International Indirect Tax Manager

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Job description

Job Overview

This is an established role within the Partnership Tax Team. This role will allow a dedicated resource for partners and billing teams to help resolve billing queries, and to provide advice, training, to develop and implement policies globally for indirect taxes.

Who you will work with

Financial Governance & the Policy team and the UK and Regional offices.

What you will be responsible for

The purpose of the role is to work with colleagues across the Firm to continue to:

1. Provide technical advice to UK and regional offices on indirect tax issues;

2. Review, document, critically assess and seek to improve VAT / GST reporting processes for UK and regional offices;

3. Provide ad hoc technical indirect tax advice to both UK and overseas regional offices;

4. Stay up to date on indirect tax news and developments, with appropriate communication to the relevant teams / stakeholders where required;

5. Provide training to UK and overseas Partners, Finance and Billing teams on technical indirect tax issues, as and when required;

6. Set up of VAT / GST registration and compliance functions for any offices opened in new regions;

7. Review, assess and strengthen global and regional billing policies and / or dispensations from policy;

8. Develop and implement global and / or regional billing policies where required;

9. Provide guidance to the Financial Governance & Policy team to ensure that new and existing policies are properly considered from an indirect tax perspective;

10. Review and assess adherence / compliance with implemented billing policies, working with internal audit where required in order to identify and rationalise any non-compliance;

11. Effective management of the indirect tax costs of doing business, with identification of indirect tax cost / cash flow opportunities that may be available, whilst ensuring that the correct amount of tax is reported and remitted;

12. Work to ensure that the firm is fully compliant with local indirect tax laws in the territories in which the firm operates;

This role does not require specialist tax technical expertise and would suit an accountant familiar with billing issues in an international context and who has a strong interest in indirect tax issues.

What you will do

1. Handle the significant issues on particular client matters with the offices to strengthen the governance of the billing process.

2. Resolve ad hoc queries that come up e.g.:

• Transactional taxes

• Amendments to existing indirect tax law, which requires process of systems changes to implement for the firm

• Support for cross-border issues

3. Assist partners and billing teams globally to ensure matters are properly set up at inception, taking account of relevant indirect tax issues, identifying the correct client and billing office in our global billing system.

4. Create more definition around billing procedures generally (documentation and support) and help implement stronger controls and governance over the billing process generally.

5. Maintain and control cross-border arrangements and ensure appropriate processes and documentation exists.

6. Periodically review VAT reconciliations globally to ensure that the most appropriate treatment is being applied to all categories of income and expenditure.

7. Work with office finance teams globally to ensure that accounting for VAT / GST etc. is being properly controlled and also assisting office finance teams to ensure that reconciliations are performed locally between local statutory accounting systems and the firm-wide Oracle based system.

8. Develop a strong relationship with VAT Indirect Tax advisers globally, both internal and external to the firm.

9. Ensure that cross-border billing policies are regularly reviewed and updated / enhanced as required.

10. Provide training and relevant materials to billing teams generally to ensure that the firm's policies are properly understood and implemented.

11. Assist in adapting the firm's accounting systems as required to cope with tax law changes or changes in practice; work with systems teams and local offices when local solutions are required.

12. Develop a strategy for monitoring indirect tax compliance generally, including building links with internal audit and the core accounting operations.

Other Tasks:

This is a broad role, and therefore the successful candidate can expect to be involved in other ad hoc projects which may involve using their existing knowledge of accounting systems.

Your career experience so far

Skills:

• Confident and clear verbal and written communication skills; experience of communicating with global teams; engaging with Partners, Finance personnel and external advisers as required.

• Adept in Microsoft Suite products.

• Motivated and proactive self-starter.

• Positive attitude and a flexible approach to work.

Experience:

• Experience of Indirect taxes such as VAT, GST and equivalent.

• Experience of project management.

• Significant experience working with accounting systems.

• General knowledge of billing systems within an international group, preferably with a services background (rather than goods)

• International indirect tax experience is an advantage.

Knowledge:

• Strong interest in the technical side of global indirect taxes required.

• Ability to keep up to date with technical updates and changes in legislation, and recognising when this might affect the firm

Qualifications:

• Likely an accounting qualification e.g., ACCA or ACA (or international equivalent) or CTA.

• No formal technical qualification covering the operation of VAT is required, although the successful candidate will need to demonstrate an understanding of the legal aspects of cross-border billing, and to be interested in managing the design of control systems in the area of VAT and other similar indirect taxes globally.

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

About the Firm

Whatever your area of expertise, you will find a range of career opportunities at Clifford Chance. And wherever you're heading, Clifford Chance is where you can be true to your ambitions.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures and languages. In a world where commercial success increasingly relies on globalisation, we offer clients a truly international perspective, and we offer our people a rewarding and stimulating career.

We're proud of our approachable, friendly and team-based way of working. Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, our people are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.

To find out more about what it is like to work in Clifford Chance in London or Newcastle, please visit

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. Find out more here.

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