Role summary
We are seeking a Tax Specialist to support the group's direct and indirect tax compliance, reporting, and advisory activities in the UAE and, where relevant, across the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia. The role handles day-to-day Corporate Tax and VAT matters, contribute to international tax matters such as Pillar 2 and transfer pricing, and the group's transition to the UAE e-invoicing mandate. It sits within the tax function and works closely with finance, treasury, procurement, supply chain, legal, and commercial teams. The successful candidate will be comfortable owning deliverables end to end, working with external advisors.
Key responsibilities
Corporate Tax Prepare and support the filing of UAE Corporate Tax returns via Emara Tax, including supporting schedules, book-to-tax adjustments, and reconciliations to the financial statements. Maintain Corporate Tax registrations and ensure all entities meet registration, filing, and payment deadlines. Assess and document the tax treatment of group entities and transactions, and track and correctly apply reliefs and elections (e.g., Small Business Relief where eligible, tax grouping, and transfer of losses). Monitor developments to the Corporate Tax regime (Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 and subsequent Cabinet and Ministerial Decisions) and assess their impact on the group. Support tax provisions, disclosures, and effective-tax-rate analysis for statutory and management reporting and assist with tax forecasting and cash-tax planning. If needed, support corporate tax filings in other jurisdictions that the group operates i.e., Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia
Value Added Tax (VAT) Own the preparation, review, and timely submission of periodic VAT returns via Emara Tax, including supporting workings and reconciliations to the general ledger and financial statements. Determine and document the correct treatment of standard-rated, zero-rated, exempt, and out-of-scope supplies, reverse-charge transactions, imports, and designated-zone movements. Manage input VAT recovery, apportionment methodologies where relevant, and VAT reconciliations and adjustments. Handle VAT registrations, amendments, deregistrations, refund claims, and voluntary disclosures, and manage the associated risk and penalty exposure. Review contracts, pricing, invoicing, and new business initiatives for VAT implications and advise stakeholders proactively. Design, document, and maintain VAT controls, processes, and a compliance calendar across all in-scope entities. If needed, support VAT filings in other jurisdictions that the group operates i.e., Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia
International tax Support transfer pricing compliance, including the maintenance of Local File and Master File documentation, Country-by-Country reporting/notification obligations, and the related Corporate Tax return disclosures. Assist in reviewing intercompany arrangements for arm's-length pricing and appropriate documentation. Contribute to OECD Pillar Two / UAE Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax (DMTT) workstreams for in-scope groups including data collection for Glo BE / effective tax rate calculations, safe-harbour testing, and supporting the Top-up Tax Return and Glo BE Information Return process. Support the analysis of double tax treaties, withholding taxes, and permanent establishment questions on cross-border transactions.
E-invoicing and tax technology Support the group's readiness for and transition to the UAE e-invoicing mandate Support on the mapping of ERP and billing data to the FTA's mandatory data fields, master-data clean-up, and testing through the pilot and go-live phases. Support to embed e-invoicing into AP/AR and tax reporting processes and controls, and coordinate with IT and finance on system readiness.
Advisory, business partnering, and controversy Research technical positions using primary sources (Corporate Tax, VAT, and Executive Regulations, FTA guidance and public clarifications, treaties,) supported by professional commentary, and document conclusions to a defensible standard. Support responses to Federal Tax Authority (FTA) audits, queries, and information requests, and assist with voluntary disclosures and reconsideration requests. Work with external tax advisors, helping to scope work, review deliverables, and manage cost and quality. Support the wider tax function on the tax aspects of transactions, restructurings, and new-market entry.
Others Contribute to process improvement, automation, and the strengthening of the group's tax control framework.
Qualifications and experience
Essential Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, law, economics, or a related field. A professional qualification, such as CTA, ACCA, CPA, CA, or equivalent.6-8 years of relevant tax experience (2-3 years UAE Tax experience) across direct and indirect tax, ideally combining a Big 4 / professional services background with in-house exposure. Strong, current knowledge of UAE Corporate Tax and VAT, including practical Emara Tax filing experience. Demonstrated ability to research and apply primary legislative and tax authority sources, and to document defensible positions. Experience managing deliverables and deadlines independently and dealing directly with the FTA.
Desirable Real estate sector experience (e.g., development, leasing, and investment property, and the associated Corporate Tax and VAT considerations). Experience with Oracle Fusion (or comparable ERP), and with e-invoicing / tax technology implementation. GCC indirect tax experience and comfort operating across multiple tax jurisdictions. Transfer pricing and/or OECD Pillar Two / DMTT experience.
Skills and competencies Strong technical judgment and attention to detail, with the discipline to document and support positions. Comfort working with primary sources and distinguishing statutory text and Executive Regulations from tax authority guidance and professional interpretation. Strong MS Suite skills and comfort with large data sets, reconciliations, and tax data flows. Clear written and verbal communication, able to translate technical tax points for non-tax stakeholders and senior management. Organised and deadline-driven, able to own a compliance calendar across multiple entities and tax types. Collaborative and proactive, with the confidence to challenge and advise the business and to work with external advisors.