SVP, Tax Lead, Asia Pacific

Investment Services Private Markets

The Investment Services Private Markets Department (ISPVM) is responsible for investment services for the private market across the GIC group. It is responsible for providing deal structuring and closing, portfolio monitoring, valuation, finance, operations, tax, data management and analytics services, in the execution of private market investments in Real Estate, Private Equity, Private Credits and Infrastructure. It is involved in financial reporting and accounting of investment holding companies, as well as operations and financial due diligence for asset operations.

GIC seeks to hire a Senior Vice President for the Tax function within ISPVM. This role will lead a team covering Asia Pacific Private Markets and Global Public Markets. The person will also be a member of the leadership team in the Tax function and support the Head of Tax in driving tax initiatives and managing tax matters across the GIC Group.

Responsibilities

1. Tax Support to GIC’s Private Investments in the Asia Pacific and Public Investments globally
   • Delivers early-stage tax support as investment teams explore the viability of new opportunities. In anticipation of investing into new jurisdictions, facilitates preparatory work with external advisors to determine the availability of tax privileges for GIC and preferred tax structuring alternatives.
   • Provides timely support to investment teams in complex situations to ensure tax risks and opportunities are well understood, monitors the quality of final technical advice/opinions, and tax ruling submissions and, if necessary, gets involved to resolve service issues with advisors.
   • Maintains tax knowledge pertinent to assets classes that invest across (i) the spectrum of Public Markets investments; as well as (ii) Asia Pacific for Private Markets investments, particularly private equity (funds, co-investments and direct equity) and real estate, and leverage a network of external advisors to monitor for changes of tax law or administrative practice. Effectively communicates changes of law to investment departments that could impact current or future investments.
   • Proactively identifies opportunities such as obtaining tax exemption, relief at source and/or more timely receipt of tax refunds.
   • Proactively identifies best-in-class tax advisors to support the specific needs of the investment teams. On-boards advisors, maintains relationships, and monitors performance to ensure advisors deliver to GIC’s service and value expectations.
   • Collaborates with investment teams and other Corporate Services departments to ensure that the on-going tax management of investments across the globe meets GIC’s needs. Identifies improvements and recommends pragmatic solutions.
   • As necessary, facilitates similar investment support to non-Asia Pacific private investments to ensure that the global tax support provided to GIC is balanced amongst competing priorities.

2. Broader support across tax strategy and tax risk
   • Supports the Tax function to advance tax strategic initiatives.
   • Maintains constructive relationships with tax departments of peer organizations in the Asia Pacific.
   • Support tax risk reporting to the Board, management committees, and various internal stakeholders.
   • Assists the tax compliance team in interfacing with investment departments to ensure that GIC’s tax compliance obligations are met.
   • Actively contributes to the Tax team’s knowledge and technology resources, and shares ideas/information with peers.
   • Leads special projects and initiatives for the Tax team.

3. Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships
   • Builds the trust of the investment departments that are directly supported.
   • Develops, maintains, and manages relationships across the relevant Corporate Services and Investment teams.
   • Collaborates with peers in the Tax team to leverage team knowledge and experience.
   • Promotes collaboration and issue resolution within and across GIC.

4. Team Leadership
   • Responsible for driving the strategy as well as the performance and development of the team
   • Primary contact for regulators and tax authorities in technical matters in the region.
   • An active member of the wider ISPVM leadership team and is able to lead / support / contribute to cross-departmental initiatives.

Requirements

• A minimum of 15 years’ tax experience, with significant international and M&A tax experience
• A law degree with a major in Tax, or holds the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, or comparable professional credentials
• Experience in the investment industry is preferred
• Strong team player
• Demonstrates leadership capabilities in cross-functional teams
• Demonstrates strong analytical skills, ability to think broadly and strategically, assess a variety of factors, recommend a solution and execute well
• Strong communicator and able to adapt own communication styles to the different audience
• Proven skill to synthesize complex technical concepts into plain language for non-specialist audiences
• Strong organizational/project management skills and the ability to efficiently progress multiples assignments
• Excellent attention to detail and consistently high levels of accuracy
• Demonstrates personal initiative, strives to innovate and build best practices, but is highly attuned to the need for pragmatic solutions
• A continuous learner with a growth mindset who stays on top of business trends and tax technical changes