IFS, VAT Accountant Senior Associate - Finance

Job description / Role

Line of Service
Internal Firm Services

Specialism
IFS - Finance

Management Level
Senior Associate

Job Description & Summary
The VAT accountant is responsible for handling all VAT activities for PwC ME Network entities under the supervision of the VAT manager and working together with the wider Firm Tax team as well as the Finance team and tax specialists across the ME region.
The main focus of the VAT accountant is to support the team in all VAT compliance functions. This includes optimising PwC's VAT position, managing tax risks, and understanding the VAT implications of cross border transactions and the operating model.
In addition, they will also support all VAT compliance and reporting. Activities and responsibility will include responding to tax questions posed by both IFS and LoS teams on VAT issues encountered in their day to day operations.

Financial
- Assist to develop a regional VAT strategy that is cognisant of local tax requirements and which, also optimises the overarching tax position of PwC.
- Works with Firm Tax and local Tax LoS Specialists to understand tax laws, regulations etc., and builds these specificities into tax strategy.
- Validates tax strategy with Tax LoS Lead for approval and further socialisation.
- Responsible for guiding transactions within the wider Finance Team to minimise VAT liabilities.
- Assist the VAT Manager in responsibilities around VAT compliance and reporting activities, ensuring adherence to submission / reporting deadlines.
- Provide inputs for all VAT audits conducted by Firm Tax/Global Team/External Auditors.

Customer
- Advise internal customers on most efficient VAT structuring for their operations, keeping in mind local tax regulations.
- Ensure on time submission of VAT reports on behalf of each operating entity.
- Report to both local leadership as well as global teams on all VAT activities, demonstrating compliance with global RM standards, VAT rulings.

Internal Process
- Prepares VAT compliance requirement for PwC ME Network entities within responsibility; works with VAT Manager to prepare VAT returns and ensures submission deadlines are adhered to.
- Organize and conduct special analyses as required.
- Deliver internal reports to F&A Team Lead, flagging key risks, exposures etc., as well as tax opportunities.
- Assist with effective VAT training and appropriate support for the business.
- Consolidate, analyse and challenge all VAT report inputs from LoS/local teams/other finance teams as appropriate.

Learning & Growth
- Forms part of both local finance community, regional tax community as well as global tax experts' community, and maintains appropriate relationships across the tax spectrum.
- Has the capabilities to deliver assignments efficiently.
- Capture templates and standards into a repository to build the team's own knowledge management database.
- Ensures adherence to policies and procedures.
- Responsible for the continuing professional development of self.
- Support internal knowledge management best practices, creating communities of practice both within own team and across wider function.
- Act as a key VAT resource and liaison to the VAT Manager, the Firm Tax Team and where relevant to other areas of the business, building cross-functional relationships as needed.

Requirements

Education
- Bachelor's Degree
- Certified Practicing Accountant, Certified Tax Accountant or similar.

Language
- Bilingual English/Arabic. Fluency in written and spoken English & Arabic.

Overall Experience
- 3+ years of accounting experience.
- Previous experience with VAT required.
- Previous experience with other taxes would be an advantage.

Specific Experience
- Experience in the Professional Services industry in a top tier Big 4 firm would be an advantage.

Knowledge and Skills
- Understanding of general/international accounting standards and practices.
- High level of analytical and quantitative ability required to perform complex financial and transactional tax and accounting functions and ad hoc reporting functions, including proficiency with computer based modelling and analytic techniques.
- Ability to adhere to procedures, controls and policies for functional areas of responsibility.
- Organization, thoroughness, eye for detail, time management skills and proactivity required.
- Excellent people management skills required.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills required to effectively work with professional resources in accounting areas.
- Ethical conduct.

About the Company

At PwC Middle East, we've set out an ambitious purpose and strive to live it everyday: to solve important problems and build trust in society.

We're a community of solvers that come together in unexpected ways to build trust and create sustained outcomes. We solve important problems, support one another as we grow, develop and build fulfilling careers.

PwC provides industry-focused services for public and private clients across Assurance and Audit, Deals, Consulting, Tax and Legal. We draw on our development legacy that brings together the collective experience of over 7,000 people in our region with offices across 12 countries to solve for tomorrow.

We're striving to consistently deliver innovative work that builds trust and delivers sustained outcomes. And we're proud of the strength that comes from all our different backgrounds and experiences and we value everyone's uniqueness. We thrive in uncertainty, operate with integrity and leverage the diverse perspectives of our teams.

If you're looking for a place that fuels your ambition to make a difference, that matches your curiosity with continuous learning opportunities and reimagines ways of working to enable you to lead a more balanced life, then you're a future PwCer.