Associate Director - Indirect Tax - Professional Services Firm

Being a position that falls in the senior cadre, the role gives you an opportunity to explore the entrepreneur in you. We strongly believe in freedom of operation and that clearly reflects in our modus operandi, of letting the senior personnel to have full control of their teams and clients. Apart from holding the Indirect Tax function you may have an opportunity to strengthen your knowledge base by being part of speaking events and other Indirect Tax fraternity events. Further with GST/VAT being recently introduced in a few foreign countries, you stand to gain exposure of global indirect taxation, making you a holistic global indirect tax professional.

Role specific skillset

Operations - 20 to 25% weightage

Leading and front ending clients for indirect tax / GST engagements (Compliance, Representation and Advisory). The activities include:

Scoping

Technical and quality reviews

On-time delivery

Client liaison

- Expected to be involved in end-to-end reporting for the North region sales, budgets, billing and growth of the location

- Expected to assume P&L responsibility for the defined scope of work

- Being a consultant/ advisor on erstwhile indirect tax / GST matters to other practices of the firm across all locations

- Risk management from an erstwhile indirect tax / GST perspective on all the firm's engagements across all locations

- Controlling and managing indirect tax practice of branch locations other than that of home location, (if required)

- Keeping track of and providing insights on various issues related to recent developments in Indirect taxes in India and globally

- Can plan and execute various practice development initiatives (incl. standardizing operating practices, and protocols for recurring activities)

Clients account expansion and business development: 70-75% weightage

- Managing and maintaining relationship with clients, other BUs and internal stake holders

- Advise and assist clients in forming indirect tax strategies to cover indirect tax exposure

- Strive to provide new and innovative indirect tax solutions to clients

- Identifying new opportunities for serving existing clients and can contribute to the group sales and marketing efforts

- Targeting and obtaining work from potential clients

- Development of the Practice and promotion of the firm's brand name - articles in publications, regular update management for clients, speaker at seminars, etc.

- Managing current and developing new relationships and alliances covering but not limited to:

Trade bodies like CII, Nasscom, IGCC, IACC, Invest India, etc.

The other firms in the same network as this firm

Law Firms o Technology alliances

Private Equity/VC firms o Banks, Real Estate firms, Executive hiring firms,

Other similar organizations

Achieving assigned number KPIs pertaining to:

- Lead generation

- Sales closure combining IDT technical knowledge and commercial skills

- Client mining and account expansion

- Product campaigns in relation to IDT products including tax technology products

- Leading people and development: 5-10% weightage

- Handling manager led teams and technically guiding the teams in completing their assigned deliverables

- Review of efficient and effective planning, selection and team management of all resources throughout the year including temporary resource redeployment within team/with other departments,

- Building of team morale and motivate people in the team and firm, and retention of existing employees

- Address issues at emotional / infrastructural level at work being faced by teams, take responsibility for team building and motivation of teams

- Identifying training needs of teams and assist in skill building where deficiencies identified,

- Ensure on-boarding and process training happens for new employees

- Perform timely appraisal and provide balance between firm and employee aspirations

- Develop the next manager, and other subordinates for the next levels

Core Competencies:

- Service Orientation: Understands that the service provided supports the organization in fulfilling its mission. The associate knows both - the internal and external customers and their needs, and is committed to meeting the customers evolving, long-term needs

- Result Orientation -Directs personal energy and efforts towards meeting business objectives and achieving results. Develops action plans that are realistic and implements them to meet or exceed expectations. Shows a sense of urgency towards the end goal.

- Initiative - Is fully aware of, and accepts accountability and responsibility towards his/her job. Identifies challenges and problems related to the job at hand and proactively takes appropriate steps to resolve them.

- Professionalism- Always displays professionalism while conducting the job at hand. Is ethical and displays integrity while dealing with others. Understands and displays a thorough knowledge of all functions. Knows and utilizes the relevant skills, methods, systems, and procedures to produce desired results

- Cooperation -Fosters teamwork and displays joint ownership of business challenges. Helps the team to accomplish the functional work, while ensuring that his/her responsibilities are also fulfilled. Accepts direction in a positive manner and reaches out for support from team members as the situation warrants

- Communication/Feedback- Proactively communicates with others and provides feedback, thereby enhancing overall performance. Communicates and keeps others informed, and encourages them to participate in meeting business objectives

What does the Ideal Candidate Profile look like :

The following attributes are desired in Candidates applying for this Position:

The ideal Person would be a Chartered Accountant/Lawyer with a 8-12 years experience in Indirect Tax out of which at least 80% should be from serving clients in north region:

- Specialist knowledge of Good & Services Tax, erstwhile Indirect Tax laws

- Experience of Customs legislation and Foreign Trade Policy

- Basic work experience in Foreign Trade Agreements

The Candidate should be experienced in compliance, representation, advisory and adequate litigation exposure

The Candidate could come preferably from a Big4 or any other mid/large Professional Services Firm (more than 4 partners) who is currently at a leadership level with in depth indirect taxation exposure in few sectors like (Manufacturing, Logistics, Aerospace, Pharmaceutical, Information Technology, FMCG, SME, BFSI etc.)

The candidate should have or handle a portfolio of approximately 3+ crores and should have strong presence in North.

The candidate should have experience of advisory and compliance with respect to Special Economic Zones (SEZ)

- Should have experience of independently handling GST implementation projects for clients from planning phase to execution and delivery o Experience of liaising with government officials and building rapport with officials

- Should have extensive Business development, sales and marketing and business/ revenue growth experience.

- Should be able to collaborate with central sales and marketing team at the firm and get the best out of this teamwork for IDT vertical

- Will need to work closely with the IDT vertical head and leadership as well as with the broader leadership across the tax practices and the central sales and marketing leadership o Should have supervisory / leadership experience of at least 4 years

- Excellent written and spoken communication skills including legal / technical drafting

Following are key attributes of someone in this role:

- Ability to work together in cross functional teams as a team member is a must

- Strong inter-personal skills

- Proven track record of leadership.

- Willing to coach and mentor

- Very good communications skills, both oral and written.

- Good listener - being in a leadership position.

- Willingness and openness for new ideas from internal and external customers.