About Northern Trust
As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.
Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.
With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.
We are seeking an experienced and client-focused Senior Tax Client Service Lead to oversee the delivery of withholding tax operations and tax client servicing for a dedicated portfolio of institutional clients. This role is responsible for ensuring clients receive an effective, proactive and high-quality withholding tax service, including the application of optimal withholding tax rates, oversight of tax documentation requirements and management of tax reclaim activity.
The successful candidate will act as a trusted point of contact for clients, internal stakeholders and relevant market participants, helping to resolve complex queries, support process improvements and ensure the service is delivered in line with operational, regulatory and risk management expectations.
Key Responsibilities
This is a senior client-facing role suited to someone who combines strong technical tax operations expertise with excellent relationship management, communication and problem-solving skills.
Act as the primary client contact for withholding tax servicing matters, ensuring enquiries are handled professionally, accurately and within agreed timeframes.
Build a strong understanding of each client’s tax profile, investment structure and market activity to support effective service delivery.
Oversee the collection, review and maintenance of tax documentation required to secure optimal withholding tax rates across relevant markets.
Monitor withholding tax treatment on client investments and work with internal teams to resolve exceptions, issues or delays.
Oversee tax reclaim activity for assigned clients, ensuring claims are submitted on a timely basis and aged items are actively monitored and progressed.
Coordinate, chair and contribute to client meetings, including the preparation and presentation of documentation, reclaim and service status updates.
Ensure actions arising from client meetings, queries or service reviews are clearly captured, assigned and completed within appropriate timelines.
Track, manage and report on client queries, risks and service issues, escalating matters where required.
Monitor changes in tax regimes and market requirements, supporting the translation of those changes into operational procedures and client communications.
Maintain effective working relationships with tax authorities, market contacts, internal operational teams and senior stakeholders to support continuous service improvement.
Provide risk, control and service briefings to senior management, including insights on client servicing, operational risk and strategic planning.
Support the harmonisation and strengthening of tax risk management, process and control frameworks across business lines.
Identify operational risk points within the end-to-end withholding tax process and help ensure appropriate procedures, controls and skilled resources are in place.
Operate independently as a subject matter expert, providing technical guidance, leadership and consultative support to colleagues, partners and clients.
Skills and Knowledge
Extensive knowledge of withholding tax regulations, tax documentation requirements and tax operations processes.
Strong understanding of custody, asset servicing or investment operations environments, ideally within an institutional financial services setting.
Ability to interpret complex tax, operational and market requirements and translate them into practical service actions.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify issues, assess risk and recommend appropriate solutions.
Excellent client service and stakeholder management skills, including the confidence to lead discussions with senior internal and external stakeholders.
Strong presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly and effectively to a range of audiences.
Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, professional and persuasive documentation.
Highly organised, proactive and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
Commercially minded, resilient and comfortable navigating obstacles while delivering to tight deadlines.
Experience and Qualifications
Degree-level education, or equivalent professional experience; relevant industry qualifications would be advantageous.
Significant experience in tax operations, withholding tax, custody tax, asset servicing
Experience operating at a senior level with limited supervision, including ownership of client deliverables, operational issues and stakeholder engagement.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex client service activity, manage escalations and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure.
Experience working with operational risk, controls, procedures and process improvement initiatives.
Typically, candidates will bring around 10 years’ relevant experience, although applications from individuals with equivalent expertise and capability will also be considered.
Working with Us
As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.
Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.
Reasonable Accommodation
Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [email protected], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.
About Our Manila Office
The Northern Trust Manila office celebrated a decade of excellence in 2024. Through agility, resiliency, innovation, and excellence, they have evolved into a dynamic hub with diverse capabilities and a thriving workforce of over 1,200 - driving meaningful impact and sustainable growth. Learn more.
Skills Required
- Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience
- Extensive knowledge of withholding tax regulations and tax documentation requirements
- Significant experience in tax operations, withholding tax, custody tax or asset servicing
- Around 10 years' relevant experience or equivalent senior-level expertise
- Experience operating at a senior level with ownership of client deliverables and stakeholder engagement
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex client service activity and manage escalations
- Experience working with operational risk, controls, procedures and process improvement initiatives
- Strong understanding of custody, asset servicing or investment operations environments
- Excellent client service, stakeholder management, presentation and written communication skills
- Relevant industry qualifications (advantageous)
Northern Trust Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northern Trust and has not been reviewed or approved by Northern Trust.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings are positioned as a standout, with a 401(k) plus an additional employer-funded pension described as a differentiator. This combination is repeatedly framed as a meaningful offset within total rewards, especially for long-term financial security.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits are depicted as generous, spanning paid time off, holidays, and dedicated paid volunteer time. The breadth of leave options is highlighted as a consistent strength that supports work-life balance.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is characterized as comprehensive, typically including medical, dental, vision, and mental-health support through an assistance program. The offering is portrayed as robust and family-supportive, with multiple plan options in some descriptions.
Northern Trust Insights
What We Do
As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing and investment solutions, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise and integrity. A globally recognized Fortune 500 Company in continuous operation since 1889, we’ve built a legacy of empowering clients to reach their goals with confidence. Since our roots as a trust bank, we’ve grown to a global presence with more than 24,000 employees in more than 20 countries and across six core business units: Wealth Management Asset Management Asset Servicing Technology Corporate Functions Enterprise Operations Join a Team That’s Achieving Greater At Northern Trust, we refer to our employees as partners – with good reason. We understand that relationships are the key to our success. Here you’ll join a diverse and inclusive team of innovators with the drive to challenge the way things have always been done. Instead of choosing between a dynamic career and work-life balance, enjoy working with a team that supports your goals in the office and at home. We’ll help you get where you want to go without sacrificing what matters most to you. Delivering value and adhering to our enduring principles What are enduring principles? Since our founding, they have guided our strategy and success. Thanks to the dedication of our partners, Northern Trust continues to thrive by adhering to three enduring principles: service, expertise and integrity . What does this mean? Service Northern Trust has a relentless drive to provide exceptional service to our clients, our partners and our communities. We set new standards and go above and beyond in our commitment to delivering greater results. Expertise Expertise is at the core of who we are. We focus sharply on what we do well. From expanding our capabilities, to hiring talented professionals to developing innovative solutions, our expertise is why we continue to be a trusted advisor for generations of families and institutions. Integrity Operating with uncompromising ethics is central to Northern Trust’s heritage. As a result, our clients, partners and communities know they can rely on us. For more than 130 years, our integrity has been our guide – and that will never change.
Why Work With Us
At Northern Trust, we go further because we go together. We embrace flexibility, encourage balance, and prioritize inclusion at all levels, working together to keep you connected. We are committed to our employees—all 24,000 of them. Whether this is a first step or a bold new leap in your career, we’re here to help you move forward.
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