Associate Director-Tax

We are looking for an Associate Director of Tax for our client who is one of the largest semi-governmental organizations in Dubai.

The Associate Director of Tax will be responsible for overseeing tax operations, compliance, and strategic planning within the organization ensuring alignment with the overall tax strategy of the group's diverse business sectors.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Financial Governance

• Ensure compliance with internal reporting standards, guidelines, and SLAs through effective team guidance.
• Monitor key performance indicators to identify performance gaps and implement corrective measures.
• Support the execution of strategic initiatives and special projects aligned with broader business goals.

Tax Strategy & Advisory

• Design and execute tax strategies that enhance tax efficiency across business sectors.
• Provide technical guidance on all tax matters including direct tax, VAT, and transfer pricing.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring from a tax planning perspective.
• Oversee end-to-end tax processing on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary tax liaison with finance business partners, treasury, CFOs, and business unit leaders.
• Foster a service-driven culture focused on stakeholder satisfaction.
• Establish and track KPIs and SLAs to ensure accuracy and efficiency in tax reporting and processes.
• Maintain strong cross-functional relationships to ensure consistent service delivery.
• Act as the escalation point for critical tax and finance system issues, coordinating with IT and relevant teams.

Tax Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure timely, accurate submission of corporate tax, VAT, withholding tax, and other regulatory filings.
• Stay abreast of changes in tax laws across applicable jurisdictions.
• Lead responses to tax audits and manage communication with tax authorities.
• Demonstrate expertise in FATCA, CRS, and Economic Substance Regulations (ESR).
• Monitor internal controls and conduct regular reviews to ensure compliance and identify process improvement opportunities.

Risk Management & Governance

• Develop a robust tax risk management framework and implement necessary controls.
• Conduct regular audits and risk assessments.
• Maintain strong relationships with tax authorities and lead resolution of audits and disputes.

Process Optimization & Technology Integration

• Drive the implementation of tax technology solutions (e.g., VAT filing automation, ERP enhancements).
• Develop real-time dashboards to track tax compliance and risk.
• Standardize tax processes across subsidiaries while allowing for necessary flexibility.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and efficiency gains within tax-related operations.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to implement and evaluate process improvements.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing tax team within the company.
• Oversee day-to-day activities and support team members in achieving their objectives.
• Promote continuous learning and upskilling across the team.
• Encourage innovation, customer-centricity, and high performance.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field (master's preferred).
• Professional qualification such as ACCA, CPA, CTA, or ATT is essential.
• Minimum of 10 years in tax, preferably within a multinational or shared services setup.
• Solid expertise in UAE direct and indirect taxes (corporate tax, VAT, excise).
• Experience in tax structuring.
• Proven success in stakeholder and team management.
• Familiarity with Middle East regulatory environments is a plus.
• Background in finance shared services operations is highly desirable.

Availability:

We are looking for a candidate who will be able to work in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Please apply with your resume and remember to provide us with your contact details.

We will review your job application within 7 working days.

Should your profile fit the requirements of the role, a consultant from Edari will be in touch with you to get a deeper understanding of your profile, to discuss the role in more detail and potential next steps.