Description

About the JobWe are looking for a dynamic and highly skilled Indirect Tax Lead to join our Sanofi Finance Team in Kuala Lumpur. This role is a blend of leadership and hands-on operational responsibility, encompassing indirect tax compliance, core model implementation, and the management of complex countries or entities. As a leader in the Tax and Statutory Reporting Team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the indirect tax landscape for the Asia region. Starting in 2025, indirect tax activities from multiple countries will be centralized to the Kuala Lumpur Hub, offering a unique opportunity to lead transformational projects while being directly involved in the compliance and operational aspects of the role. You will manage a growing team, focusing on delivering high-quality services, driving continuous improvement, and handling operational responsibilities for more complex tax jurisdictions. Key Responsibilities include: Leadership and Team Management:<ul><li>Lead, mentor, and motivate a team of indirect tax professionals to deliver exceptional results and foster a collaborative team culture.</li><li>Coach and guide team members, helping them develop technical skills and ensuring high-quality outputs.</li><li>Manage team performance by setting clear objectives, monitoring progress, and addressing challenges proactively.</li><li>Act as the primary point of escalation for complex issues and ensure timely resolution.</li><li>Drive team engagement and align efforts toward achieving strategic goals.</li></ul> Strategic Oversight and Core Model Implementation:<ul><li>Implement and ensure alignment with the SBS core model for indirect tax processes across all countries.</li><li>Propose and lead projects aimed at standardizing, transforming, and automating tax processes, including the adoption of Robotic Process Automation (RPA).</li><li>Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize workflows and enhance operational efficiency.</li><li>Ensure alignment with the organization’s strategic vision and act as a key driver in implementing process improvements.</li></ul> Compliance and Operational Excellence:<ul><li>Oversee compliance responsibilities for more complex countries or entities, ensuring all indirect tax filings and reconciliations meet local regulatory requirements.</li><li>Perform hands-on tasks, including preparing, reconciling, and submitting indirect tax returns and journals for high-risk or complex jurisdictions.</li><li>Conduct real-time reviews of indirect tax treatments and transactions to ensure proper tax accounting and compliance.</li><li>Maintain and enhance tax internal controls and governance, ensuring all process guides and documentation are up to date.</li><li>Partner with the business to provide indirect tax advice and address queries related to more intricate tax matters.</li></ul> Operations for Complex Countries or Entities:<ul><li>Take direct responsibility for operational tasks related to complex countries/entities, including preparing MyTax Package Reports, managing tax risk provisions, and resolving SOLAR controls.</li><li>Handle indirect tax audits and serve as the key liaison with tax authorities for the most challenging jurisdictions.</li><li>Prepare and reconcile monthly balance sheet accounts for tax-related general ledger (GL) accounts for these entities.</li><li>Lead pre-close and quarterly tax risk discussions for high-risk jurisdictions.</li></ul> Indirect Tax Returns:<ul><li>Conduct real-time reviews of indirect tax treatments for unusual transactions to ensure proper tax accounting.</li><li>Review indirect tax postings in SAP, using RPA or manual processes, and correct errors as needed.</li><li>Prepare, reconcile, and submit indirect tax returns, ensuring compliance with local regulations.</li><li>Process indirect tax journals and reconcile indirect tax ledgers to maintain accurate records.</li><li>Analyze trends in indirect tax returns and provide detailed insights.</li></ul> Reporting and Risk Management:<ul><li>Coordinate pre-close discussions to agree on group and local tax treatments in advance.</li><li>Extract and consolidate tax data from SAP and other sources for reporting purposes.</li><li>Prepare and control MyTax files, ensuring accuracy and compliance with tax provisions.</li><li>Finalize and publish MyTax risk packages, resolving any blocking controls.</li><li>Assist with tax audits by providing required documentation, reconciliations, and calculations.</li></ul> Tax Audit Management:<ul><li>Provide copies of relevant tax returns, reconciliations, detailed tax calculations, and supporting documentation required by local tax authorities.</li></ul> Monthly Balance Sheet Reconciliation:<ul><li>Prepare and maintain monthly reconciliations for tax-related general ledger (GL) accounts.</li><li>Ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies promptly, adhering to internal controls.</li></ul> Continuous Improvement and Project Management:<ul><li>Identify and implement opportunities for process enhancements and operational efficiency, leveraging automation tools and technologies.</li><li>Lead and manage projects assigned to the indirect tax team, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with business objectives.</li><li>Regularly monitor updates to tax legislation and assess their impact on compliance and operational processes, ensuring the team remains proactive in addressing changes.</li><li>Drive customer satisfaction initiatives by building strong relationships with stakeholders and addressing feedback effectively.</li></ul> About You Essential Skills and Experience<ul><li>Leadership: Proven ability to manage, coach, and inspire a team to achieve results in a collaborative and high-performance environment.</li><li>Tax Expertise: At least 8 years of experience in taxation, with significant exposure to indirect tax compliance, advisory, and operations in complex jurisdictions.</li><li>Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical skills to detect errors, identify risks, and provide actionable recommendations for improvement.</li><li>Operational Excellence: Hands-on experience in managing indirect tax operations, particularly for high-risk or complex entities.</li><li>Process Improvement: Demonstrated ability to identify and implement process enhancements and automation tools.</li><li>Critical Thinking: A detail-oriented, critical thinker who proactively addresses challenges and drives improvements.</li><li>Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders effectively.</li><li>Project Management: Experience in leading and delivering projects, particularly those related to process transformation and compliance improvements.</li><li>Proficiency in MS Excel, including advanced features for data analysis and reconciliation.</li><li>Experience with SAP or equivalent ERP systems is required for managing tax data, reconciliations, and journal entries.</li><li>Excellent verbal and written communication skills.</li></ul> Desirable Skills and Experience<ul><li>Background in a Finance Shared Services environment, either captive (in-house) or BPO.</li><li>Familiarity with automation technologies, including RPA and SAP or similar ERP systems.</li><li>Experience in managing indirect tax operations across multiple jurisdictions.</li></ul> Essential Qualifications<ul><li>Bachelor’s Degree/Professional Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or equivalent.</li><li>Certification in indirect tax (e.g., CITM) is highly advantageous.</li></ul>Why Join Us? This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to Sanofi's growing Tax and Statutory Reporting Team. This role offers a unique opportunity to:<ul><li>Take on a hybrid role that combines leadership with hands-on responsibilities for complex jurisdictions.</li><li>Contribute to an exciting transformation journey centralizing tax activities for the Asia region.</li><li>Gain exposure to diverse tax frameworks and regulations across multiple countries.</li><li>Work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment that values innovation, learning, and professional growth.</li></ul><h1>Pursue progress, discover extraordinary</h1>Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.Watch our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkpDBZ-CJKw&t=67s" target="_blank">ALL IN video</a> and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at <a href="https://www.sanofi.com/en/our-responsibility/equality-and-inclusiveness" target="_blank">sanofi.com</a>!

Indirect Tax Lead

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Sanofi

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