The role

We’re looking for Senior Tax Assistant to join our central Tax Team, responsible for providing strategic tax advice, implementing tax policies, managing tax risk and ensuring / monitoring adherence to tax compliance obligations across International.

The role’s primary responsibilities will be follows:

• Obtain and perform an initial review (where required) of tax computations, tax returns and tax payments for European entities (except UK, Belgium, France, Germany and Ireland)
• Maintain and manage comprehensive international tax compliance records (including follow up / escalation as required)
• Assist with year-end procedures
• Assist with International tax projects
• Assist with budgeting throughout the year
• Assist with ad hoc work as and when required
• Develop relationships with key personnel; and
• Provide cover and support when Tax Managers and Senior Managers are unavailable

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Compliance:

• Perform initial review (where required) of overseas tax returns and tax payments in advance of submission, identifying and querying material changes from previous returns
• Ensure there are English translations / templates of tax returns on file or that an English tax computation is provided with annual tax returns in order to perform reviews
• Ensure payments, refunds and accruals have been posted to the correct nominal ledger codes to aid in accurate year-end consol pack and CbC reporting
• Assist in the review of CbC reporting data
• Follow up / escalate instances of non-compliance (or potential non-compliance) with local finance managers and tax managers
• Annual review of tax and statutory compliance deadlines in co-ordination with other Senior Tax Assistant(s) to ensure compliance calendar is accurate
• Monitor and report overseas travel to destinations with high permanent establishment (‘PE’) risk to support management of the firm’s PE risk
• Prepare summary of issues raised in quarterly tax checklists for review by the Tax Manager
• Follow up / escalation where quarterly tax checklists are not completed and returned (including inadequate completion)
• Review own tax processes at least annually, with a view to identifying areas for improvement
• Seek to identify areas for improvement in other tax processes for which the Tax Managers and Senior Tax Managers have responsibility
• Support Tax Managers in reporting tax compliance for the group to the firm’s Tax Committee; and
• Preparation and periodic review of process notes

Year End:

• Provide assistance with the preparation of tax computation for DLA Piper Europe LLP
• Assist with preparation of profit sourcing calculations for profit sources included in DLA Piper Europe LLP and direct allocations from European entities
• Track information received from overseas finance managers
• Preparation of estimates of key transactions to assist in estimation of tax charges and sense check the output for reasonableness against entity performance and other relevant factors
• Review tax schedules in consolidation packs prepared by overseas finance managers and assist with preparation of tax consolidation schedule
• Preparation of information for the firm’s auditors ahead of the audit of the DLA Piper International LLP tax charge
• Assist with the preparation of the tax equalisation calculations for partners with split remuneration arrangements
• Calculation of interest on tax reserves for European members
• Preparation of deferred tax calculations for European members; and
• Preparation of tax payment and review of tax reserve information in the tax schedules of the partner position statements for Italy, Poland and Romania

Budgeting:

• Review expected tax charges obtained by finance managers
• Prepare budget spreadsheet in addition to expected cash flows during the year
• Review budgeted tax cashflows for management accounts and prepare variance analysis for review on a monthly basis; and
• Calculate applicable tax reserving rates for each financial year for applicable entities

Ad-Hoc Work:

• Assist Tax Managers and Senior Tax Managers with project work
• Assist with calculations behind profit extractions
• Review local to group reconciliations to understand accounting differences and seek to minimize these where possible
• Monitor the invoicing and tracking of key transactions in sterling and currency, ensuring all teams (central tax, central finance, local finance) are working with the same amounts
• Periodic review of travel schedules for individuals with unique cross-border working arrangements and flag any concerning travel levels or destinations with the relevant Tax Manager
• Assist with territory Tax Compliance Reviews
• Support the Central Tax Team on other adhoc tax related projects; and
• Attend meetings and join periodic update calls with overseas finance managers. Prepare minutes of periodic update calls and monitor / follow up on actions arising

ABOUT YOU

• Have experience of working in tax and be able to apply that existing knowledge and experience to new situations / scenarios
• Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, coupled with the ability to influence, negotiate and persuade
• Demonstrate a flexible and collaborative personal working style
• Be able to build and maintain strong relationships across all levels within the organization
• Have the interpersonal skills to work as part of a larger team to deliver seamless services to the partnership
• Work alongside more senior colleagues
• Have strong planning and organisation skills
• Be comfortable multi-tasking and working to conflicting timescales and multiple priorities in a robust and fast-paced environment
• Be able to balance a high volume of work and deliver consistently high-quality work under pressure
• Be logical, analytical and intelligent
• Be a self-starter, who can work on their own initiative as well as being part of a team, and have a strong client service orientation
• Takes the initiative to identify new opportunities and challenge established ways of doing things
• Working towards an appropriate professional qualification

ABOUT US
DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES
In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative – we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold – we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional – we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

HYBRID WORKING
We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING
In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.