The agent is working, to a degree, for the tycoon (7)
I believe the answer is:
magnate
'the tycoon' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'the agent is working to a degree' is the wordplay.
'is working' indicates anagramming the letters.
'to a' means one lot of letters go next to another (I've seen this in other clues).
'degree' becomes 'ma' (Master of Arts is a type of degree).
'agent' anagrammed gives 'gnate'.
'gnate' put after 'ma' is 'MAGNATE'.
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for magnate that I've seen before include "Mogul" , "Baron" , "Wealthy or powerful businessman" , "Tycoon" , "Fellow with a lot of money" .)