Tax Controversy and Policy student opportunities

In our Tax Controversy and Policy team, you’ll be involved in the day-to-day process of engaging with the ATO in order to solve complex tax issues and obtain certainty on behalf of clients while you build your career.
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What is Tax Controversy and Policy?

As part of the team, you’ll assist clients with their interactions with tax authorities – primarily the Australian Taxation Office. This includes private binding ruling applications, tax reviews and audits, responding to requests for information and formal notices, alternative dispute resolution processes as well as litigation.
You’ll be involved in the day-to-day process of engaging with the ATO in order to solve complex tax issues and obtain certainty on behalf of clients. You’ll assist with advising clients in developing and documenting their tax corporate governance processes and frameworks.
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What could you be doing?

  • Work with a variety of EY clients from high wealth individuals and small businesses to ASX listed companies and multinational corporations
  • Meet with clients to gain insight into their tax issues and follow up with helpful and relevant tax services
  • Meet with tax authorities (e.g. the Australian Taxation Office) and counsel to discuss tax issues and client matters
  • Identify tax-effective strategies and assist with drafting tax advice letters to clients
  • Assist clients with tax policy matters and/or respond to enquiries from local or international tax authorities
  • Assist with documenting and implementing tax corporate governance frameworks for clients
  • Assist with drafting written submissions to tax authorities on behalf of clients

What will you bring to the team?

  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt communication style to suit the audience (e.g. client, tax authority, counsel) and needs
  • Resilience and curiosity to learn in an ever-changing business world
  • The ability to learn and apply new information (including new tax law) quickly to solve client issues
  • Strong business process, writing, numerical and analytical skills
  • Dedication to collaboration, teamwork and inclusive leadership
  • The ability to solve complex problems and adapt to challenging situations
  • The ability to meet deadlines and work efficiently

Your career journey in Tax Controversy and Policy

As a graduate, you’ll be part of our 12-month graduate development program that has been developed for graduates in all service lines, and is focused on connection, learning and celebration.

The program will provide you with the opportunity to network with your peers from other service lines and geographies. Running in parallel to your technical learning, you will develop leadership skills to become a successful graduate, and as you grow as a transformative leader.

As a Tax Controversy and Policy graduate, you’ll take part in:-

  • Regular tax technical training sessions with other tax graduates
  • Attendance at a “camp” with Oceania tax graduates to develop tax technical, business and soft skills
  • Regular tax technical and news update training sessions with the Oceania Tax Controversy and Policy team
  • Legal training sessions for legal practitioners
  • Various optional learning opportunities to develop business acumen and soft skills

As a vacationer, after our company induction, you’ll start developing an understanding of how our Tax Controversy and Policy teams work and will be ready to work alongside teams on real client projects. You’ll meet other new vacationers from your office.

Your buddy and your counsellor will help you learn your way around the organisation, set your goals and plan your development while you’re here. You'll be well looked after with ongoing learning throughout the Vacationer Program with sessions facilitated by our Learning and Development team, Campus Recruitment team and service line specific training. The Vacationer Program is a great way to gain valuable audit experience, skills and networks to start building your career.

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EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.