Senior VAT Specialist

Bridgestone; Poznań; On-site; PLN 214,408 - 300,171; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Supportive onboarding experience

Opportunities for training and mentorship

Corporate Social Responsibility activities

Dynamic work environment

Work/life balance initiatives

Job summary

Bridgestone is seeking a Senior VAT Specialist located in Poznań, Poland. The successful candidate will be responsible for multi-country VAT compliance, driving process improvements while advising various departments on VAT regulations.

This hybrid role requires at least 5 years of VAT experience and a university degree in a related field. Bridgestone offers a supportive environment for personal and professional growth.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of European VAT experience in a multinational environment.
• Experience with VAT and Intrastat filings across multiple countries.
• Strong understanding of VAT compliance and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate VAT returns and compliance for multiple countries.
• Advise on VAT treatment for cross-border transactions.
• Lead VAT audits and drive process improvements.

Skills

Knowledge of EU VAT regulations

SAP experience

MS Excel skills

Analytical mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

University degree in Tax, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Law

Certified Tax Advisor (CTA)

Tools

SAP FI module

SAP MM module

SAP SD module

Job description

Senior VAT Specialist

POSITION SNAPSHOT

Type of work: Hybrid

Type of contract: Open-ended/permanent

Full/Part Time: Full time

Location: Poznań, PL

ABOUT US

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bridgestone Europe, Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA), headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, operate collectively as a “Bridgestone West” strategic region. This region services the strategic business needs of teams across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. BSAM and BSEMEA are subsidiaries of Bridgestone Corporation, globally headquartered in Japan. Bridgestone and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand products and solutions to address the needs of a broad range of customers and industries.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Job Purpose

The Senior VAT Specialist is responsible for the accurate, efficient and timely execution of multi-country VAT and Intrastat compliance, driving continuous process improvements, and providing practical VAT guidance to the business across Europe. The role combines end-to-end compliance ownership with hands‑on advisory on business flows, systems and controls, to ensure high‑quality service, effective risk management and readiness for new regulations (e.g., EU ViDA and e‑invoicing).

Responsibilities:

• Prepare, review and file periodic VAT returns, EC Sales/Purchase Lists and Intrastat for multiple European registrations, including reconciliations to GL and sub‑ledgers.
• Monitor VAT balances, ensure timely payments/refunds, and manage correspondence with tax authorities and fiscal representatives.
• Perform quality checks on VAT data (e.g., master data, tax codes, condition records) and resolve underlying issues with various departments.
• Advise on VAT treatment of cross‑border transactions (e.g., triangulations, chain transactions, consignment/call‑off stock, own goods movements, imports/exports).
• Support and/or lead VAT audits and provide robust audit trails and documentation.
• Drive continuous improvement, standardisation and automation of VAT and Intrastat processes; contribute to KPI dashboards and internal controls (incl. J‑SOX).
• Support implementation/readiness for EU e‑invoicing and Digital Reporting Requirements (ViDA) and local mandates; coordinate updates with internal stakeholders and external advisors.
• Provide practical VAT training and guidance to Finance, AP/AR, Supply Chain and Commercial teams; create/maintain clear procedures and work instructions.
• Contribute to projects (regional/global) impacting VAT determination, compliance and reporting; act as subject matter expert for assigned countries/processes.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On‑time and accurate filings across all jurisdictions; zero missed deadlines.
• Quality of reconciliations and effectiveness of VAT controls (incl. 4‑eye review).
• Audit outcomes (queries resolved, assessments avoided/mitigated).
• Process efficiency and automation (cycle time, touch time, standard work adoption).
• Stakeholder satisfaction (Finance/Business) and issue resolution SLAs.
• Readiness and successful adoption of e‑invoicing/ViDA and new regulatory changes.

Qualifications & Experience Required

Education, Master, other certification:

• University degree in Tax, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Law
• Professional certification such as Certified Tax Advisor (CTA) is an advantage

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of hands‑on European VAT experience in a multinational, shared services, or CoE environment
• Experience in preparation and review of VAT and Intrastat filings for multiple European countries

Technical Skills:

• Strong knowledge of EU VAT regulations including place of supply, triangulations, and interaction with customs
• Solid SAP experience in FI, MM, and SD modules and strong MS Excel skills
• Exposure to e‑invoicing and digital reporting mandates such as KSeF or Peppol and awareness of the EU ViDA roadmap

Languages Skills:

• Additional EU language is an advantage

Soft/Behavioral Skills:

• Strong analytical mindset with high attention to detail and ownership
• Ability to translate complex VAT regulations into practical business guidance
• Strong cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills
• Structured problem‑solving approach and continuous improvement orientation
• Ability to work under time pressure and manage multiple deadlines across countries

WHAT WE OFFER

At Bridgestone, what really matter is to foster co‑creation opportunities and empowering you to be creative and curious to make mobility safer, more efficient, and more sustainable for future generations. Whatever role you fill, when you represent Bridgestone, you are a valued teammate, and part of our larger mission to “Serve Society with Superior Quality”, for that, we offer you more than just a competitive payment; we will provide you:

• A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.
• The opportunity to develop and grow, through training and regular mentorship.
• Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
• A truly global, dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long‑term well‑being.
• A diverse and inclusive team.

We are committed to create an even more inclusive culture that advances equity, embraces individuality, and helps our increasingly diverse teammates, customers, and communities thrive, by providing equal opportunities in employment. This means that all job applicants and members of staff will receive equal treatment and that we will not discriminate on grounds of gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, color, nationality, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, religion or age.