Assistant General Counsel Tax

Location: Anywhere in Country

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.

Our General Counsel’s Office (GCO) supports EY’s business by serving as trusted advisors to the EY community and providing the highest quality legal services to EY’s service lines and business enablement functions

The Opportunity:

The Assistant General Counsel for the Tax service line will be part of EY’s General Counsel Office, and he/she will serve as a key legal advisor to the tax practice. Candidates are expected to have a background in substantive and procedural tax rules at the federal level, ideally with some background on comparable rules at the state level. The Assistant General Counsel also responds to subpoenas, inquiries, and investigations by state and federal regulatory entities; represents the firm in such matters; and coordinates the production of information to those entities. The Assistant General Counsel will assist on a range of legal matters such as potential claims against the firm, practice standards and policies, contracting issues particularly impacting the tax practice, and legal process served on the firm and its professionals. This position serves a critical advisory and risk management function, addressing compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and firm policies governing all service lines comprising the firm’s business with a primary focus on the Tax service line.

Your key responsibilities:

• Work with and advise firm leadership and engagement teams in evaluating and addressing issues raising potential legal and business risk.
• Report to and work with other members of the U.S. legal team, including the senior tax counsels, on a range of issues involving EY’s tax service line.
• Assist on a range of legal matters such as potential claims against the firm, practice standards and policies, contracting issues particularly impacting the tax advisory practice, and legal process served on the firm and its professionals.
• Stay abreast of significant developments in federal tax law.
• Respond to government and third-party subpoenas and investigations.
• Prepare and defend witnesses in depositions, and prepare witnesses for trial testimony.
• Collaborate with and manage outside legal counsel on significant legal matters.
• Conduct internal investigations in response to allegations of professional code of conduct violations as well as civil or criminal malfeasance by firm personnel.

To qualify for this role, you must have:

Education:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) with strong academic credentials required.

Professional Licensure:

• Requires membership in the State Bar as an attorney qualified to practice law in the state where the resident EY office is located.
• Must remain in good standing with the State Bar, including being current on individual state Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8+ years of legal experience, including from a top-tier law firm and/or at the U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Tax Policy, Internal Revenue Service (Office of Chief Counsel) or the U.S. Department of Justice (Tax Division, Civil Division - Tax Litigation Branch, or Criminal Division - Tax Section).
• Tax controversy experience at the administrative and judicial levels.
• Deposition defense and responding to legal process.
• Experience with practice and penalty standards applicable to federal tax advisory services is highly desirable.

Ideally you’ll also have:

• Ability to practice autonomously and be highly responsive to requests for support from the business.
• Must be an excellent, strategic and pragmatic lawyer; this role requires outstanding judgment and reasoning skills.
• Capable of independently managing and developing effective solutions to high stakes, complex legal matters.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to interface and communicate effectively and diplomatically with all levels of EY personnel, including firm leaders and managing partners.
• Strong interpersonal skills with high emotional intelligence and ability to work in a highly collaborative environment.
• Self-starter and ability to work independently and “own” projects.
• Enthusiastic “roll-up-the-sleeves” work ethic and high client service orientation.
• Ability to multi-task and handle and prioritize a large volume of work and efficiently meet deadlines.
• Open and engaging personality; someone who both clients and colleagues will respect and enjoy working with on a daily basis.
• Unquestionable ethics and moral compass.
• Demonstrates accountability, integrity, respect, team orientation and the courage to lead.

What We Offer You

At EY, we’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences. We’ll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. Learn more.

• We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The base salary range for this job in all geographic locations in the US is $210,900 to $406,000. The base salary range for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) is $253,100 to $461,400. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
• Join us in our team-led and leader-enabled hybrid model. Our expectation is for most people in external, client serving roles to work together in person 40-60% of the time over the course of an engagement, project or year.
• Under our flexible vacation policy, you’ll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You’ll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being.

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

EY accepts applications for this position on an on-going basis.

For those living in California, please click here for additional information.

EY focuses on high-ethical standards and integrity among its employees and expects all candidates to demonstrate these qualities.

EY | Building a better working world

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.

EY provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected basis, including arrest and conviction records, in accordance with applicable law. 

EY is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities including veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and either need assistance applying online or need to request an accommodation during any part of the application process, please call 1-800-EY-HELP3, select Option 2 for candidate related inquiries, then select Option 1 for candidate queries and finally select Option 2 for candidates with an inquiry which will route you to EY’s Talent Shared Services Team (TSS) or email the TSS at [email protected].