Transfer Pricing associate

Department: Transfer Pricing and Business Valuation
Position: Transfer Pricing Associate
Employment Type: Full-time
Reporting To: Partner – Transfer Pricing and Business Valuation

Position Overview

The Transfer Pricing Associate supports the preparation of transfer pricing documentation, benchmarking analyses and advisory assignments for Malaysian and international clients. The role requires sound accounting and tax knowledge, strong analytical ability and careful attention to technical and documentary requirements.

The successful candidate will work with clients from various industries and assist in evaluating related-party transactions, business operations, financial performance and compliance with Malaysian transfer pricing legislation and applicable international guidance.

Key Responsibilities

Transfer Pricing Documentation

• Prepare local transfer pricing documentation, master file support schedules and related compliance deliverables.
• Obtain and review financial, operational and transactional information from clients.
• Prepare group, industry and entity-level business analyses.
• Identify and analyse controlled transactions involving goods, services, financing, intellectual property and other intercompany arrangements.
• Conduct functional analyses covering the functions performed, assets employed and risks assumed by related entities.
• Assist in selecting and applying appropriate transfer pricing methods.
• Prepare economic analyses and conclusions supporting the arm’s-length nature of controlled transactions.
• Update annual transfer pricing documentation and assess material changes in transactions, business models and market conditions.

Benchmarking and Financial Analysis

• Perform comparable-company searches using recognised financial databases.
• Establish and document appropriate search strategies and screening criteria.
• Review company descriptions, financial information and potential comparability issues.
• Calculate financial indicators, including operating margins, mark-ups and other relevant profit-level indicators.
• Prepare interquartile ranges and evaluate whether tested results fall within an arm’s-length range.
• Reconcile management accounts, audited financial statements and transfer pricing calculations.

Tax Compliance and Advisory

• Assist clients in complying with the Malaysian Income Tax Act 1967, Income Tax (Transfer Pricing) Rules 2023 and relevant Inland Revenue Board guidelines.
• Support transfer pricing risk assessments and reviews of related-party pricing policies.
• Assist in preparing intercompany agreements and transaction-specific pricing policies.
• Support regional and cross-border assignments involving Singapore and other jurisdictions.
• Monitor developments in Malaysian transfer pricing requirements and the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines.
• Assist senior team members with transfer pricing audits, queries and information requests from tax authorities.
• Prepare supporting schedules, technical research and draft responses for dispute-resolution assignments.

Client and Engagement Management

• Communicate professionally with clients to obtain information and clarify outstanding matters.
• Prepare information-request lists, meeting notes and engagement status updates.
• Maintain complete and properly indexed engagement working papers.
• Manage assigned work according to agreed deadlines and quality requirements.
• Identify incomplete, inconsistent or potentially high-risk information and escalate it promptly.
• Maintain strict confidentiality over clients’ financial and commercial information.
• Assist with proposals, fee quotations, presentations and client training materials when required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Taxation, Business or a related discipline.
• Fresh graduates are encouraged to apply.
• Candidates with one to two years of experience in taxation, audit, accounting or transfer pricing will have an advantage.
• Progress towards a recognised professional qualification such as ACCA, ICAEW, CPA, CIMA, CTIM or an equivalent qualification is advantageous.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Basic understanding of accounting, taxation and financial statements.
• Strong numerical, analytical and research skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Ability to interpret financial data and explain findings clearly.
• Good written and spoken English.
• Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin would be advantageous.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate documentation.
• Ability to manage several assignments and meet competing deadlines.
• Willingness to learn Malaysian and international transfer pricing principles.
• Professional integrity and respect for client confidentiality.

Key Competencies

• Analytical and critical thinking
• Financial-data interpretation
• Technical writing
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Time and deadline management
• Client communication
• Teamwork and accountability
• Professional scepticism
• Problem-solving ability
• Commitment to continuous learning

Key Performance Expectations

Performance will be assessed based on:

• Accuracy and completeness of transfer pricing analyses and documentation.
• Quality of financial calculations and benchmarking work.
• Compliance with applicable legislation, guidance and internal procedures.
• Timely completion of assigned engagements.
• Responsiveness to clients and engagement supervisors.
• Proper maintenance of working papers and supporting evidence.
• Ability to identify inconsistencies and transfer pricing risks.
• Development of technical knowledge and increasing ability to work independently.

Career Development

The successful candidate will receive practical exposure to:

• Malaysian transfer pricing documentation and compliance.
• Cross-border related-party transactions.
• Functional, economic and industry analyses.
• Comparable-company benchmarking.
• Intercompany pricing policies and agreements.
• Transfer pricing audits and tax-authority enquiries.
• Business valuation and related financial-advisory assignments, where appropriate.

Subject to performance and experience, the position provides a progression pathway to Senior Associate, Assistant Manager and Manager roles.

Application

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• Updated curriculum vitae;
• Academic transcripts and professional certificates, where applicable;
• Current and expected remuneration; and
• Earliest available commencement date.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.