Head of Tax - BW ESS, Zurich

BW ESS is a global energy storage owner-operator, moving with speed to develop and build market-leading energy storage projects across multiple countries. Typically working with local development partners, the business is active in the UK, Australia, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Sweden. It has more than 500MWh of operating BESS projects, with 3.3GWh under construction and a development pipeline of about 9.5GWh. BW ESS has a strategy to hold assets for the long-term, taking a hands-on approach to unlock value throughout the energy storage asset lifecycle. Part of BW Group, BW ESS can leverage a global industry network, as well as decades of experience in energy infrastructure investment, delivery, and operation.

To find out more, visit: https://bw-ess.com/

BW ESS culture and way of working is based on few clear 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 to lead all tax matters. The role is 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

• Act as the primary tax advisor to the CFO and Senior Management Team, to define and lead BW ESS’s global tax strategy in line with business objectives and growth plans

• Build and manage relationships with external tax advisors across operating jurisdictions

• Regular interaction 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 input

Financing, M&A & Capital Markets

• Lead tax workstreams for project finance, refinancing, and portfolio-level financing

• Advise on tax implications of 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 impacting storage, power markets, and infrastructure taxation

Transfer Pricing & Cross-Border Matters

• Oversee transfer pricing policies and documentation for intercompany services, financing, and IP

• Support the development of scalable, tax-efficient operating models as the business expands

Qualifications

• Professional tax qualification (e.g. CTA, CPA, ACA, equivalent)

• 10–15+ years of relevant UK and international tax experience, including leadership responsibility. Must have prior working experience in the Big 4 or similar legal/consulting firms

• Experience in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) preferred

• Demonstrated experience with multi-jurisdictional tax frameworks and project- based businesses

Skills & Attributes

• Deep understanding of project finance and Topco/Assetco structures

• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial environment

• Strong communicator, able to engage credibly at executive level

• Hands-on mindset with the ability to balance strategy and execution

• Team player that is motivated to make a difference in a growing organization