Tax Counsel Vice President

SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group headquartered in Tokyo with a 400-year history, offering a diverse range of financial services including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group operates over 130 offices with 80,000 employees worldwide across nearly 40 countries. In the Americas, SMBC Group provides commercial and investment banking services to corporate, institutional, and municipal clients, connecting them to local markets and an extensive global network.

About the role

We are seeking a Tax Counsel, Vice President to perform all functions of a Tax Attorney, including reviewing legal documentation, advising on transactions, analyzing tax laws, assisting with tax compliance and audits, and developing strategies to reduce tax costs and risks.

Responsibilities

• Review legal documentation (e.g., credit agreements, ISDAs) and advise on transactions from a tax perspective.
• Conduct U.S. tax and international tax research and writing (e.g., memorandum of law to file), including researching double tax treaties and permanent establishment issues.
• Provide U.S. tax advice to tax compliance colleagues and to legal, business, finance, and senior management stakeholders.
• Provide tax and financial audit support for various U.S. entities in response to IRS, SALT, and financial auditor inquiries.
• Monitor changes in tax laws, assess their impact, review tax planning ideas, and assist with tax structuring needs.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active license to practice law.
• Minimum five years of relevant experience in a law firm, financial institution, accounting firm, and/or corporate legal or tax department.
• Knowledge of and experience with U.S. tax, including international tax, tax structuring and planning, and the taxation of financial services, lending transactions, and capital markets activities.
• Preferred knowledge of domestic and cross-border fund structuring and experience across asset classes (e.g., private credit, infrastructure, private equity).

Skills

• Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work independently, take ownership of responsibilities, ensure timely follow-up, and effectively manage internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• Strong client-focused mindset with the ability to advise internal and external stakeholders, respond to inquiries with timely and practical guidance, and communicate complex tax matters clearly and concisely.
• Strong research and writing skills, critical thinking ability, and problem resolution skills.

Schedule

SMBC’s employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model, allowing work from home and the office. Employees must live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, such as FINRA-registered positions requiring full-time in-office attendance.

Pay

The anticipated salary range for this role is between $178,000.00 and $235,000.00. The specific salary offered will be based on individual qualifications, experience, and geographic market conditions. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award.

Benefits

SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees in addition to cash compensation.