Tax Business Partner Principal - De Beers Group

De Beers Group

Who We Are:  

De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with unrivalled expertise in the exploration, mining, sorting, valuing, selling and marketing of diamonds. Together with our joint venture partners, we operate in more than 20 countries across six continents.

We want our diamonds, and our business, to make life brilliant – for our people, our customers and the world around us.

We build partnerships and connect with our people and their communities to make a positive contribution to the wider world. We’re constantly developing new ways to make an impact on both people and the planet and build a beneficial legacy. We call it ‘Building Forever’ - it’s fundamental to our pioneering spirit and the purposeful way we do business.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Tax Business Partner Principal is to lead on tax issues from a local country perspective in the US addressing federal, state, and local taxes and in Canada covering federal and provincial taxes. The Tax Business Partner Principal will be the lead for tax issues that include identification and management of tax risk and tax planning opportunities, and support for the local business unit as a commercial business tax partner. The role will primarily provide world class tax support to the Anglo American and DeBeers business units in the US and Canada as well as support to non-US and non- Canada Group companies that may transacting business in these jurisdictions.

Performance & Delivery

Strategic Priorities:

• Lead and manage the identification of tax risks and opportunities arising across the group and assist in the development of solutions and actions as required to manage, deliver, and protect value for the Group in line with the group’s Tax Operating Model.
• Coordinate and manage the preparation and delivery of the tax complication obligations of the De Beers US & Canada businesses across all taxes (CIT, Sales and Use Tax, Property Tax, Payroll Taxes, royalties and similar taxes) in conjunction with cosource and outsource partners.

Business Partnering:

• Delivery of world class tax support to the BUs.
• Provide proactive tax advice to the BUs, identifying risk and opportunities and developing and implementing. advice and/ or solutions, as appropriate.
• Leading tax input on major local transactions including M&A and business development opportunities.
• Manage the day-to-day relationship with the BUs as the face of Group Tax locally, to include support to the business planning process, interactions with senior management, dealing with ad hoc queries.
• Ensure local implementation to the Global Group Tax Strategy, and of tax policies.
• Review of significant contracts.
• Lead the relationship with Tax Authorities.
• Lead the relationship with country Government and trade associations / bodies from a tax perspective.
• Maintain professional tax knowledge and monitor current tax developments, providing proactive advice and recommendations, as appropriate.
• Deliver tax training to the BUs.

Compliance and reporting:

• Day-to-day management of the delivery of the tax compliance obligations of Anglo American/De Beers US & Canada, across all taxes (CIT, Sales & Use Tax, Property Tax, Payroll taxes, royalties and similar taxes).
• Support engagement with auditors on tax accounting calculations and tax reporting positions.
• Manage the implementation of tax automation opportunities as well as supporting globally run tax technology projects, managing the implementation of changes to process, controls and systems, while developing and monitoring appropriate controls for the region.
• Support the management of tax authority correspondence, including maintaining the audit tracker – and coordinating responses to audits on all routine matters, whilst working with the respective subject matter experts and business partnering team as required.
• Support the control of the tax risks including specifically the obligations under the Tax Risk Management Policy and the implementation and operation of the Tax Control Framework.
• Assist in the development, monitoring and application of appropriate controls.

Tax controversy management:

• To identify appropriate strategies to manage local tax controversies (in consultation with Head Office teams).
• To lead management and/ or resolution disputes, engaging with Operational Excellence, Head Office tax teams, and Bus, as appropriate.

Accountability:

• Drive and implement the plan of identified strategic priorities and initiatives, including considering the communication required at different levels of the organisation.
• Support and lead workstreams of the projects as required.
• Engage with and manage external professional service providers on tax matters where required.
• Develop strong working relationships with key personnel across the BUs, other Function teams and within the Group Tax team.

Work Processes:

• Identify risks and issues in the implementation or execution of plans that negatively impact the implementation of project plans and initiate action to address these issues. For issues /risks within the principal’s authority, make the required changes. For others, escalate these issues / risks to seek action and / or look for alternative solutions.

Health, Safety & Environment:

• Demonstrate behaviour in line with health, safety and environmental standards and with the Group’s values.
• Set the health, safety and environmental expectations for the team and monitor behaviour so that it meets the required standards.

