Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• The Senior Manager Tax takes responsibility for substantial tax savings on the corporate level when supporting and providing governance for the tax function (internal and external) within the EUROPE Region and ensuring the timely and correct execution of all tax matters in the region Countries.
• Supervise execution of tax compliance and support the Regional Tax lead in developing strategy across all functions and brands for the dedicated Europe Countries.
• Support the Regional Tax lead in managing the effective tax rate for the dedicated Europe Countries through professional tax planning and strategic tax advisory as well as through effective tax risk management in particular with regard to local tax audits of the adidas company(ies).

Key Responsibilities:

• The Senior Manager Tax has overall responsibility for the local tax controlling, strategic planning and overseeing compliance with local tax laws as well as adidas’ internal policies.
• Give strategic advice on optimizing the design of tax efficient structures in local operating unit(s) and therefore has crucial impact on the local adidas P&L account.
• Develop, communicate and control implementation of the global/regional tax strategy for and of all related policies across the dedicated Europe Countries.
• Lead and manage working groups composed of both internal staff and external resources in the Europe Countries (on a permanent or on project basis).
• Manage the major tax audits of the dedicated EUROPE Countries providing guidance on audit defense strategy, negotiating with local tax administrations on controversial issues and evaluating and deciding on audit settlement options.
• Plan and execute effective tax risk management (risk reporting, assessment of exposure, provisioning at local level where required, risk avoidance and minimization).
• The Senior Manager Tax will be involved and participate in all major decisions in the Europe Countries, e.g. major contracts, major initiatives.
• Review of the compliance by adidas companies with global strategy and policies and with national regulations in the Europe Countries.
• Evaluate impact of changes in international (e.g. OECD, EU) and domestic law on adidas company(ies’) tax position.
• Provide guidance to the adidas company(ies’) finance directors and tax professionals on the conduct in tax audits.
• Align local practices with legal requirements to minimize the adidas’s tax exposure.
• Optimize the adidas’s position with regard to the interdependence between transfer pricing, VAT/ indirect tax, corporate tax, wage tax and customs valuation.
• High level of interfaces with executive management on a regular basis.

Key Relationships:

Internal

Sales

Finance

Legal & Compliance

Corporate Internal Audit

Global Shared Services Function

Stakeholders of cross-functional projects

External

Tax authorities

Auditors

Commerce and economic department / bureau

Statutory and tax advisors / Service providers

Law firms

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong technical knowledge of international and preferably German tax regulations (and more countries) in the Europe Countries, including tax declaration requirements and ability to manage professionals in this area as well as deal with the tax auditors when required.
• As the Business Partner need to have operative credibility and knowledge to understand the interests of the Business, a deep function-specific issue identification capability and a mindset to foster a trustful partnership beyond tax.
• Professional communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent negotiation skills (both internally and externally).
• Experienced in utilizing corporate accounting and reporting systems. SAP knowledge welcome.
• Fluent in English

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or above in finance / economics / taxation with professional qualification. Tax advisor exam preferred but not required.
• 5 - 8 years of professional experience in multinational group or Big4 Accounting firm.