Tax Assistant Manager for Central & Eastern Europe

The Ice Cream division at Unilever is preparing to stand on its own, aiming to become an independent, EUR 8.3 billion publicly listed company by the end of 2025. We’re on a mission to create the ultimate snacking company.​ A place where growth, innovation, founder and ownership mentality, and performance are cultivated and rewarded. And where we craft extraordinary ice cream experiences - transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories.​ Because we know, life tastes better with ice cream.​

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is all about growth. Growing our business. Growing our customers’ businesses. Growing our people’s careers.​ Growth begins with empowerment. So we free our people to be innovative, responsible entrepreneurs, driven and equipped to give our consumers more amazing products and unforgettable moments – and having fun doing it.​

With 19.000 expert ice cream colleagues and iconic brands like Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s, loved in 76 countries, we are the world’s largest Ice Cream company leading the industry.  We have been taking pleasure seriously for more than 100 years, serving happiness with every lick or scoop of ice cream for generations.

We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of The Magnum Ice Cream Company as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen before the end of 2025. We dream big but keep things simple to act fast.​ If you want to grow with us, make an impact, and shape the future of Ice Cream, this is the place for you!

Ice Cream Finance: Leading for a winning, trusted and investible global ice cream market leader

This is your chance for a ‘once in a lifetime’ career experience, playing a part in the creation of a fully independent, new Ice Cream organisation in what will be the Ultimate Pleasure Food company.

We are seizing this unique opportunity to reset the role of Ice Cream Finance. Together we will become the best and most admired finance team in the world, and we’ll do this by focusing on value creation, trailblazing future-fit financial processes and technology, and by becoming a training ground for financial craftmanship that will be the envy of everyone. 

Just imagine the benefits of working within a single category, where everyone and everything is laser-focused on the same goal, where there's opportunity to develop deep and wide understanding of the business economics and international ecosystem of a single category, and to translate that into value creation.

The role of Ice Cream Finance in this momentous moment is staggering, exciting, and yes...a little daunting, which is why we are looking for empowered and accountable decision makers who are keen to take on end-to-end responsibility; if you are a self-starter who identifies opportunities, takes initiative, and innovates to create value, who is proactive, resourceful and comfortable with challenge and uncertainty, you will thrive with us. In return, you will be rewarded with a rich finance role, no matter where you are in your career, and within an environment that’s both fulfilling and fun...after all, life tastes better with Ice Cream!

JOB PURPOSE:

We’re looking for a highly motivated Tax Assistant Manager to support on tax business partnering for the following markets:

• Direct Markets (key markets): Poland
• Flex Markets (sales markets): Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia
• Distributor Markets (export markets): Bulgaria, Lithuania 

Why This Role Matters:  Your role will ensure we meet our financial goals and comply with regulations, while also driving tax optimisation and leveraging technology. The Tax Assistant Manager will be responsible for working with the Tax Manager to provide in-market / regional tax advice on tax challenges and opportunities impacting the relevant markets.  The role encompasses overseeing local planning, review and sign off on local compliance and reporting (delivered via third party managed service) responding to tax authority challenges and ensuring that the business optimises its tax position while adhering to all relevant in-country and global laws and regulations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Working with the Tax Manager, you will:

• Be accountable for ensuring local adherence to global tax strategy, policies and risk management framework and alignment with overall business objectives and regulatory environment. 
• Provide specialist advice on direct and indirect tax implications of new business initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, cross-border transactions (new and existing flows), commercial and vendor contracts, and corporate initiatives. 
• Be accountable for the management of in-market / in-region tax audits and controversy (including tax authority disputes, litigation and settlements) to drive efficient and timely audit resolution. Provide local tax insight into the audit approach and process and consult with external advisors as required.  Work closely with the central tax team to ensure consistent and efficient approaches to dispute resolution.
• Oversee timely and accurate filing of tax returns in all jurisdictions, including the reconciliation of tax accounts via third party managed service.  Provide timely review and sign off on returns and deliverables where required.  Work with the Global Business Services (shared service centre) tax team on data provision.
• Identify and mitigate local tax risks, including ensuring the implementation and maintenance of internal controls to meet compliance and governance regimes (such as SOx and horizontal monitoring) and to prevent non-compliance and potential penalties. 
• Monitor local legislative and regulatory changes for all taxes, assessing and advising management on tax impacts and practical mitigation strategies.  Provide relevant updates to local / regional business. 
• Provide specialist local input where possible into design decisions relating to S/4HANA and other enterprise-wide systems.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

Experiences & Qualifications

• A qualified Chartered Accountant or Chartered Tax Advisor or other appropriate professional body. 
• 5+ years’ tax experience with a large multinational company and/or Big 4 firm.
• Fluency in Hungarian and English.
• Excellent knowledge of tax matters within a consumer goods business. 
• Strong communicator with the confidence to liaise with stakeholders at all levels. 
• Ability to work collaboratively across an organisation and externally to resolve issues. 
• Naturally curious with a continuous improvement mindset and able to be agile/adaptable in changing circumstances.  
• Strong organisational skills and capable of handling a variety of tasks and prioritising accordingly to meet deadlines 
•  Great attention to detail, project management, and problem-solving attitude. 

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Performance based annual bonus
• Cafeteria (with elements like: support for self-development, SZÉP card, home office cost reimbursement, etc.)
• Home office opportunity as we work in hybrid: we spend 2 days in office and rest of the week in home office
• Healthcare programs – we support your healthy lifestyle with health insurance, internal and external sport opportunities, office massage and we also provide mental health support
• Pension fund support
• Opportunity to buy Unilever products at discounted price in the employee shop
• We provide you company laptop, mobile phone and other equipment is also available upon request
• About the full list of benefits our recruiter colleague will give you comprehensive information during the screening process.

ARE YOU EXCITED TO CRAFT THE ICE CREAM FUTURE?

To apply, you must do so online, please do not forget to upload your CV. Your application will be reviewed against our requirements, and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

Disclaimer

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

Unilever is an organisation 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. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.