Tax Specialist

About the role

A leading American financial institution is seeking a tax specialist to join its Bahrain-based team on a secondment basis. This is a regional role covering direct and indirect taxation across the MENA region, requiring strong technical depth, multi-jurisdiction exposure, and familiarity with financial services compliance frameworks.

The position is ideal for a qualified tax or finance professional looking to deepen their regional expertise within a globally recognised banking environment.

Key responsibilities

• Manage direct and indirect tax compliance and reporting across MENA jurisdictions
• Monitor and interpret evolving tax legislation across the GCC and broader MENA region
• Ensure adherence to VAT, corporate income tax, and withholding tax obligations across applicable countries
• Support compliance with ESR, CSR, CRS, and FATCA requirements
• Liaise with internal stakeholders, external advisors, and regulatory authorities
• Prepare and review tax filings, computations, and supporting documentation
• Provide technical tax advisory to business units on transactions and structural matters
• Track regulatory developments and assess their impact on the institution's tax position

Candidate requirements

Mandatory – all must be met:

• Professional qualification: CA, ACCA, or CPA (completed or finalist)
• Minimum 2 years of direct work experience in taxation (direct or indirect)
• Based in Bahrain, or willing to relocate — this is a fully on-site role

Preferred:

• 3–5+ years of tax experience with exposure to both direct and indirect tax streams
• Demonstrated experience across GCC jurisdictions (Bahrain, UAE, KSA) and/or broader MENA
• Working knowledge of ESR, CSR, CRS, and/or FATCA compliance frameworks
• Prior experience within a banking, financial services, or insurance tax function
• Familiarity with VAT, corporate tax, and withholding tax across multiple jurisdictions

What makes a strong candidate

• Multi-jurisdiction GCC/MENA tax experience with a track record of managing compliance calendars
• Exposure to financial services or banking tax environments
• Ability to work independently in a structured, regulated institutional setting
• Strong communication skills to engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders