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