Director, Head of Tax & Treasury

Fanatics Betting & Gaming; Manchester; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Fanatics International seeks a senior tax leader to own group-wide indirect tax strategy, compliance, and risk across its Commerce, Collectibles, and Betting and Gaming divisions, spanning UK, EU and beyond. You will drive VAT governance, tax engine configuration (OneSource, Avalara, Dynamics 365), manage HMRC relationships, and lead a global tax team to enable fast, compliant market expansion.

This role demands strategic vision, technical rigor, and the ability to translate complex structures

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in indirect tax across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong track record in VAT compliance and tax governance.
• Experience with ERP tax configuration and tax technology.
• Stakeholder management with external advisers and HMRC.
• Ability to lead cross-border tax structuring and M&A diligence.

Responsibilities

• Own indirect tax position end-to-end across UK and international entities.
• Define and execute international VAT strategy and risk management.
• Manage external advisers and HMRC engagements.
• Lead ERP and tax engine configuration for VAT determinations.
• Advise on cross-border projects, including structuring and M&A.

Skills

Tax leadership

VAT & VAT OSS

Cross-border taxation

ERP systems

HMRC liaison

Tools

OneSource

Avalara

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

Head of Tax – Fanatics International

Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world’s most iconic sports properties.

At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life everyday - building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with entrepreneurial speed, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.

Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world’s most iconic sports properties.

At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life everyday—building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with limitless entrepreneurial spirit, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.

As we continue to scale our global platform, the Head of Tax – Fanatics International will play a critical role in owning group-wide tax strategy, compliance, and risk governance across Fanatics International’s Commerce, Collectibles (Topps), and Betting and Gaming divisions.

ROLE OVERVIEW

This is a senior leadership role with group-wide responsibility for tax strategy, compliance, and risk governance across the Fanatics International group — spanning three business verticals (Commerce, Collectibles (Topps), and Betting and Gaming) and multiple legal entities operating across the UK, Europe, and international markets. VAT and indirect tax sit at the heart of this role; Fanatics International operates complex, high-volume supply chains across more than 30 VAT registrations globally, covering marketplace models, dropshipping arrangements, Importer of Record structures, and digital goods supplied to consumers across the UK, EU, and wider international markets. The Head of Tax – Fanatics International delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.

HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT

Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes.

Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams)

Cross-Functional Leadership:

• Partner with the CFO of International Commerce, President of International, Finance leadership, Legal, FP&A, and IT to embed tax considerations into commercial decision-making, ERP configuration, and financial reporting across all three Fanatics International business divisions.
• Manage and coordinate external adviser relationships — including Big 4 and specialist firms — ensuring timely, accurate, and risk-managed filings across all relevant jurisdictions while maintaining alignment with internal stakeholders.
• Act as the primary HMRC point of contact for the group, leading the compliance relationship across disputes, product classification claims, Bespoke Retail Scheme management, and audit activity.

People Leadership:

• Lead, develop, and grow a high-performing tax team, providing mentorship and clear direction across Commerce, Collectibles (Topps), and Betting and Gaming.
• Build a scalable tax function with robust governance frameworks, policies, and procedures covering intercompany pricing, VAT compliance, and cross-border structuring.
• Drive a culture of technical rigour, continuous improvement, and commercially focused advisory across the tax team.

Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans)

• Lead the Group’s approach to electronically supplied services (ESS) and digital goods VAT/GST across global consumer markets, ensuring accurate and compliant tax treatment that supports seamless fan-facing commerce experiences in every applicable jurisdiction.
• Provide strategic oversight of VAT compliance across 20+ registrations spanning the UK, EU, and wider international markets, including management of third‑party compliance agents, ensuring fans across more than 180 countries are served through compliant and efficient supply chains.
• Advise on structural and commercial projects including new market launches, M&A, and digital goods tax treatment across UK, EU, and rest of world — enabling Fanatics International to reach fans in new markets with speed and confidence.
• Maintain strategic oversight of tax engine configuration and ERP‑embedded indirect tax logic — including OneSource, Avalara, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 — ensuring accurate VAT determination at the point of transaction so fan purchases are processed correctly at scale.

Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit)

• Lead ERP and system configuration projects in collaboration with IT and finance operations, translating complex indirect tax requirements into scalable, auditable system logic that keeps pace with Fanatics International’s growth trajectory.
• Drive VAT structuring for complex cross-border arrangements including dropshipping, Importer of Record models, marketplace structures, and intercompany recharges — designing solutions that are both technically robust and commercially enabling.
• Lead all international tax technical analysis including treaty analysis, withholding tax assessments, and cross-border restructuring advisory, identifying opportunities to improve tax efficiency within a compliant framework.
• Develop and implement the Group’s approach to emerging digital reporting obligations, including e‑invoicing compliance across EU jurisdictions, anticipating regulatory change and positioning Fanatics International ahead of compliance deadlines.

Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset)

• Own the Group’s indirect tax position end-to-end — setting VAT strategy, overseeing compliance execution, and maintaining technical standards across all UK and international registrations with no gaps in accountability.
• Own and drive the international tax strategy across all three Fanatics International business divisions, maintaining and presenting the Group’s international tax risk register to the CFO and President of International on a regular basis.
• Lead the international tax control framework across all UK entities, including Senior Accounting Officer certification controls, ensuring Board sign-off is fully evidenced and defensible.
• Own the Group’s Criminal Finances Act (Corporate Criminal Offence) compliance programme, including risk assessment, policy ownership, and awareness across the finance population, and lead group relief and loss utilisation planning to maximise tax efficiency across UK entities.

AI & DIGITAL CAPABILITY

We are building a future‑ready organization. This role is expected to:

• Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes