Analyst/Senior Analyst, Tax Operations (1-Year Contract)

Our client is seeking a motivated and detail‑oriented professional to support our tax operations across the Qualified Intermediary (QI), Qualified Derivatives Dealer (QDD), FATCA, and CRS frameworks. This role is well suited for an early‑career or developing tax operations specialist who is eager to build hands‑on experience in complex cross‑border tax compliance within a regulated financial services environment. The Associate will support day‑to‑day operational processes, regulatory reporting, and control framework execution, while working closely with senior team members, internal stakeholders, and external counterparties. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong foundation in tax concepts, an analytical mindset, and a willingness to learn and grow within a specialized tax operations function, contributing to the firm’s ongoing compliance and operational excellence. Responsibilities: Operational Support • Support day‑to‑day tax operations across Qualified Intermediary (QI), Qualified Derivatives Dealer (QDD), FATCA, and CRS frameworks under guidance from senior team members. • Assist in the preparation and submission of U.S. tax filings, including IRS Forms 1042, 1042‑S, 1099, and FATCA/CRS returns to IRAS, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. • Perform data validation and checks to support withholding tax calculations, treaty benefit application, and reporting accuracy. • Assist with U.S. withholding processes under Chapters 3 & 4, Section 871(m), and IRC §1446 for PTP distributions where applicable. • Support tax reconciliations with upstream custodians and internal records, including reconciliation of 1042‑S data and withholding amounts. • Help track payments, credits, and balances related to IRS 1042 filings and support follow‑up on discrepancies. Documentation & Controls • Assist in the collection, validation, and maintenance of client tax documentation, including W‑8, W‑9, W‑8IMY, withholding statements, and CRS self‑certifications. • Perform completeness and reasonableness checks on tax forms and supporting documentation in accordance with QI, QDD, FATCA, and CRS requirements. • Support the maintenance of centralized tax documentation repositories to ensure audit readiness and regulatory compliance. • Participate in documentation refresh cycles and track document expiries to ensure timely renewals. • Assist in periodic internal checks and quality assurance reviews of documentation and reporting processes. Certification & Compliance Support • Provide operational support for QI periodic reviews and Responsible Officer (RO) certification processes, including data gathering and evidence preparation. • Assist with responding to internal audits, regulatory queries, and information requests from tax authorities under supervision. • Support updates to operational procedures, checklists, and SOPs to reflect regulatory or process changes. Stakeholder Collaboration & Learning • Work closely with senior tax team members, operations, compliance, and technology teams to support tax‑related processes. • Assist in responding to client, counterparty, or internal stakeholder queries related to tax documentation and reporting. • Keep abreast of basic developments in U.S. and international tax regulations (QI, QDD, FATCA, CRS) and escalate potential impacts to senior staff. • Participate in internal training sessions to develop technical knowledge and operational expertise. Requirements: • 1–3 years of experience in tax operations, fund administration, custody operations, or financial services compliance (fresh graduates with strong interest will be considered). • Tertiary qualification in Accountancy, Finance, Banking, Business, or a related discipline. • Foundational understanding of U.S. withholding tax concepts, FATCA, and/or CRS (hands‑on experience is an advantage but not mandatory). • Familiarity with tax forms such as W‑8, W‑9, 1042, 1042‑S, or similar regulatory reporting is an advantage. • Strong attention to detail with an ability to follow processes and identify data inconsistencies. • Good analytical and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines. • Willingness to learn complex tax frameworks and operate in a highly regulated environment. • Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams. • Proficient in spreadsheets and basic data analysis; exposure to tax or reporting systems is a plus. By sending your job resume to us, it shall be deemed that you have agreed and hereby give your consent to Merries Employment LLP in collecting, using and/ or disclosing your personal data for the purpose of accessing and processing your job application and/ or for future job opportunities within Merries and/ or with the client(s) of Merries. If you wish to withdraw your consent, please notify us. We regret to inform only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Merries Employment LLP EA Licence No: 14C7362 Posting Personnel: Jasmine Chew EA Personnel Registration No: R1769441