About BW ESS
BW ESS is a global energy storage owner-operator, dedicated to developing and building market-leading energy storage projects across multiple countries. Collaborating with local development partners, we are active in the UK, Australia, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Sweden. Our portfolio boasts over 500MWh of operating Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) projects, with an additional 3.3GWh currently under construction and a development pipeline of approximately 9.5GWh.
As part of BW Group, BW ESS leverages a global industry network along with decades of experience in energy infrastructure investment, delivery, and operation. Our strategy focuses on holding assets for the long term and taking a hands-on approach to unlocking value throughout the energy storage asset lifecycle.
To learn more, visit: bw-ess.com
Company Culture
At BW ESS, our culture and way of working are founded on a few clear principles:
- 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
We are seeking a Head of Tax to lead all tax matters in a full-time on-site role. This position will be responsible for setting and executing the company’s tax strategy, ensuring compliance across jurisdictions, and acting as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on project development, financing, and commercial operations.
Key Responsibilities
Tax Strategy & Leadership
- Serve as the primary tax advisor to the CFO and Senior Management Team, defining and leading BW ESS’s global tax strategy in alignment with business objectives and growth plans.
- Build and maintain relationships with external tax advisors across operating jurisdictions.
- Engage regularly with BW Group’s in-house tax team.
Project & Commercial Tax Advisory
- Provide tax leadership on project structuring, including SPVs, joint ventures, and holding structures.
- Support investment decisions, bid processes, and commercial negotiations with tax-related insights.
Financing, M&A & Capital Markets
- Lead tax workstreams for project finance, refinancing, and portfolio-level financing.
- Advise on tax implications related to equity investments, asset acquisitions, disposals, and platform M&A.
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 affecting 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 essential.
- Experience in the Renewable Energy/Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) sector is preferred.
- Demonstrated expertise with multi-jurisdictional tax frameworks and project-based businesses.
- Deep understanding of project finance and Topco/Assetco structures.
- Able to operate effectively in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial environment.
- Strong communicator, capable of engaging credibly at the executive level.
- Hands-on mindset with the ability to balance strategy and execution.
- A team player motivated to make a difference in a growing organization.
To apply, please submit your application online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.