Area Tax Director

1201 F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG; Basel; On-site; CHF 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Roche Basel is seeking an Area Tax Director to lead the global and regional Tax function, defining strategy, governance, and cross-border activity with responsibility for governance and risk across the organization.

You will drive development of the Tax team, ensure alignment with global strategy, and coordinate external audits and reporting to deliver business-friendly, compliant tax solutions across divisions.

Qualifications

• Master’s or equivalent advanced degree in Law, Economics, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Further professional certifications in tax or finance are required.
• Extensive experience leading Tax functions at regional/global level.
• Strong expertise in planning, documenting, and executing cross-border transactions.
• Ability to define and monitor governance frameworks and ensure local/global alignment.
• Experience coordinating with tax authorities and external stakeholders.
• Proven track record in coordinating responses to external audits.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Tax function across assigned global and regional areas, responsible for strategy and execution.
• Manage lifecycle of Tax operations including financial impacts.
• Define, establish, and implement governance frameworks for Tax and ensure alignment with global strategy.
• Enable solutions for cross-border transactions with planning, documentation, and execution.
• Build and maintain relationships with tax authorities and business associations.
• Lead responses to external audits in coordination with local teams.
• Align local and global business strategies and ensure functional objective delivery.
• Provide proactive risk reports and develop risk provisions for Group reporting.
• Lead and develop the Tax team for efficient operation.
• Live Roche’s Finance Framework and uphold its mindset and behaviours.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Tax operations

Cross-border tax

Governance frameworks

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Audits management

Education

Master’s degree in Law or Economics

Certified tax expert

Job description

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

The Group Tax and Insurance (FS) department bears Roche's global responsibility for tax matters. The Basel-based team consists of over 20 specialists who handle all tax-related matters for the Roche Group.

The Opportunity

Due to an upcoming retirement, an exciting opportunity has opened up for an Area Tax Director to join our team in Basel. As the Area Tax Director, you will lead and oversee the Tax function across assigned geographical areas, being fully accountable for the strategy and operations within this area. As a member of the Group’s Tax & Insurance Leadership Team, you will also co‑own the ongoing development and execution of the broader departmental and group‑wide tax strategy. In addition, you will spearhead a thematic area within our responsibility. You will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of the Tax function, including managing related financial impacts. This includes defining, developing, and executing the vision, strategy, strategic objectives, and plans with applicability across all divisions and functions within the Group, ensuring the proper execution of the global strategy of the function. Your responsibilities include defining, establishing, and implementing governance frameworks for Tax, while ensuring their seamless application across the organization. You will enable effective solutions for cross-border transactions, spanning planning, documentation, and execution. During external audits from competent authorities, you will coordinate with local teams and serve as the primary contact for Roche’s approach within the assigned areas. You will foster business partnerships at local and global levels by leveraging expertise gained through interaction with the business community. You will ensure alignment of local strategies with functional objectives, provide timely risk reports, and establish risk provisions for Group reporting purposes. Furthermore, you will lead and develop high‑performing teams within the Tax function, ensuring the functional efficiency of this area. By embodying Roche’s Finance Framework, mindset, and behaviors, you will drive operational excellence and align with Roche’s cohesive vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the Tax function across assigned global and regional areas, being responsible for both strategy and operational execution.
• Manage the entire lifecycle of Tax operations, including evaluating and addressing related financial impacts.
• Define, establish, and implement governance frameworks for Tax, ensuring alignment with global strategy and compliance across the organization.
• Enable effective solutions for cross-border transactions, ensuring proper planning, documentation, and execution.
• Build and maintain relationships with tax authorities and business associations to advocate for business-friendly solutions.
• Lead the response to external audits from competent authorities, coordinating local teams and determining strategic approaches.
• Align local and global business strategies by fostering partnerships across teams and ensuring functional objectives are met.
• Provide proactive risk reports and develop risk provisions in accordance with Group reporting requirements.
• Lead and manage the Tax team, fostering their growth, developing their skills, and ensuring efficient and effective operation of the function.
• Live and promote Roche’s Finance Framework, mindset, and behaviors as an integral part of the company’s vision.

Who you are

You are an experienced and results-oriented finance professional specializing in Tax operations. You demonstrate exceptional strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and operational expertise in managing complex tax environments. The ideal candidate will have:

The ideal candidate will have

• A master’s or equivalent advanced degree in Law, Economics, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Further professional certifications in tax or finance such a certified tax expert degree from Switzerland or another country is required
• Extensive experience in leading Tax functions at the regional or global level, including strategy development and operational oversight.
• Strong expertise in planning, documenting, and executing cross-border transactions, ensuring compliance with applicable tax regulations.
• Proven ability to define, implement, and monitor governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with both global strategy and local compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience managing relationships with tax authorities and other key external stakeholders to secure business-friendly outcomes.
• Furthermore, you have a strong track record of effectively coordinating and driving responses to external audits and regulatory inquiries.
• You possess exceptional leadership skills, including selecting, developing, and evaluating talent to build high‑performing teams.
• You have the ability to work collaboratively across multiple levels, fostering alignment between local operations and global objectives.
• You possess a deep understanding of financial impacts and risk management in the Tax domain, including timely reporting and risk mitigation strategies.

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life‑changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact. Let’s build a healthier future, together. Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe it’s urgent to deliver medical solutions right now – even as we develop innovations for the future. We are passionate about transforming patients’ lives. We are courageous in both decision and action. And we believe that good business means a better world. That is why we come to work each day. We commit ourselves to scientific rigor, unassailable ethics, and access to medical innovations for all. We do this today to build a better tomorrow. We are proud of who we are, what we do, and how we do it. We are many, working as one across functions, across companies, and across the world. We are Roche.