Senior Tax Manager Placement Case Study: Navigating Niche Talent Markets
A prominent trading company sought to strengthen its in-house tax capability by hiring a Senior Tax Manager with deep technical coverage across corporate tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and transfer pricing.
A key requirement was hands-on experience with transfer pricing in the oil sector, enabling the business to reduce reliance on external advisors.
The challenge:
Highly Specialised Skill Requirements
The role required senior-level expertise in oil-related transfer pricing, alongside a broad understanding of corporate tax and GST. This combination significantly narrowed the available talent pool.
Lean In-House Tax Teams
Tax functions within trading houses are typically small, limiting the number of candidates with end-to-end exposure across multiple tax disciplines.
Limited Transferability from Professional Services
While Big Four accounting firms were a key source of potential candidates, many professionals specialised in isolated tax areas and lacked the commercial breadth required for an in-house trading environment.
Our Approach:
Market Mapping:
We conducted focused outreach to senior tax professionals within trading houses and selectively engaged Big Four candidates with direct oil transfer pricing exposure.
Candidate Filtering:
Shortlisted candidates were assessed for hands-on experience in oil transfer pricing documentation, corporate tax and GST compliance, and familiarity with international tax frameworks, including BEPS 2.0.
Speed of Execution
Following the initial briefing, the search commenced immediately. Three qualified profiles were presented for first-round review within a short timeframe, allowing the client to progress quickly.
The Outcome:
Within one week, 30 candidates were approached and three were shortlisted. The client interviewed two candidates and proceeded with an offer to one individual who met the role’s seniority, industry, and regulatory requirements.
Within three months, we completed three senior-level placements with the same firm. All candidates were passive at the time of engagement and were selected based on alignment with the client’s technical needs and operating environment.
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.