VAT Manager

Job description / Role

Our indirect tax professionals help clients identify opportunities and mitigate indirect tax risks. They use their deep sector experience and knowledge of different legal and regulatory systems around the world to help clients meet their compliance obligations as well as achieve their business goals and provide pragmatic commercial help so clients improve their day-to-day compliance with indirect tax obligations. This includes improving working capital, reducing errors, reducing costs and ensuring indirect taxes are handled correctly. They advise how indirect taxes such as value added tax (VAT) and customs duty impinge on the client’s global supply chain and financial and accounting systems.

As an Indirect Tax Manager, you'll join a globally-integrated team helping leading organizations to operate more effectively in moving goods around the world. You'll contribute technical skills to team assignments and advise on ways to implement strategies that help clients manage duty costs. For example, by utilizing free trade agreements, special programs, and transactional structuring. You will be involved in VAT Impact and Readiness assessments for both tax administrations and taxpayers and be closely involved in VAT implementation projects in the GCC region.

You'll also help clients proactively manage the risks of global trade, improve international trade compliance and increase supply chain effectiveness. Your proactive, pragmatic and integrated strategies will help our clients to achieve their potential in today's global environment.

Job purpose
• To lead the efficient and successful delivery of indirect tax services to the clients
Client responsibilities
• Build and maintain tax relationships with clients and provide high levels of client service
• Build relationships both within the firm and externally with clients, identifying opportunities and managing expectations
• Manage the successful delivery of tax projects, ensuring technical excellence and practical/business driven approach taken
• Responsible for day-to-day delivery of client liaison
• Key member of one of the client service groups providing full tax services to a client portfolio
• Work effectively as a member of a worldwide network of professional advisors, sharing responsibility, providing support, maintaining communication and updating senior team members on progress
• Collaborate with a team of customs and international trade professionals to combine diverse cross-border transaction experience with local tax knowledge across a broad spectrum of industries

Technical responsibilities
• To prepare for the potential introduction of VAT in the GCC and to discuss with clients how this may impact them
• To be part of a team responsible for advisory work on VAT impact assessments, VAT readiness programmes and VAT implementation projects
• To develop and lead VAT training programmes for both internal EY teams and externally to tax administrations and the business community
• To build a deep understanding of the Gulf Corporation Council (“GCC”) VAT Framework Agreement Law and its practical application across the GCC member states with particular emphasis on an EU intra state model that will apply in the GCC
• To identify and discuss VAT considerations for clients to be aware of in their outbound investments
• To engage with colleagues in overseas offices to deliver VAT advice in respect of global jurisdictions
• To build a deep understanding of the Gulf Corporation Council (“GCC”) Customs Law and its practical application across the GCC member states
• To understand and apply the regional Free Trade Agreements
• To understand and apply key customs concepts such as valuation, classification and origin
• To work with internal teams to provide indirect tax expertise for audit and transaction projects

People responsibilities
• Help people to develop through effective supervision, coaching and mentoring of staff
• Conduct performance reviews and contribute to performance feedback for staff
• Contribute to people initiatives, including recruiting, retaining and training customs and international trade professionals
• Maintain an educational program to develop personal skills on an ongoing basis
• Understand and follow workplace policies and procedures
Experience

Requirements

• A Senior Indirect Tax Professional with at least five to seven years’ experience
• Experience working for a Big 4 accounting firm is preferred. However, we will consider candidates with from law firms or with relevant industry experience.
• VAT advisory experience is essential.
Additional qualifications (certifications and/or licences if applicable)
• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field (MBA, Masters of Tax, JD and LLM a plus) with strong academic credentials
• ACA/CA/ Law qualification / CTA (or equivalent tax qualification)
Skills
• Client focused and commercially aware with ability to build strong client relationships
• Excellent communicator in range of situations in both written and oral English
• Ability to identify areas of risk, carry out an effective review and know when to refer upwards
• Team player with ability to build effective relationships at all levels
• Project management skills, plan and prioritise work, meet deadlines, monitor own budget
• Ability to solve problems creatively and pragmatically
• Arabic language skills considered an advantage but not necessary

About the Company

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available on our site.

The MENA practice of EY has been operating in the region since 1923. For over 95 years, we have grown to over 7,500 people united across 21 offices and 16 countries, sharing the same values and an unwavering commitment to quality. As an organization, we continue to develop outstanding leaders who deliver exceptional services to our clients and who contribute to our communities. We are proud of our accomplishments over the years, reaffirming our position as the largest and most established professional services organization in the region