People / Leadership:

• Demonstrate behaviour in line with the Group’s values, standards and a professional workplace.
• Provide leadership to, and develop the performance of, any team members in line with the Group’s policies and systems (e.g. performance management, talent management) in order to achieve business goals. As part of this:
  • Develop a clear and aligned work plan for the team;
  • Foster a constructive and productive working environment;
  • Monitor the work of each team member and provide regular and useful feedback to them on how they are performing; and
  • Drive delivery of objectives including holding team members to account for their work.
• Participate as an effective team member in working collaboratively with leaders, peers and relevant others (including from other teams) to achieve business goals and appropriately intervene to address any cross-team issues.
• Contribute to the broader business by working with others in such a way that it optimises the overall business results.

Financial:

• Develop and, once it’s approved, monitor and manage the budget for your area.
• Identify any opportunities for improved cost management and either address these, or raise them with your manager as appropriate.

Work Processes:

• Identify gaps in policy & system design, implementation, or execution that have negatively implications and initiate action to address these issues, considering the impact on suppliers and customers. For policies & systems within the principal’s authority, make the required changes. For others, escalate these issues to seek action and / or look for alternative solutions.

The base salary range for the position is $182,000 to a maximum $211,000 USD per annum.

• University degree in a relevant discipline preferred.
• Chartered Accountant and/or Chartered Tax Adviser or other professional qualification.

Technical Knowledge:

• An excellent knowledge of local and international tax principles, transfer pricing, tax residence, etc.
• How to influence people and manage change.
• Efficient work practices.
• Ability to undertake presentations to Senior Management.

• Commercial orientation and mindset.
• Ideally coming from a Big Four background but with significant Corporate experience.
• Ability to structure and articulate analysis based on data and factoring all relevant.

Technical Skills: Ability to apply the following skills at a defined level of proficiency required for the role.

• Develop ideas into practical solutions.
• Analyze information, extract the pertinent facts, and provide tax analysis.
• Ability to strategically develop and implement a project plan.
• Demonstrate well-developed analytical, planning, and problem- solving skills.
• Demonstrate a high degree of commercial acumen.
• Manage multiple tasks concurrently and work to deadlines.
• Ideally demonstrate a level of tax technical background in respect of issues arising from financing and capital structure exercises.
• Ideally demonstrate a tax technical background and experience in respect of M&A activity.
• Demonstrate high-level skills in the use of spreadsheet and other computer applications for analysis and reporting.

Ability to:

• Drive and influence change within the organization.
• Work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to perform under pressure and changing circumstances.
• Ability to work independently and lead projects.
• Ability to effectively communicate and articulate complex tax analysis to the Business and to present viable solutions for tax issues/risk.
• Good communication skills – both written and verbal.

The drive, determination, persistence, and commitment to apply the other elements of capability to complete safe, sustainable productive work.

Other requirements to perform the work effectively?

• Strong English language skills.
• Some travel may be required.

Safety

Safety first is a way of life for us.  We are unconditional about the safety, health and well-being of our colleagues, at work and at home, and about that of the communities where we work. We aim to lead the industry by investing in innovation to protect people, who are at the heart of our business. Our high performing teams take accountability for their own and others' actions, work collaboratively, and always show care and respect.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

As a global #HeForShe Thematic Champion, De Beers is committed to promoting an equitable, inclusive and diverse workplace where we value and respect every colleague for who they are. We provide equality of opportunity to enable everyone to fulfil their potential. Please inform us should there be any special requirements that should be considered as part of your application.

Building Forever

Sustainability is at the heart of our decision-making – it is how we do business.   Building Forever is key to our purpose as it represents our ambitious and holistic sustainability framework and is central to our ability to deliver long-term value to our communities and partners. This shapes how we protect our social and environmental license to operate, build a long-term legacy in our host communities and earn consumers’ trust in our diamonds that they can wear with pride.

Referrals

Referral incentive applicable: This opportunity is open to a paid referral incentive according to the Employee Referral Policy (HRM.AD.21.00). Referral incentives are applicable to De Beers Group internal employees only.

Background Checks

Successful candidates will be required to complete background screening which may include a criminal check and validation of qualifications

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