Head of Indirect Tax

The Economist; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Head of Indirect Tax to lead their global compliance efforts during a transformative time in the tax landscape. This senior management position requires a seasoned professional with extensive experience in indirect tax consulting and a deep understanding of VAT regulations. The role involves collaborating with key stakeholders, optimizing compliance processes, and managing relationships with tax authorities. Join a dynamic team that values innovation, integrity, and excellence, and contribute to shaping the future of indirect tax compliance in a rapidly evolving environment. If you are passionate about tax and eager to make an impact, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

Incentive Programme

Generous Annual Leave

Parental Leave

Volunteering Days

Well-being Support

Free Access to Economist Content

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in indirect tax consulting required.
• Hands-on indirect tax professional with relevant qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with stakeholders and provide indirect tax advice.
• Lead indirect tax compliance and audits globally.

Skills

UK VAT Knowledge

Indirect Tax Compliance

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Analytical Skills

Project Management

Attention to Detail

Education

ACA

CPA

ACCA

CTA

ATT

Tools

VAT Tools

Billing Systems

ERP Systems

Job description

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the “red thread” that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them.

We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity.

We are seeking a Head of Indirect Tax to be part of our global indirect tax function during a time when the tax landscape is changing at an unprecedented rate. This person will report to the group’s Director of Group Finance and will work as part of an Indirect Tax Team to deliver an efficient global approach to indirect tax compliance and will assist in providing commercial indirect tax advice to the business.

This is a senior management role which would be more suited to a Senior Manager with experience working within an indirect tax consulting practice and with at least 7 years’ experience working in indirect tax.

How you will contribute:

• Partner with, and own, the relationships with key stakeholders in the group to provide support and advice on indirect tax matters. You should be comfortable advising on UK VAT technical issues like product zero rating, advising on the practical application of indirect tax rules and principles outside of the UK, and have a strong “place of supply” and “electronically supplied services” knowledge.
• Partner with the legal and contracting team in order to manage commercial and contractual queries effectively.
• Assisting with indirect tax projects and transactions to ensure the indirect tax position of the group is optimised.
• Working with the Indirect Tax Team to deliver process improvements, focusing on the automation of processes, particularly in light of global tax reporting developments including eInvoicing, SAF-T and real time reporting requirements.
• Assisting with the management of relationships with external advisors and compliance providers.
• Operating and monitoring the group’s processes and controls relating to indirect tax (including compliance with Senior Accounting Officer and Corporate Criminal Offence rules in the UK and similar global rules).
• Leading the work to manage any global indirect tax audits.
• Overarching review and risk analysis of the global indirect tax compliance filings – including UK, Europe, the Americas and Asia. Manage the compliance team to ensure full compliance with filing deadlines and ensuring the group meets its record keeping and invoicing obligations globally.
• Oversee and provide support to the compliance team to ensure compliance obligations in respect of global sales taxes are met, and the group registers for indirect tax in jurisdictions where it has registration requirements.
• Assisting with the management of relationships with tax authorities.
• Support in the general management of the indirect tax compliance team located in India.

Ideal skills and experience for the role:

The successful candidate will be a hands-on indirect tax professional (having completed ACA, CPA, ACCA, CTA, ATT or equivalent), with:

• A strong understanding of global indirect regulations and reporting requirements for goods, services and electronically supplied services.
• Proven knowledge of international VAT compliance, with a focus on systems improvement, automation and standardising of processes.
• Excellent IT and hands-on knowledge of VAT tools, billing systems and ERP systems, and how they can be used and adapted to increase the automation of VAT compliance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A desire to work as part of a team, and a willingness to take on new tasks.
• A natural curiosity and desire to keep pace with a fast-changing environment including new regulation around tax automation and the taxation of digital products.
• A structured and organised way of working and a proven ability to deliver to robust deadlines.
• An ability to provide commercial support to the business whilst navigating indirect tax considerations.

What we offer:

Benefits:
We offer excellent benefits including an incentive programme, generous annual and parental leave policies, volunteering days and well-being support throughout the year, as well as free access to all Economist content. Country specific benefits are also offered.

Our Values:
Our values are a collective set of beliefs and behaviours that strengthen The Economist Group's purpose and demonstrate where we want to be as an organisation. They reflect on our mission to pursue progress for individuals, organisations and the world.

Independence:
We are not bound to any party or interest and encourage exploration and free-thinking. We champion freedom, both within our organisation and around the world.

Integrity:
We are bold in our efforts to uncover the truth and stand up for what we believe in. We inspire trust through our rigour, fact-checking and transparency.

Excellence:
We aspire to the highest standards in all we do. We are ambitious and inquisitive in our pursuit of continuous progress and innovation.

Inclusivity:
We value diversity in thought and background and encourage healthy debate with a breadth of perspectives. We treat our colleagues and customers fairly and respectfully.

Openness:
We foster a collaborative and empathetic culture conducive to the interests, wit and initiative of our colleagues. New ideas are our lifeblood.

The Economist Group values diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our colleagues and potential colleagues regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, gender identity, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status or any other status.