Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Role overview

The Italian Tax Underwriter will be responsible for evaluating tax risks and determining appropriate insurance coverage for DUAL and also will support the local M&A team for representations and warranties (W&I) business. The candidate needs to combine deep technical tax expertise with commercial acumen to evaluate sophisticated tax exposures and provide tailored W&I and tax insurance solutions that support deal certainty and risk transfer.

This position involves close partnership alongside brokers and excellent negotiation skills.

The position is based in Rome and reports to the Underwriting Director – Transactional Risks

Role responsibilities

• Analyze tax risks presented in transactional contexts and conduct thorough risk assessments, including due diligence reports, legal opinions, and financial statements, being able to evaluate the likelihood of tax authority challenge and quantify potential exposure
• Coordinate with the W&I team to provide tax input for M&A deals ensuring appropriate risk assumptions
• Collaborate with brokers and final clients to craft customized tax and W&I insurance policies

Report on internal risk assessment to the senior and management staff and comply with all internal administrative tasks.

•       Supervise developments in tax law, regulatory changes, and market trends to advise underwriting strategy

•       Draft and negotiate policy wordings tailored to the nuances of each tax risk and ensure alignment with regulatory requirements and internal underwriting guidelines.

Key requirements

•       Experience in tax law

•       Very detail oriented

•       Willing and being able to work in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines and deal-time pressures and willing to travel for business meetings

•       Deep understanding of Italian and international tax regimes, corporate structuring, and M&A transactions

•       Excellent communication and negotiation skills in English. Knowledge of other Southern European languages (such as Spanish, French, Portuguese) will be considered a plus

•       Commercial mindset with the ability to balance risk appetite and deal facilitation

Compensation and Benefits

Base Salary

This role offers a gross  annual salary in the range of EUR 70,000 to EUR 90,000, determined by your meaningful experience and/or professional qualifications, as well as the scope and level of responsibility.

.Variable Pay
 In addition to base salary, this position may be eligible for variable compensation, including an annual discretionary bonus.
Benefits
Our benefits package typically includes  insurance coverages (healthcare, accident, Long term care, temporary death insurance), Long Service Award Program, meal vouchers, welfare package, hybrid working.
Collective Bargaining Agreement

Permanent contract. This role is governed by the “CCNL per i Dipendenti delle Agenzie di Assicurazione in Gestione Libera – UNAPASS – ANAPA” . The provisions of the “CCNL per i Dipendenti delle Agenzie di Assicurazione in Gestione Libera” applicable to this position, including benefits and “Quadro” classification, will apply and will be made available to candidates in advance of interview to support informed and transparent pay discussions.

About DUAL

Working across 21 countries, DUAL has built a reputation as a specialist underwriting group and the market of choice for insurance intermediaries around the world. That’s how we have become one of the world’s largest international underwriting agencies/or MGAs with US$3.4bn of GWP.

DUAL is part of Howden, a leading global insurance intermediary group with employee ownership at its heart. Founded in 1994, it provides insurance, reinsurance and underwriting services and solutions to clients ranging from private individuals to the largest multinational companies.

The Group operates in 57 countries in Europe, the USA, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand, employs over 24,000 people and manages premiums totaling USD 50 billion on behalf of its clients.

Our culture “People First”

Our core values dictate how we live and work. We’re a group with independence and people at its heart and we’re a home for talent with a unique culture: the biggest small company in the world.

The focus on being a people-first business has always been at the very heart of the group; Our vision was to create an independent business with a unique culture and one that would survive and thrive as a business controlled by the people working for it. And finding the most talented and entrepreneurial people to join the group has been and will continue to be key.

Diversity, equity, inclusion

At DUAL, we consider our people our chief competitive advantage and, as such, we treat colleagues, candidates, clients and business partners with equality, fairness and respect, regardless of their age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or family circumstances.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs.  Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.