Finance continues to drive AstraZeneca’s Bold Ambition and driving the delivery of the company’s strategic priorities. Providing valuable data, analytics and insights will not only support growth but enable the science to make effective decisions and identify market opportunities. Our mission is ambitious and it takes the skills of a collaborative team to really deliver on what science can do and to always put patients first.

The creation of the Global Finance Services (GFS) centres in Warsaw (Poland), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and San Jose (Costa Rica) will transform the AZ middle office to a central function, supporting the business regions through simplification, standardisation across the globe, and a structure that will enable the bold ambition of becoming a $50bn company by 2025. 

We now have a number of opportunities based in the GFS Centres for Business Analysts to support our new GFS Tax Delivery Team.

Role Profile

The Tax Transformation programme covers a series of initiatives including organisation design, data and technology. It is one of a set of initiatives overseen by the Transformation Director for R2R/ERP Strategy/Tax Transformation…. The programme is complex, involving close engagement with senior stakeholders across the business and specifically in Group Tax and Global Finance Services. 

This role sits within the Tax Operation Model (TOM) project as part of the central deployment team, the role is based in the relevant GFS region (KL, CR, PL).

There are three Delivery Lead roles reporting into the Central team Project Lead

EMEA Delivery Lead – based in Warsaw, Poland

APAC Delivery Lead – based in Kuala Lumpur

LATAM Delivery Lead – based in San Jose, Costa Rica

The TOM project deliverable is to centrally coordinate Tax processes leveraging Regional GFS teams with Group Tax accountability.  Transitioning work from local markets into the GFS Regional teams supported by process improvements, automation and co-sourcing.

Once deployment would be completed, this role would move to be the Team Leader within the TDT

TAX Team Leader – Tax Delivery Team will be part of a global team of analysts with a regional focus.  This is a new team which is dedicated to supporting the global Direct and Indirect Tax Compliance processes.

Working closely with Group Tax colleagues, you will deliver all aspects of accounting information necessary for direct and indirect taxes, group reporting and withholding tax obligations. You will rapidly gain tax compliance and operations experience across a range of taxes and jurisdictions. The role requires an enthusiastic individual with a strong accounting capability, a commercial mindset and interest in learning about AZ’s business. 

The GFS Tax Delivery Team will interface with the Group Tax team, GFS colleagues, CFOs/Finance Business Partners and 3rd Party outsource providers.

Key Deliverables (BAU)

• Plan, prepare, submit underlying accounting information used to prepare AZ’s tax returns for multiple markets
• Analyse transactional data using AZ’s data analytics capability, categorisation of fixed asset additions, identify items with tax sensitivity
• Request supporting information for tax technical analysis
• Support Group Tax with information for ad hoc requests, including significant tax transactions or tax audits
• Oversee transactional data collection, accountable for coordination, review to ensure that the outputs meet tax requirements
• Assist with the preparation of the quarterly, year-end tax provision for Group statutory reporting purposes, ensure controls framework is fully complied with
• To assist in the preparation of AZ’s direct and indirect tax returns
• Manage tax processes, escalate & resolve issues
• Engage with Finance Functions and IT, targeting data and process improvements
• Deliver process excellence, governance and controls
• Support Global Tax and Finance Transformation initiatives
• Work collaboratively with the outsource provider and other Finance stakeholders to support delivery of local tax requirements.

Line management

• Responsibility for managing and motivating a team of 6 - 7 Business Analysts, ensuring that the team delivers to the highest standard of customer service whilst adhering to global process and all relevant financial controls.
• Management and allocation of resource across the Business Analyst team. Work closely with the senior and external stakeholders to identify and resolve performance issues that may impact on delivery of agreed service levels.
• Building excellent working knowledge of customer requirements and business drivers which are shared and understood by your team of Business Analysts. Coaching and development of staff will be integral to building a customer orientated mindset.
• Guide the team members in identifying cash tax opportunities

Other role responsibilities

• Assist in better business decisions by provision of financial expertise and insightful analysis to all ad hoc queries in line with SLA, and provide support to on-going projects
• Ensure corporate governance standards are met, taking accountability for effective operation of relevant financial reporting controls
• Identify opportunities for standardisation and simplification across the process area on a continual basis
• Leading standardisation and simplifications initiatives across region, connecting to wider GFS team globally

Key Deliverables (Project)

Central Project Activities

• Work alongside the EY Regional Deployment & Transition Leads to ensure a timely delivery of project deliverables as per the project plan
• Work as part of the central project team to ensure each region is following project Governance structures & ways of working
• Ensuring the successful delivery of the business readiness criteria and helping to resolve any issues or blockers
• Weekly management of action logs and helping to drive decisions required to close out open actions
• Monitor the regional project plan to ensure timely completion of project actions & resolution of risks & issues
• Coordination of Tollgate & 3 Way Sign Off approvals, focussing on removing blockers with support from EY & GFS leads
• Joint Ownership of weekly deployment and business readiness meetings
• Main contract with the BAU Governance team for SOPs and Process Maps
• Challenge current project outsource support, understand dependencies and suggest alternates

Training and Transition to Senior Tax Lead Activities

• Input to and approval of training materials, provision of clarity post initial training in case of query
• Act as Regional SOP lead, ensure local SOPs created effectively and to the right standard ensuring consistency with the approved global standards
• Creation of and compliance to the global process maps. Capture updates and work with documentation support to ensure correct recording and approval of changes
• In consultation with GFS leads created localised comms plans and messages in line with the central comms plan and template
• Assist the onboarding and training of remaining TDT GFS team members specifically sharing the global goals and aims of TOM .
• Onsite support and training for the transitional teams with specialist Tax Operating Model knowledge
• Share BAU document governance process ensuring local BAU ownership and responsibilities are clear post project closure
• Stakeholder Management – engagement with GFS and Group Tax teams
• Coordination of local training / communication requirements
• Training and creation of locally maintained Controls processes and documentation that aligns to the Controls Framework and FCAS/FCF process

Planning for next phase and review & submit

• Create the documentation of the global standards for REVIEW and SUBMIT, using Asia as a pilot extend the current process by working with the team in KL to ensure a first draft is develop based on their existing best practice.
• Explore and document the options for next steps
• Identify process changes and possible key man risks

Essential requirements

A passion for customers, self-motivation and a commitment to team work are key. The role is an excellent development opportunity, as it is a new team working with bespoke tax processes and supported by dedicated technology. You will be supported and encouraged to develop and expand your skills and capabilities. Experience of tax is needed.

• Proven working experience in project management
• Previous experience in delivery of project activities in a global project
• Excellent client-facing and internal communication skills
• Strong people skills and management capabilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multitasking skills
• Process Improvement
• 5+ years tax accounting experience
• Experience of working with SAP
• Strong accounting skills
• Team Supervisory/people management experience
• Strong data and analytical skills, and ability to use accounting systems effectively
• Organisational and process management capability, process improvement mindset
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage multiple tax compliance events
• Experience of working in an international organisation, including building relationships remotely and cross-culturally
• Ability to work well in and across diverse global teams
• English Language proficiency, both verbal and written, with the confidence to express clear opinions and ability to explain financial issues to colleagues with a non-financial background.

Internal and External Contacts/Customers

• Cluster CFOs and Local Controller
• Finance Leads in GFS
• Group Finance (Tax & Statutory)
• Other AZ Finance functions, including Back-office Finance teams
• External authorities, Government regulatory and companies

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.