Tax Filing and Reporting Manager should ensure that all direct tax compliance process is properly executed by Finance Operations. Tax Filing and Reporting Manager’s goals should be aligned with MDT Operational, Managerial and Strategic metrics. Tax Filing and Reporting Manager will use Continuous Improvement methodology to optimize the team and the process from efficiency and effectiveness perspective. This position will report to the MIT/MDT Process Manager in the Finance Operations (FO) and will liaise with the respective businesses based across various geographical locations. Major purpose of this role is to translate tax advice to filing and reporting inputs, train FO teams, act as feeder process interface, own tax tools & templates, support preparation of Compliance Memos and manage audit response.

Dimensions:

Subordinates - number and role

No subordinates although coordination role for FO Tax staff and other teams involved in direct tax compliance process

All Shell entities in country or group of countries assigned:

Taxes in scope: Direct Tax, Property Tax, Local Corporate Tax

Stakeholders:

• Tax (Direct Tax Advisors, Country Tax Leads, Tax Process Owner)
• Reporting and Analysis (Fixed Asset Accounting, General Ledger, Reporting)
• Central Group Reporting
• Finance in the Business
• Business (Country Controllers and Upstream and Downstream, Corporate commercial people),
• Finance Operations (Operations Managers, Process Managers, Senior Managers)
• Financial Processes migrated to Finance Operations

Principal Accountabilities:

• Ability to understand all business scenario which impacts direct tax process as well as all commercial implications of tax matter for Report One Reporting and Central Group Reporting
• E2E understanding of Tax provisioning process,
• Translate TMN02 information & other compliance tax Advice into applicable Tax reporting & compliance actions
• Translate TMN02 data into detailed Tax technical documentation including KAS, PF & AF
• Translate Tax compliance requirements into IT change requests
• Assist MDT007 in preparation of TMN02 for the designated scope
• Manage engagements with feeder processes and ensure if they manage data in ERPs and other source systems in compliant with Tax Advice received from MDT007
• Set expectations on data requirements between MDT & Feeder processes
• Manage interface issues and escalations
• Train FO MDT Preparers & Reviewers on Tax updates
• Manage Work instructions, Tax calculation tools & templates
• Clarify all technical queries of Preparer & Reviewer in the process
• Interface with MDT007 and align on tax compliance requirements
• Review Audit Response and Data before submitting to Tax Advisor or Tax Authorities
• Submit Audit responses to Tax Authorities for the scope agreed with MDT007 and as delegated by CTL
• Final review and approval (sign off) of tax returns and tax payments
• Approve adjustments related to direct tax compliance process
• Primary contact point for direct tax advisors/controllers and country tax leads for all business and law changes and identified problems
• Ensure implementation of all business process changes as well as tax law changes in the system and in the process, approve tax data update (system update and MRD)
• Build and maintain tax functional competences in FO Tax team as well as support other FO teams ensuring tax awareness and proper input of the feeding processes including providing of training.
• Initiate and lead continuous improvement projects
• Driving corrective actions within Finance Operations to ensure compliance of the process with local tax regulations and internal procedures (CCI, metrics reporting etc).
• Identification of the problems in compliance process operated by Finance Operations and assurance that identified problems get resolved,
• Close cooperation and networking with onshore and Finance Operations processes to ensure oversight on Tax Compliance Processes operated by them.
• Ensure continuous improvement in the level of fiscal compliance among FO
• Managing risks of non-compliance in processes operated by Finance Operations
• Understanding of the business process and correlation between the processes and key indicators of MDT process
• Provide routine advice on the direct tax treatment of transactions to MDT002 and MDT009 staff
• Act as SME for own area of responsibility
• Provide tax advice on the direct tax treatment to Finance Operations
• Increase effectiveness and efficiency of tax reporting process
• Co-ordinate/ support for Team Managers, Operations Manager and Process Manager
• Review and approve SOAR analysis of tax accounts balances and clean up all tax accounts on regular frequency

Decision-Making:

• Sign off tax returns for given countries/entities
• Validation of process/system changes according to law/business changes
• Translate Tax advice to Reporting & Filing inputs from Direct Tax Advisors
• Translate Tax advises and validate with Central Group Reporting
• Train FO Teams
• Treatment of particular economical events (adjustments, impairments, accruals, Direct tax Liabilities  and Direct Tax Accruals DIE, ETR etc ..)
• Feeder Process Interface
• Own Tax tools & templates
• Joint preparation of TMN02
• Manage Audit Response & data
• Limited External Interface

Special Challenges:

Finance Operations is one of the key enablers for delivering world-class process performance, and represents a milestone on our Finance Functional Plan journey. The role is technically demanding and requires knowledge of specific country tax legislation, compliance, controls requirements.

The role requires skills necessary to transfer legislation into system set-up.

The role requires also project management skills and improvement mindset to manage, improve and simplify streamline standardized processes. Effective and timely communication with stakeholders especially stakeholder interfaces can be challenging with a wide variety of stakeholders, in different locations and with competing priorities. Strong leadership competencies (AGCP) are required as the role must be role model for FO Tax staff and required managing people without formal authority.

• Ability to translate local direct tax requirement to finance operation process
• Ability to applicate IAS/GAAP to direct tax environment
• Strong team-working across the process area is essential
• Acquiring and constantly updating knowledge about local tax related regulations
• Build trust and confidence in co-operation with finance in the business
• Skills necessary to transfer legislation requirements into system requirements
• Develop and maintain contacts within Finance Operations as necessary to keep abreast of processes, activities, and proposed transactions.
• Demonstrate the behaviours required to actively underpin the success of the Tax model (e.g. concentration on most significant issues, managing risks, flexibility, “can-do” attitude, team-working, learning from mistakes, ensuring improvements embedded, strive for continuous improvement
• Managing people without formal authority

This is a challenging and senior role, which is central to successful operation of the Direct Tax Compliance process.

Qualifications required:

• University degree
• Strong accounting, law or tax knowledge required.

CIMA, MBA, ADIT, ACCA, CPA will be an asset (Recognized professional qualification and membership of a professional body)

• Minimum 5+ years’ work experience in various financial positions (tax, accounting, finance)
• Minimum 2+ years’ work experience in tax compliance or advisory
• Knowledge of direct tax according to local and international laws/regulations.
• Tax Advisor Certificate will be an asset
• Presentation skills
• Analytical skills
• Able to manage risks
• Display personal effectiveness
• Resilience under the pressure
• Capability to provide training to financial/accounting processes
• Awareness of system settings and feeding processes design
• Strong coordination skills
• Strong and proved experience in project management Six Sigma certification will be an asset
• Effective communicator of complex tax issues; both written and oral;
• Ability to discuss and explain complex topics in a manner most relevant to and geared toward the audience addressed
• Must have the passion for continuous learning and improvement and the ability to immediately adapt to changes

In addition: Knowledge of various ERP systems and MS Office skills.

• Fluent English,
• Knowledge of other language will be an asset
• High level knowledge and application of direct tax, controls, standard streamline and accounting principles.
• Self-motivation, self-starting who can manage/integrate with others in different functions and in a multicultural and diverse business environment.
• Highly developed analytical skills with perceptive and clear think strategic abilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels including communication with senior stakeholders and presentation skills
• Experience of working in a virtual environment.

Key Competences:

• Accounting and Reporting - (Knowledge)
• Risk Management - (Knowledge)
• Financial Controls - (Knowledge)
• Direct Taxation - (Skill)
• Leadership skills (AGCP) - (Skill)
• Tax Accounting - (Skill)
• Risk Management and Internal Control - (Knowledge)
• Process Improvement - (Skill)
• Business partnering - (Skill)
• Internal Audit Management - (Knowledge)
• International Tax and Policy - (Skill)
• Governance and Assurance - (Knowledge)
• Financial Controls - (Knowledge)
• Risk Management and Internal Control - (Knowledge)
• Group Accounting Policies and Standards - (Knowledge)
• Internal Audit Management - (Knowledge)
• MI and Reporting for the Business - (Knowledge)
• Performance Management and Appraisal - (Knowledge)
• Cross Border Direct/Transaction Taxes - (Knowledge)
• Property Tax - (Knowledge)
• Tax Policy - (Knowledge)