TAX TRANSFORMATION MANAGER, RISK & CONTROLS

Job Summary

The Group Tax Department, based at the Group’s head office in Chertsey, Surrey, is responsible for the management of tax cost, risk, reporting and compliance throughout the approximately 25 countries in which Compass Group operates.   

We are seeking an experienced, driven, ambitious and technologically aware tax professional to lead and oversee the design and implementation of a robust tax control framework to be compliant with Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“SOX”)-like requirements. The role will be based in Charlotte N.C. and will redesign processes, clarify accountability, enhance the Tax Risk and Control Framework and enable improved use of data and technology – creating a scalable, well-controlled and future-ready tax function aligned with Compass’s growth strategy and regulatory expectations. In addition, the role will partner with control pillar owners and senior stakeholders to support a robust risk and control environment by providing assurance of the design and operating effectiveness of controls, sharing leading practices and guiding control owners to strengthen their tax reporting and compliance processes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBJECTIVES:

• Lead the ongoing design, implementation and continuous improvement of governance and documentation standards across all tax compliance functions with the objective of these being compliant with SOX-like requirements
• Assure business processes across functions and sectors have appropriate controls to manage tax risk effectively, including participation in risk assessments as needed
• Evaluate tax control deficiencies and oversee their remediation.
• Serve as a key advisor and challenger to corporate functions and operating sectors on their identified tax risks and controls as documented in their tax risk and control matrices (“RACMs”)
• Oversee the development and documentation of tax process flows, tax RACMs and related control documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness and clarity
• Identify and promote leading practices that can be leveraged across the Group to drive consistency and efficiency in the management and control of tax risk
• Develop and disseminate guidance to support the business with tax control compliance such as job aids and control owner training
• Partner with business teams and functional leaders on cross-departmental projects to improve the overall control environment, including tax process optimization and automation opportunities
• Partner with internal and external audit teams to ensure streamlined and effective tax audit processes
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across all levels of the organization to enhance tax risk and control awareness and strengthen accountability for effective tax risk management
• This transformation role will be focused on tax compliance and reporting for the Group, with primary responsibility for our International Division (primarily the UK, France, Australia markets initially but potentially also Germany, Turkiye and the Netherlands)

Skills and Competencies

• Strong understanding and experience of tax and finance processes and internal controls, ideally within a multinational group (corporate income tax, indirect taxes, cross-border, tax reporting) and with the ability to assess, challenge, and improve both the design and operating effectiveness of tax controls
• Ability to work independently, a self-starter, creative thinker with high professional standards and integrity and the ability to lead initiatives independently while engaging effectively across various teams
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to identify risks, evaluate controls and propose practical solutions
• Passionate about introducing technology solutions in the tax function
• Commercially competent and ambitious
• Excellent stakeholder management skills across global, cross-functional teams
• Strong planning, co-ordination and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) with the ability to convey complex tax risk and control concepts in a clear, simple, engaging and concise manner

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s Degree in Accounting or Taxation required
• CPA or equivalent required
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in tax processes and controls, international audits, risk and controls assessment preferably in a Big 4 accounting firm or Fortune 500 equivalent
• Recent (past 5 years) US GAAP and SOX experience strongly preferred
• Excellent PC skills (Microsoft Office products, electronic audit workpapers, etc.)
• International tax and multinational enterprise experience is required
• Experience with SAP and HFM preferred