Senior Tax Manager Placement Case Study: Navigating Niche Talent Markets

About the client: 

The client, a prominent trading company based in Singapore, was in search of a Senior Tax Manager with a strong background in transfer pricing, especially within the oil industry. The goal was to strengthen their internal tax team and reduce reliance on external tax advisors. The client sought a candidate who possessed a comprehensive understanding of various tax areas, including corporate tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and transfer pricing. 

The challenge:

Finding the right candidate posed several challenges.  

The client required a senior-level tax professional with specialized expertise in transfer pricing related to oil. Additionally, the tax teams in trading houses are typically lean, making it difficult to find candidates with a broad range of tax knowledge. Candidates from the Big Four accounting firms often lacked the well-rounded expertise that the client needed, which included corporate tax, GST, and transfer pricing.

Our Approach:

• Market Mapping: We reached out to senior tax managers within trading houses and targeted candidates from Big Four accounting firms with relevant transfer pricing experience. 
• Candidate Filtering: Our filtering process focused on candidates who had direct experience with oil transfer pricing documentation. We ensured that all shortlisted candidates were knowledgeable about tax compliance regulations, including the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) 2.0 framework. 
• Speed of Execution: After our initial client call, we began the search immediately. We presented three qualified profiles for initial review, which the client liked, leading them to pause the search. 

The Results:

We contacted 30 candidates and successfully shortlisted three within one week. The client interviewed two of these candidates and extended an offer to one who met all the necessary criteria, including seniority, industry knowledge, and regulatory expertise. The client appreciated the efficiency of our candidate sourcing process, which resulted in a continued exclusive partnership with our firm. 

Within three months, our consultant placed three exceptional candidates with the firm. These were highly skilled professionals who were not actively seeking a new job but were a perfect fit for the role. 

Concluding thoughts: 

We thrive on finding the right people, even in the toughest markets. When faced with a highly specialized talent search, our strategic approach and extensive network delivered the perfect candidate, earning us a valuable long-term partnership with our client.