have end-to-end ownership of complex engagements, key client relationships, business development, team leadership, and delivery quality. The individual will work closely with senior client stakeholders and internal leadership on complex tax matters, transactions, and business decisions.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead and own complex Direct Tax advisory and litigation engagements, ensuring high-quality and timely delivery.

- Provide strategic tax advice on corporate taxation, tax planning, assessments, appeals, compliance, and litigation matters.

- Lead and oversee representation before CIT(A), Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), High Courts, and the Supreme Court, as applicable.

- Develop litigation and dispute-resolution strategies for complex tax matters and assess potential tax exposures, risks, and commercial implications.

- Lead international tax planning and cross-border transaction structuring, considering business objectives, tax efficiency, regulatory requirements, and potential risks.

- Advise clients on complex transactions, including foreign investments, business reorganisations, mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions from a direct tax perspective.

- Review and provide strategic inputs on tax positions, technical opinions, transaction structures, submissions, assessments, and appellate matters.

- Monitor changes in tax legislation, regulations, circulars, notifications, and judicial precedents and translate their implications into actionable client advice.

- Provide guidance on Indian and international tax laws, including relevant provisions of FEMA and the Black Money Act (BMA).

- Own multiple high-value engagements, including scope, resource planning, timelines, quality, risk management, client communication, and overall delivery.

- Act as a trusted advisor and senior point of contact for key client accounts and senior client stakeholders.

- Lead client meetings, presentations, workshops, and discussions involving complex tax issues and strategic recommendations.

- Develop a deep understanding of clients businesses and proactively identify tax risks, planning opportunities, and areas for value creation.

- Drive business development and account growth by identifying new opportunities, expanding existing relationships, and developing new client engagements.

- Lead proposals, pitches, presentations, and solution development for prospective and existing clients.

- Contribute to the growth of the Direct Tax practice by developing new service opportunities, client solutions, and market propositions.

- Manage engagement economics, resource utilisation, delivery timelines, and overall commercial performance of assignments.

- Lead, coach, and mentor Managers, Assistant Managers, and junior tax professionals, providing technical direction and supporting their career development.

- Review team performance and deliverables, provide guidance on complex matters, and ensure consistent technical and quality standards.

- Build strong collaboration with other service lines and internal teams on cross-functional tax, transaction, and business advisory engagements.

- Support practice leadership in knowledge development, process improvements, technical initiatives, and strategic growth priorities.

Required Skills & Experience:

- 8-11 years of relevant experience in Direct Tax, Tax Advisory, Tax Litigation, International Tax, or related areas.

- Chartered Accountant (CA) preferred.

- Strong expertise in Indian Direct Taxation and International Tax Laws.

- Proven experience independently managing complex tax advisory, litigation, assessments, appeals, and compliance engagements.

- Strong experience in international tax planning, cross-border transactions, foreign investment, and transaction structuring.

- Experience handling or overseeing matters before CIT(A), ITAT, High Courts, and/or the Supreme Court.

- Strong understanding of corporate taxation, tax risk management, regulatory requirements, and tax dispute resolution.

- Good working knowledge of FEMA and BMA.

- Strong ability to interpret tax legislation, regulations, judicial precedents, and their commercial implications.

- Demonstrated experience in managing key client relationships and senior stakeholders.

- Proven ability to lead multiple client engagements and large teams simultaneously.

- Strong business development, account management, proposal, and client acquisition skills.

- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

- Strong commercial understanding with the ability to balance technical correctness, client objectives, risk, and business impact.

- Ability to provide technical leadership while remaining involved in critical and complex client matters.