Sr Manager Taxation

Requisition Id: R

Role Title: Sr. Manager Taxation – Direct Tax

Work Level: 2C

Work Location: Mumbai - HO

Responsible for Direct Tax matters in the country under the accountability of the Tax Director. Key tax matters include tax risk management, local tax planning initiatives in line with Global guidelines to optimise Unilever's direct tax position, impact assessment & implementation of legislative changes, tax advocacy, transfer pricing, business partnering on direct tax implications of business decisions, driving strategy for audit and controversy, supporting lateral teams on tax compliance and making informed decisions on tax positions.

Key accountabilities

The Tax Manager has the following areas of responsibility:

• Business advisory and project management
• Litigation management and exposure reduction
• Risk management and tax reporting
• Compliance co-ordination with Tax Operations and branch tax teams for return & compliances
• Support the Tax Director in planning and lobbying with industry forums and representations to the Policy makers
• Update on changes in legislations relevant to business
• Tax digitization

A. Business advisory and project management:

Advises the business on the direct tax impact of business decisions and day-to-day actions. Provide business (decision) support to the HUL divisions, branches, factories, 2P & 3P units, Sales & marketing team. Represents tax in the country/MCO finance function, building relationships with key stakeholders in the business and in finance. Executes projects concerning tax planning and takes initiatives for new innovative projects in the countries, in line with Global policy and specified project goals, in order to realize their timely realisation.

Activities

• Business partner to the business finance & team and Legal dept. advising on the direct tax impact of business strategy, transactions and decisions
• Takes initiatives for projects concerning (local) tax optimisation in the country
• Implements global and regional projects in the country including country M&A

B. Litigation management and Exposure Reduction

The direct tax Manager is responsible for country tax audits and internal compliance reviews. This includes managing relationship with the tax authorities, informing stakeholders on emerging issues and developments therein.

Activities

• Prepare and file high quality replies to Show cause notices, demand notices, appeals
• Drafting high quality briefs for opinion on key areas and signing off on ambiguous tax positions
• Keep stakeholders in business and tax informed on audit developments
• Acts as country contact for Interaction with tax authorities
• Interface with external tax advisors on discussing litigation strategy and responses
• Keep an updated litigation tracker and set goals and strategy for reduction in key exposures and disputed amounts

C. Risk Management and reporting

The Tax Manager supports the proper assessments of current and future risks and formulation and implementation of appropriate policies and procedures in country.

Activities

• Monitors & reports on contingent tax issues to internal stakeholders
• Provides technical expertise and documentation to ensure accurate tax booking/accounting for tax provisions
• Regular review and inform on judicial precedents on issues under litigation for the company
• Prepares periodic status update for audit committee review and senior management

D. Compliance co-ordination

Various compliances are required under the current regime including tax audits, transfer pricing compliance, corporate tax return filing and other compliances. The Senior Manager is responsible for co-ordination with Tax Operations team and branch teams to collectively ensure compliance.

Activities

• Responsibility for proactively advising Tax Operations team on changes in law etc
• Responsibility for driving correct processes/ SOPs and documentation for tax positions impacting compliance
• Co-ordination with tax operations and branch teams for periodic health checks
• Responsibility for making representations for compliance related issues with jurisdictional authorities in co-ordination with tax operations team

E. Tax advocacy / representations:

Activities

• High quality representations in consultation with business stakeholders and legal team on changes in legislation
• External benchmarking on industry issues

F. Changes in Law

Responsible to act as a gatekeeper for all changes in law impacting tax positions adopted and tax compliance framework

Activities

• Proactively analyses the impact of changes in domestic rules and advises on value creation opportunities.
• Highlights changes in legislation that could cause changes in compliance and disseminate to tax operations, branch team and other stakeholders
• Track and analyse judicial precedents for issues relevant to company's business model and processes.
• Track and analyse judicial precedents relevant to litigation matters provided for and under contingent liability

G. Technology:

Drive Tax technology and adoption in areas of compliance, analytics and risk management

Key KPI's

• Timely advice to business divisions
• Governance around provisions and contingent liability
• Accuracy of compliance
• Reduction in disputed tax amounts
• Demonstration of expertise and updated knowledge of current tax landscape

Key Skills and values

• Integrity
• Decision making
• Project management
• Bias for action
• Simplicity in communication

Qualifications

CA / Lawyer with work experience with consulting and/or leading multinational organizations. Relevant work experience of 12 years plus

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