Regional Tax Director - LATAM

SGS; Madrid; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, seeks an experienced Tax professional to support LATAM and regional tax matters across multiple countries. You will review cross-border contracts, advise on VAT, withholding taxes, PE, transfer pricing, and work with Finance and Legal to optimize structures.

You will lead tax planning, manage audits, and provide training on tax issues. A Master’s in Taxation or related field and 10+ years of international tax experience are

Qualifications

• International Taxation: Deep knowledge of direct, indirect, and transfer pricing rules, including permanent establishment, thin capitalization, withholding taxes, VAT/GST, and cross-border taxation.
• Tax Accounting & Reporting: IFRS/US GAAP tax reporting requirements (deferred tax assets/liabilities, ETR analysis).
• Tax Risk Management: Experience with tax audit defense, dispute resolution, appeals, court cases, and provisions in tax systems.
• Proven leadership of regional tax teams and projects.

Responsibilities

• Tax planning, structuring, and optimization across LATAM and regional entities.
• Review cross-border contracts and advise on tax clauses and VAT implications.
• Support tax compliance reviews and quarterly Form 18-like reporting processes.
• Collaborate with Finance, Legal and Corporate Development on tax aspects of transactions and reorganizations.

Skills

International Taxation

Tax Risk Management

Tax Accounting & Reporting

M&A Taxation

Tax Planning & Structuring

Strong business English and Spanish

Education

Master’s degree in Taxation, Accounting, Finance, or Law

CPA/CTA/CFA preferable

Tools

Blika Tax platform

Job description

We are SGS – the world's leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity. Our 99,500 employees operate a network of 2,500 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.

Our brand promise –when you need to be sure– underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.

Job Description

Support countries in the region as and when necessary:

• during tax inspection - providing documents and reviewing answers to the authorities, meetings and negotiation with authorities, etc.
• after tax inspection - review of assessment notes, support appeals, court cases, meetings and negotiation with authorities, etc
• ad-hoc questions during the preparation of tax returns or during external audit
• support countries on local tax compliance, in particular transfer pricing documentation in collaboration with the Head of Transfer Pricing and withholding tax
• quarterly review of tax reporting (Form 18) incl. detailed analysis of deferred tax, prior year adjustments, tax losses, effective vs. statutory tax rates, tax risks, etc. on a country-by-country basis
• managing local tax risks and provisioning required for consolidated financial statements of group (regular monitoring of all tax audits and review of Tax Risk Management in Blika tax platform
• giving additional advice for all taxes and administrative issues, cross-border issues, P.E. issues, VAT registrations in other countries etc.
• cross-border issues, examples: tax residence certificates, DTA application, filing for exemptions, permanent establishment issues, indirect taxation etc
• applying tax ruling or Advanced Pricing Agreement
• advice and review of tax due diligent works in M&A and reorganization; review tax clause or tax indemnity in S&P agreement
• tax planning or incentive opportunity
• providing Tax News with additional advise for taxes and administrative issues

providing tax sharing/training

The role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including but not limited to the following:

LATAM Business - Support business across all regions as and when necessary:

• review cross-border contracts and provide advice on wording of tax clause, delivery terms, invoicing, etc.
• review cross-border transactions with the client or between SGS affiliates (central billing) and provide advice on tax implications, in particular VAT, withholding tax and p.e. issues that may have an impact on the pricing
• provide alternative structures
• provide training on tax implications
• provide information on the Group Taxation Portal
• participate in conference calls with the client

Tax planning & legal reorganizations LATAM

• Re-Organization of legal entities within region, review valuations of operational companies, submission of tax rulings with tax authorities, review all legal documents, transfer investments
• Optimization and reduction of SGS legal entities
• Loan financing, capital measures, thin cap or interest barrier rules of LATAM countries/companies
• Assisting with set up of new legal entities or liquidation/closure of legal entities and branches
• On-going review of tax saving opportunities, tax credits, tax exemptions, etc. together with local Finance

Tax Compliance

• Regular review of Tax Risk Management / Tax Audit Risk followed by discussions with local Finance (in Blika Tax platform)
• Regular review and up-date of CIT Tax Rates, VAT rates, withholding tax rates and further information with regards to the region

Tax Accounting & Tax Reporting

• Assistance with completion of Form 18 for 5 quarterly reporting periods incl. HY, fast close and hard close Nov
• Quarterly review of tax reporting (Form 18) incl. detailed analysis of deferred tax, prior year adjustments, tax losses, effective vs. statutory tax rates, tax risks, etc. on a country-by-country basis
• Valuation allowances on deferred tax assets
• Prepare business forecasts for loss making companies
• Training in HFM form18 tax calculation

Projects - Support Corporate development in acquisition and divestment projects within the region

• Adjust legal or financing structure regarding any country especially optimization of legal structures
• Study new jurisprudence and tax legislation in the countries
• Review and optimization of intercompany transactions
• Tax review process in a number of countries in LATAM on an annual basis
• Implement necessary solutions for compliance and necessary changes to tax rules in Boss or indirect tax reporting
• Support Finance Transformation Team
• Identify process improvements and highlight to Transformation Team
• Advanced Pricing Agreement, mutual agreement procedure or the like (e.g. in Chile, Argentina, Brazil etc)

Cooperation with other functions

• Treasury; in particular inter-company loans and equity reconciliation
• Finance, in particular inter-company Corporate Funding Model invoices and follow up on receipt of payments
• Group Control, in particular Form 18 updates, Country by country reporting implementation and reconciliation Form
• Corporate Development – in particular look for tax efficient structure
• Legal – Re-Org and Global Contracts
• Internal Audit team – support to the Internal Audit team
• Local Finance organizations and regional controlling
• Legal – Business Support

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Taxation, Accounting, Finance, or Law. Professional certifications (CPA, CTA, CFA, or equivalent) preferred
• 10 + years in international taxation, with significant regional exposure (LATAM), ideally within a Big Four firm and multinational corporation.
• Proven record leading regional tax teams or projects, managing advisors, and influencing executive stakeholders

REQUIRED SKILLS

• International Taxation: Deep knowledge of direct, indirect, and transfer pricing rules, including permanent establishment (PE), thin capitalization, withholding taxes, VAT/GST, and cross-border taxation.
• Tax Accounting & Reporting: Strong command of IFRS/US GAAP tax reporting requirements (e.g., deferred tax assets/liabilities, effective tax rate analysis, valuation allowances).
• Tax Risk Management: Experience with tax audit defense, dispute resolution, appeals, court cases, and management of provisions in systems like Blika.
• M&A Taxation: Expertise in tax due diligence, structuring, and integration, including tax clauses in S&P agreements and tax indemnities.
• Tax Planning & Structuring: Ability to identify incentives, optimize legal entity structures, apply for tax rulings/APAs, and design tax-efficient financing structures
• Strong business English and Spanish

Additional Information

Additional Information: