Head of Tax ANZ

Who we are?

On any given day, 2.5 billion people globally use Unilever products to feel good, look good and get more out of life. Many of our brands are well-known, household staples and old-time favourites including Dove, Rexona, Lynx, Vaseline, OMO/Persil, Surf, TRESemmé, Continental, Ben & Jerry’s and Streets. 

We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today. In 2022 Unilever Australia & New Zealand became a Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp), joining a growing network of organisations committed to galvanising a stronger, more inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy for all.  

A job at Unilever is a career made by you, with development opportunities, benefits and a working culture that embraces diversity and is pioneering flexibility. There’s no better time to join our team! 

Job Summary

The Head of Tax ANZ is responsible for all tax matters in the country/MCO under the accountability of the tax director. Tax matters include meeting all statutory obligations for all taxes on time in all countries, meeting all (group) reporting obligations and implementing local, regional and global (tax planning) initiatives in line with Global policy, instructions and guidelines, in order to realize a Competitive Effective Tax Rate (ETR) and optimising Unilever’s indirect tax position.

The Head of Tax ANZ is a member of the MCO/cluster tax operations team reporting to its Tax Director and supports the finance team of its country.

Role Responsibilities:

The Head of Tax ANZ has the following areas of responsibility:

• Provide business (decision) support from tax perspective
• Supervise tax return & compliance for Corporate Income Tax, Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) and GST
• Support tax Director in planning and lobbying
• Manage tax audit & controversy
• Risk management and reporting
• People management and budget control

Business decision support

The Head of Tax ANZ advises the business on the tax impacts – across the entire range of applicable taxes – of business decisions and day to day actions. The Head of Tax ANZ represents tax in the country/MCO finance function, building relationships with key stakeholders in the business and in finance. Executes projects concerning tax planning and takes initiatives for new innovative projects in the countries, in line with Global policy and specified project goals, in order to realize their timely realisation.

Activities

• Business partner to the business, finance and global tax teams by advising on the tax impact of business strategy, transactions and decisions as well as day to day operations.
• Takes initiatives for projects concerning (local) tax planning in the country/MCO.
• Implements global and regional projects in the country/MCO.
• Monitors tax efficiency of the capital structure in the countries.
• Advises on cross-border tax issues (transfer pricing, withholding taxes, tax deductibility etc).
• Supports in executing in country M&A.
• Analyses the impact of (changes in) domestic and international taxation rules.

Tax return & compliance for income tax, FBT and GST

The Head of Tax ANZ is responsible for supervising the teams in Shared Service Hub (Uniops Team) and Outsourced Service Providers (OSP) – for the delivery of tax compliance and tax reporting in line with Global policy, in order to contribute to achieve timely, correct and complete reporting and compliance. This includes, but is not limited to, design of the compliance processes for the taxes within their responsibility, guidelines for book to tax reconciliation, setting the compliance agenda and deadlines, , advising on systems requirements regarding ERP and financial consolidation software, reviewing tax returns prepared by UniOps and OSP as well as soliciting external advice where needed.

Activities

• Business partner to the NFDs Finance for their fiduciary and reporting responsibilities, including adherence to the Corporate Policy on Taxation.
• Supervising UniOps and OSP for accurate and timely payment and lodgement of country tax returns for income tax, FBT and GST.
• Responsible for ensuring systems and processes are maintained and updated as necessary.
• Ensures that adequate documentation / data is created and maintained for tax planning and audit purposes.
• Understands implications of changes in tax laws and in business operations in order to ensure accurate and timely tax compliance.
• Responsible for tax reserves/provisions.
• Partner with legal department to ensure tax compliance of contracts / agreements
• Participation in general projects/initiatives impacting -directly or indirectly- taxes (e.g. new IT platform introduction).
• Education / awareness of managers taking decisions impacting -directly or indirectly- taxes.
• Monitors, supports and advises on transfer pricing issues in countries.

Support the Tax Director in planning and lobbying

The Head of Tax ANZ owns in conjunction with the Tax Director the Finflex process (for all taxes) for the country/countries of responsibility. This includes activities like identifying, collecting and consolidating relevant (financial) information, agreeing projects and milestones, and tracking and reporting progress on those milestones. Together with the director, the manager also maintains contacts with the government as well as business and industry associations.

Activities

• Finflex forecast, preparation, meetings, implementation and progress reports.
• Create awareness of tax inefficiencies like non-deductible cost and withholding taxes.
• Meet with external advisors to identify opportunities and / or support the Tax Director in doing so.
• Meetings with business and industry associations and / or support the Tax Director in doing so.
• Meetings with government officials and / or support the Tax Director in doing so.
• Align country lobbying to Unilever global agenda and / or support the Tax Director in doing so.
• Keep stakeholders in business and tax informed on planning and lobbying.

Audit & controversy

Supported by Tax Director, the Head of Tax ANZ is responsible for country tax audits and internal compliance reviews. The includes managing the relationship with the tax authorities, informing stakeholders on emerging issues and developments therein as well as developing – in conjunction with Tax Director – the audit strategy as well as the trade-off between settlement and litigation.

Activities

• Answering questions from tax authorities during audit.
• Discuss tax returns with tax authorities.
• Discuss audit issues with 3rd party advisers and stakeholders in tax.
• Prepare and file appeals together with the tax director.
• Work with the Tax Director and / or external support on rulings, APAs and MAPs.
• Work with the tax director and external advisors on settlement and litigation.
• Keep stakeholders in business and tax informed on audit developments.
• Acts as country contact for Interaction with tax authorities.

Risk Management, reporting & forecasting

The Head of Tax ANZ supports the proper assessments of current and future risks, and formulation and implementation of appropriate policies and procedures in country, in line with Global policy.

Activities

• Provides quarterly forecasting information to the centre, supports development of one year and quarterly forecast of the ETR.
• Monitors & reports on contingent tax issues.
• Forecasting short, medium and long-term ETR as well as the quarterly tax provision.
• Provides technical expertise to ensure accurate tax booking/accounting.

People management and budget

The Head of Tax ANZ is responsible for their direct report. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to training, development, and coaching. The Head of Tax ANZ is also responsible for meeting the budget of his country of responsibility.

Activities

• Assess skills and competencies of direct reports.
• Arrange for appropriate training and development.
• Prepare and monitor the budget.

Does this sound like you?

• ANZ Tax systems.
• Direct and Indirect Tax Compliance.
• International Taxation.
• Tax Accounting and tax controversy management.
•  Strong communication skills.
• project management and business intimacy experience.
• Combined Assurance Program, Advanced Pricing Arrangement (APA) and M&A transactions experience desired.

What awaits you at Unilever?

The core of Unilever’s culture is captured as Human, Purposeful, Accountable. You will be joining a dynamic, flexible, and inspiring work environment that truly cares about your wellbeing, values what you do and celebrates your success.

This is your opportunity to be part of a purpose-led business and a global community where you can progress your career both locally and internationally. You will also benefit from amazing discounts on external company products, attractive employee referral reward program amongst other benefits.

This is a great opportunity to work within an iconic and global organization. We have gained our reputation as one of the world's most admired employers by providing an environment where individuals can achieve their goals, both professionally and personally.

Make no mistake we expect a lot from our people as they do of us. So, if you can rise to the challenge, don't waste any time - apply now!

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment journey. Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact Rachel Kok at rachel.kok@unilever.com or to anz.talent@unilever.com.

Unilever is an organization committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities.

This means we encourage people with all backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities. Interested in learning more, check out our Reconciliation Action Plan and Workplace Adjustment Policy on the Unilever webpage.

At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! We encourage you to advise us at the time of your application if you require any reasonable adjustment so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.