Head of International Taxation

Desired Results

Optimize the organization's global tax position by developing and implementing strategies that maximize tax efficiency while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Drive Strategic Decision-making: The head of international taxation plays a strategic role in providing guidance and insights to senior management and other stakeholders regarding the tax implications of international business activities. They contribute to decision-making processes by assessing the tax impact of various options and recommending tax-efficient structures and strategies.

Foster Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaboration with various internal stakeholders such as finance, legal, and business units is essential. The head of international taxation works closely with these departments to integrate tax considerations into business operations, transactions, and contracts. They provide guidance and support on international tax matters, ensuring alignment between tax strategies and business objectives.

Stay Informed and Innovate: Keeping abreast of changes in international tax laws, regulations, and best practices is crucial. The head of international taxation must continuously update their knowledge and drive innovation in tax planning and compliance. This includes identifying opportunities for process improvements, automation, and adopting emerging technologies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the international tax function.

Main Challenge

Mitigate Tax Risks: The head of international taxation must identify and assess potential tax risks associated with the organization's global operations and transactions. They will develop and implement strategies to minimize these risks and establish controls to ensure tax compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Build and maintain relationships with external tax advisors, tax authorities, and other relevant external stakeholders.
2. Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external advisors to manage international tax audits and inquiries from tax authorities.
3. Communicate tax strategies, risks, and opportunities to senior management and other relevant stakeholders.
4. Collaborate with finance, legal, and other relevant departments to ensure tax considerations are integrated into business operations, transactions, and contracts.
5. Provide guidance and support to business units regarding international tax implications of their activities.
6. Advise on structuring of cross-border transactions and business operations to optimize tax efficiency.
7. Represent the organization's interests in tax-related discussions and negotiations.
8. Develop and implement an effective international tax strategy aligned with the organization's goals and objectives.
9. Identify tax planning opportunities to optimize the organization's global tax position while ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
10. Monitor and assess changes in international tax laws and regulations to proactively adapt the tax strategy as needed.
11. Develop and implement tax risk mitigation strategies and controls.
12. Ensure timely and accurate preparation and submission of all required international tax filings, including tax returns, reports, and disclosures.
13. Identify and assess potential tax risks associated with international operations and transactions.
14. Monitor changes in tax laws and regulations to anticipate and address emerging tax risks.
15. Uphold high ethical standards and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
16. Lead and manage a team of international tax professionals, providing guidance, coaching, and performance feedback.
17. Foster a culture of continuous learning and development within the team.
18. Ensure effective resource allocation and workload management to meet deadlines and deliver high-quality work.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• Professional Finance certification (ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Minimum of 10 years of extensive experience in international taxation or related role (e.g., Taxation Manager), preferably in a diverse/multicultural business industry.
• The candidate must be a current resident of Dubai and have valid residency status.