Tax Director, Europe

About Realty Income 

Realty Income (NYSE: O), an S&P 500 company, is a real estate partner to the world's leading companies. Founded in 1969, we invest in diversified commercial real estate and have a portfolio of 15,600 properties in all 50 U.S. states, the UK and six other countries in Europe, with a gross book value $58bn. We are known as "The Monthly Dividend Company®” and have a mission to deliver stockholders dependable monthly dividends that grow over time. Since our founding, we have declared 656 consecutive monthly dividends and are a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats® index, having increased our dividend for the last 30 consecutive years.

The European portfolio, including the UK, has grown significantly since our first international acquisition, a £429m 12-property portfolio from Sainsbury’s in 2019. In just five years the portfolio now includes investments of over €11bn, and 483 distinct properties.

You will be joining one of the largest Real Estate Investment Trusts in the world as we rapidly expand into the UK and European markets, including moving into new offices at 3 St. James’s Square. We will empower you to make this new role your own, as you assist the Head of European Tax in establishing and improving the European Tax platform. With ambitious growth plans for the business you will take on additional responsibilities and challenges as we enter new European countries and new transactions; with dynamic opportunities for career growth as the company expands. 

Position Overview:

The Tax Director will be responsible for ensuring that the tax strategy of the European group is implemented effectively, provide tax advice and support to the European business generally and on M&A activities, and managing the European group’s tax risk.  The role will also include supporting the Head of Tax, Europe on the overall management of taxes in Europe and on ad hoc projects.

Key Responsibilities:

Tax Planning and Structuring

• Provide tax support and advice on expansion into new territories, transactions and ad hoc projects.
• Coordinate and participate in tax due diligence and ensure that tax compliance requirements are completed on transactions.
• Support the Head of Tax in advising management on various tax strategies to enhance and protect shareholder value. 
• Communicate complicated tax issues and the impact on business operations and financial reporting.
• Review underwriting models (tax-focused) for transactions and support the Head of Tax, Europe with tax budgeting.
• Research and prepare memoranda documenting the tax implications of transactions for the company.
• Implement robust processes to allow investment team members to estimate taxes on prospective transactions in a timely manner and answer questions as needed.
• Continually evaluate entity structures as tax laws evolve.

Tax Compliance

• Provide advice, training and support to the UK and International tax compliance teams including on process efficiencies, the use of technology and identifying appropriate third-party advisers.
• Oversee local tax provisions (in applicable jurisdictions), including calculation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, as necessary.
• Support the Head of Tax, Europe in identifying potential gaps in European tax compliance and identify resources or appropriate third-party advisers to assist in the implementation of immediate solutions.
• Oversee tax risk management on transactions and regularly review tax risk management for the European group.

Respond to International Tax Authorities

• Research applicable laws and document the company’s position taken in tax filings.
• Prepare communications to tax authorities, as required.

Other

• Assist on projects and business growth initiatives in new international markets.
• Regularly review and maintain direct and indirect international tax policies and procedures documents.
• Perform regular “health checks” on tax compliance efforts for all direct and indirect taxes (including CIT, payroll taxes, net wealth taxes, property taxes, withholding taxes, etc.).
• Assist the Head of Tax, Europe with ad-hoc analyses and reports.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Organisation Relationships:

• Work alongside investment, legal, and other accounting teams on transactions, including tax considerations in wider commercial discussions and assisting with tax-related tasks to allow the transaction to progress. 
• Work across the tax department to support, advise and develop the team.
• Work with third-party tax advisers to obtain relevant tax advice and support as required.
• Work with other members of the finance team to obtain an understanding of transactions and how they were accounted for to determine applicable tax treatment.

Candidate Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Must have for the role:

• Suitable post qualification International tax work experience in the Real Estate and REIT industries, gained either in a real estate investment fund, real estate company or in practice.
• Chartered or Certified Accountant or Chartered Tax Advisor qualification (or equivalent work experience).
• Experience with European tax (particularly Netherlands and United Kingdom)

• In-depth knowledge of tax accounting, specifically relating to international taxes impacting real estate investment.
• Knowledge of international taxi authorities’ procedures and forms.
• Knowledge of legal business entity forms/types and their use in real estate structures.
• Strong research skills and the ability to read through and analyse legal documents and tax regulations to come to appropriate conclusions.
• The ability to work in a fast-changing environment to adapt to non-consistent day-to-day activities.
• Ability to organise and prioritise a heavy workload.
• Excellent PC skills, including Excel, Outlook, and Word.

Desirable but not essential:

• Basic working knowledge of US taxes would be advantageous

Our Mission & Values

For more than 50 years, Realty Income has been guided by our mission to invest in people and places to deliver dependable monthly dividends that increase over time. We do this by nurturing long-term, meaningful relationships that enable people to achieve a better financial outlook. We understand that when individuals succeed financially, they are able to provide for their families, support local businesses and pursue their greatest ambitions, creating a lasting positive impact on communities.

Realty Income is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or educational background.