About BW ESS
BW ESS is a global energy storage owner-operator dedicated to developing and building market-leading energy storage projects across various countries, including the UK, Australia, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Sweden. With over 500MWh of operating Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects and an impressive 3.3GWh currently under construction, BW ESS has a robust development pipeline of approximately 9.5GWh.
As part of the BW Group, BW ESS leverages a global industry network and decades of experience in energy infrastructure investment, delivery, and operation. The company adopts a long-term asset holding strategy, focusing on a hands-on approach to unlocking value throughout the energy storage asset lifecycle. To learn more about us, visit our website.
Company Culture
BW ESS fosters a unique culture built on several key foundations:
- Talent density over team size
- Flexible people over fixed structures
- Context over control
- Results over processes
- Transparent and clear feedback
Location
Zurich
Reports to
CFO
Job Description
This is a full-time on-site role for a Head of Tax who will lead all tax matters within the organization. This position is crucial for setting and executing the company’s tax strategy, ensuring compliance across jurisdictions, and serving as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on project development, financing, and commercial operations.
Key Responsibilities
Tax Strategy & Leadership
- Act as the primary tax advisor to the CFO and Senior Management Team, defining and leading BW ESS’s global tax strategy aligned with business objectives and growth plans
- Build and manage relationships with external tax advisors across operating jurisdictions
- Maintain regular interaction with BW Group’s in-house tax team
Project & Commercial Tax Advisory
- Provide tax leadership on project structuring, including Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), joint ventures, and holding structures
- Support investment decisions, bid processes, and commercial negotiations with tax input
Financing, M&A & Capital Markets
- Lead tax workstreams for project financing, refinancing, and portfolio-level financing
- Advise on tax implications related to equity investments, asset acquisitions, disposals, and platform mergers and acquisitions
Compliance & Risk Management
- Oversee corporate income tax, VAT/GST, withholding tax, and other relevant taxes across jurisdictions
- Ensure timely and accurate filings, provisions, and disclosures
- Manage tax audits, disputes, and interactions with tax authorities
- Monitor legislative developments impacting storage, power markets, and infrastructure taxation
Transfer Pricing & Cross-Border Matters
- Oversee transfer pricing policies and documentation for intercompany services, financing, and intellectual property
- Support the development of scalable, tax-efficient operating models as the business expands
Qualifications
- Professional tax qualification (e.g., CTA, CPA, ACA, or equivalent)
- 10–15+ years of relevant UK and international tax experience, including leadership responsibilities; prior experience in the Big 4 or similar legal/consulting firms is required
- Experience in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
- Proven track record with multi-jurisdictional tax frameworks and project-based businesses
How to Apply
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.