Tax Manager Real Estate

Job Purpose:

AWR RE Tax Manager supports the AWR RE Finance and Management in overseeing all aspects of the RE Division’s tax management and operational tax matters.

Expected to be well conversant with developing tax strategy, tax management monitoring and controls, tax planning and tax optimization, tax advisory to operations & various internal departments/functions.

Also responsible to ensure compliance on BEPS, transfer pricing, country-by-country reporting and other global tax compliances, efficiently managing effective tax rate (ETR), review and finalization of tax disclosures and deferred taxes, implementation of new taxes & tax automation and managing uncertain tax risks positions across countries and business lines of operations.

Will extensively require working with Group Tax Function and multiple function owners to support on various tax requirements & guidance and review of tax scenarios and reporting’s.

Job Responsibilities:

Corporate Tax & International Taxation:

• Manage compliance with UAE Corporate Tax laws, including tax return filings and tax audits.
• Develop and implement tax-efficient structures for the group’s domestic international operations.
• Provide tax advisory support on various tax matters raised by internal and external stakeholders, ensuring compliance and tax efficiency.
• Monitor global tax developments and their impact on the business.
• Oversee tax provisioning and reporting in line with IFRS and local regulations.
• Assist in the development, feasibility modeling, and implementation of Company's global tax strategies. Support key business initiatives and communicate financial impact of taxes in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Identify and implement corporate income tax (CIT) optimization measures while ensuring compliance with UAE tax regulations.
• Stay up to date with the latest relevant tax legislative changes and support the group in implementing tax regime changes. Perform tax impact assessments, transaction flow analysis, trainings & advisory, and system updates.
• Manage and oversee tax litigations, including disputes with tax authorities, appeals, and settlement negotiations.
• Collaborate with external legal and tax advisors to develop effective litigation strategies and mitigate financial and reputational risks
• Keep account of tax contingencies (or potential contingencies) associated with key tax positions in operating jurisdictions. Identify and optimize tax risks by working with corporate, regional, and local finance teams.
• Assist in mergers & acquisitions by performing due diligence procedures and integrating acquired company’s financial systems. Assist in completion of tax-related due diligence and determination of potential outstanding tax liabilities of acquired subsidiaries.
• Support Parent Group and Management in compliance with tax requirements such as BEPS Pillar 1 and 2, Global Minimum Tax, Economic Substance Regulations (ESR), etc.
• Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, including ESR, AML, FATCA, and CRS, overseeing adherence to substantial activity requirements, monitoring financial transactions, and managing accurate filings and reporting to relevant authorities in a timely manner
• Support country and business unit finance and tax teams to facilitate resolution of tax audit exercises within the operating jurisdiction.
• Withholding/foreign tax management and optimization for cross-border transactions of the Group’s subsidiaries. Effectively manage the utilization of double tax avoidance treaties and withholding tax refunds.
• Coordinate with treasury to ensure tax-efficient cash management, including investment, redeployment, and repatriation of cash between the company and its foreign affiliates.
• Conduct periodic tax health checks of relevant business and legal entities and implement necessary mitigations.
• Review major contracts from a tax perspective and collaborate with legal and functional teams during finalization of negotiations and dealings.
• Work with a tax automation mindset, continuously exploring opportunities to improve tax controls, frameworks, and tax reporting.
• Analyze cross-border mobility risk for corporate and individual tax consequences and provide suitable tax recommendations.

Deferred Tax & Tax Accounting:

• Lead the computation of deferred tax assets and liabilities in accordance with IFRS.
• Ensure accurate and timely tax accounting and reporting, including preparation and review of tax-related journal entries and disclosures.
• Oversee the reconciliation of tax provisions and liaise with auditors to address tax-related financial reporting matters.

Transfer Pricing & BEPS Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with CbCR and Master File requirements.
• Develop and maintain Transfer Pricing policies in line with OECD guidelines.
• Conduct transfer pricing risk assessments and documentation.
• Assist with the implementation and maintenance of Transfer Pricing arrangements across the group and ensure adherence to policies.
• Ensure that reporting and analysis accurately reflect underlying business agreements.
• Manage relationships with tax authorities and support audits or inquiries.

VAT & Indirect Taxes:

• Supporting on compliance with UAE VAT laws, including VAT return filings, reconciliations, and audits, when needed.
• Provide assistance on VAT implications for transactions, including cross-border sales.
• Support VAT planning and structuring to optimize VAT efficiency.
• Ensure proper VAT documentation and record-keeping.
• Effectively maintain a compliance tracker to plan and ensure tax compliance across subsidiaries.

Strategic Tax Planning & Advisory:

• Provide tax advisory support for business expansion, M&A, and restructuring projects.
• Assess and mitigate tax risks while ensuring tax efficiency.
• Stay updated with changes in UAE and global tax regulations and advise management accordingly.
• Work closely with finance, legal, and operations teams to align tax policies with business objectives.
• Manage relationships with tax authorities and advisors and liaise with external auditors as required.

Qualification, Experience & Skills:

Minimum Qualifications/education:

• Bachelor Degree or above in Commerce / Economics / Finance/ Taxation with professional qualifications such as a CA, CPA, CTA, or other relevant to tax specialization is necessary.

Minimum experience:

• 8+ years in similar function.

Skills:

• Excellent presentation skills and the ability to train on system usage.
• Awareness of counties laws, rules and regulations and quickly able to analyze and adapt laws changes.
• MS Office Package (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Operating Systems such as JDE, SAP and Oracle will be value addition.
• A good mix of Industry and Advisory firm experience is expected.

Functional/Technical Competencies:

• Collaborative in style, a natural communicator able to influence and guide business partners.
• Strong tax technical and knowledge of tax accounting skills across all areas of taxes.
• Confidence to communicate effectively and build relationships with colleagues, advisors and auditors.
• Demonstrating a high level of initiative, lateral thinking, sound business and commercial acumen and superior communication skills.
• Strategic mindset with experience in managing many initiatives concurrently with a result-orientated focus and strong execution and implementation skills.
• A proactive (both in identifying issues and developing solutions), enthusiastic and team oriented individual. Able to maintain outstanding stakeholder engagement.

Definition of Success:

• Independent and able to work proactively managing efficient ETR of the Company.
• Self-motivated with the ability to complete tasks efficiently, timely and accurately.
• Ability to multi-task in a time sensitive environment, work closely and proactively within the tax team and numerous functional teams across the organization.
• Ability to interpret and report on highly complex tax environment, be practical oriented and able to handle often-voluminous data and multi systems environment.
• Drive tax initiatives in support of the business in achieving its strategic objectives.