Associate Director Tax

Job Description

Job Summary: Tax Manager

We are seeking an experienced Tax Manager to lead our country's tax operations.

This role is responsible for all tax audit, planning and compliance for our cross-functional businesses (Human Health and Animal Health). The position ensures that all corporate tax practices align with current tax reforms and business goals. The ideal candidate is a hands-on manager who can operate effectively in a high-compliance, fast-paced environment, overseeing complex system updates and developing a high-performing tax team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Team Leadership & Development

• Talent Cultivation: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing tax team. Set clear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching, and support talent retention.

• Workload Coordination: Manage the team’s workflow, ensuring effective delegation of duties to balance daily compliance needs with long-term projects.
• Performance Oversight: Establish team KPIs aligned with finance and business objectives to foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

2. Strategic Tax Planning & Executive Compliance

• Operational Oversight: Manage all tax operations for the country. This includes leading the preparation of Transfer Pricing studies, coordinating all tax audit requests, and ensuring compliance with all matters related to the Dictamen Fiscal.
• Risk Management: Evaluate new tax standards and implement the appropriate response to safeguard the company's financial interests.
• Advisory Collaboration: Manage relationships with external tax advisors and auditors. Translate external advice into actionable, internal processes.
• Tax Optimization: Develop and implement proactive tax planning strategies to optimize the company's tax position while maintaining full compliance.

3. Business Partnering

• Functional Expertise: Act as the primary subject matter expert for local leadership on tax-related matters. Clearly communicate tax risks, financial impacts, and opportunities for new business initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Support: Collaborate with commercial, sales, operations, and logistics teams to ensure tax requirements are integrated into their project planning and execution.

4. Tax Project & Systems Oversight

• Project Support: Ensure the tax team provides robust support for all new projects, including operational changes like new e-invoicing supplier implementations and technical updates to SAP.
• Systems Integrity: Partner with the IT department on ERP system updates (e.g., SAP/Tax One) to ensure financial reporting systems are accurate and fully compliant with new tax laws.
• Transaction Support: Guide the tax enablement process for corporate transactions, advising on the financial structure to minimize tax liabilities and ensure regulatory adherence.

Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Law, or a related field (Mandatory). Master’s Degree in Taxation, Finance, or equivalent CPA/Certified Tax Professional designation is highly preferred.

Experience:

Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in tax planning and compliance. Must include at least 3+ years in a managerial role. Experience in the pharmaceutical/healthcare business is a strong plus.

Languages:

Advanced English proficiency (Mandatory), both written and spoken.

Skills & Competencies

• Leadership: Proven ability to manage a team, drive process improvements, and handle complex cross-departmental projects.
• Analytical Skills: Strong ability to translate complex data (utilizing Power BI, macros, or low-code tools) into strategic decisions.
• Negotiation & Communication: Excellent persuasion and conflict-resolution skills for collaborating with internal teams, external vendors, and tax authorities.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Comprehensive expertise in local/international tax laws, regulations, and dictamen fiscal.
• Adaptability: Capable of managing a department through shifting priorities, tight deadlines, and complex corporate environments.

Additional Functions

• Technology & ERP Sponsorship: Act as the primary business sponsor for ERP integrations (e.g., SAP Tax One), ensuring IT deliverables meet strict tax compliance and reporting standards.

Change Management: Champion continuous process improvement methodologies within the finance and tax departments to automate routine compliance tasks and increase strategic output.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

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