Tax Manager - Philippines

Context
The Tax Manager is a key member of Unilever global tax operations team reporting to Regional Tax Director and supports the local finance team in the Philippines.

Purpose
The Tax Manager is responsible for all tax matters in the Philippines 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.

Key Accountabilities
The Tax Manager has the following areas of responsibility:

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

Business decision support:
The Tax Manager advises the business on the tax impacts – across the entire range of applicable taxes – of business decisions and day to day actions. The Tax Manager represents tax in the Philippines 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 Philippines.
• Implements global and regional projects in the Philippines.
• 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 VAT
The Tax Manager is responsible for supervising the teams in Shared Service Hub 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 his/her 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 the Shared Services Team and OSP as well as soliciting external advice where needed.

Activities

• Business partner to Philippines Finance Function 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 VAT.
• 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 Tax Manager 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 Tax Manager 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 Tax Manager 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 Tax Manager is responsible for their direct report:

This responsibility includes, but is not limited to training, development, and coaching. The Tax Manager 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

Skills
While most skills are relevant for Tax Managers, particular emphasis should be given to Philippines Tax systems, Direct and Indirect Tax Compliance, International Taxation, Tax Accounting and tax controversy management. Regarding general skills, key skills to develop are communication, project management and business intimacy. Having experiences in Transfer Pricing risk management & M&A transactions will be an advantage but not necessary.

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.