Job Description

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About the role

This is a key newly created role reporting into the Group Finance Director with responsibility across Group tax reporting and compliance. As Group Tax Director you'll ensure that Group tax reporting and compliance are adequately managed, with the aim of reducing reliance on external consultants on tax matters. You'll be a strategic advisor who helps optimise the company's global tax position, playing a critical role in risk mitigation, cost efficiency, and supporting growth initiatives through tax-effective structuring.



Over the past five years, the Group has expanded both in complexity but also in terms of the countries in which we operate. This led to the creation a dedicated tax function within it's Central Finance team around four years ago, and that team took the Group through the Bain ownership exit. This team comprised of the Group Tax Manager, a UK-based Group Tax Accountant, and an India-based Senior Analyst.


Recent acquisitions under our new Apax Partners ownership bring increasing tax risk and complexity, and with the departure of the Group Tax Manager we're looking to further increase the skillset of the team and introduce three new roles, the first being a dedicated Group Tax Director. The aim is for this new role to then build their team around them, but the initial assumption is that this will comprise the current team plus two managers (Indirect and Direct tax focused), funded by reducing the reliance on external tax consultants.



As Group Tax Director you'll take responsibility for ensuring the taxes for the whole Group (Zellis, Moorepay, Benifex and Hastee) are reported accurately and on time. You'll play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the organisation's tax strategy across multiple jurisdictions. This will include liaison with multiple stakeholders, of varying seniority, including Business Unit CEOs/CFOs and the Group Executive. You'll be experienced in all areas of the business and develop tax solutions that complement the business/commercial objectives of each Business Unit.



The role will be flexible, fast-evolving, and fluid. It will blend pure day-to-day tax compliance and reporting with designing tax solutions for new products, new countries and newly acquired entities. The role will also include oversight of tax due diligence for new M&A, as well as solving tax due diligence issues identified for newly acquired entities.



Key areas of responsibility will include:

Strategic tax leadership
Developing and implementing global tax strategies aligned with the company's business goals. Oversight of tax strategy across all countries in which the Group operates. Advising senior leadership on the tax implications of strategic decisions, including mergers, acquisitions, and entity structuring. Leading the company's response to evolving international tax frameworks, such as OECD's Pillar Two and Country-by-Country Reporting.
Governance and compliance
Ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations across all jurisdictions where the Group operates. Direct responsibility for ensuring compliance with all Indirect and Direct tax legislations. Establishing and maintaining a robust tax governance framework, including internal controls, audits, and risk management. Ensuring the Group's tax controls are adequate and ensure compliance with CCO and SAO requirements. Overseeing the preparation and filing of corporate tax, VAT, transfer pricing, and other returns (including PSA, ERS, FATCA, CRS returns and W8BENe & 5472 forms for US entities). Balancing inhouse work vs. more expensive consultancy-based approach. Using technology to bolster efficiencies and effectiveness of the team. Ensuring compliance documentation with regards to DAC 6. Ensuring adequate transfer pricing arrangements in place. Leading RDEC reclaim processes across the Group.
Operational oversight
Managing tax aspects of corporate transactions, including due diligence, structuring, and post-deal integration. Leading legal entity rationalisation projects to ensure tax efficiency. Supervising tax reporting systems and ensuring accuracy in financial statements. Producing tax provision calculations and disclosures for all Group companies and liaising with/provide support to the Group Auditors. Producing quarterly tax forecasts to assist with Group cashflow and liquidity forecasting.
Stakeholder engagement
Collaborating with Finance, Legal, Treasury, and IT teams to integrate tax considerations into broader business processes. Proactive partnering with stakeholders to keep abreast of business developments and their impact on taxes. Advising where necessary and producing tax related memos as required. Managing relationships with external advisors and tax authorities. Mentoring and developing junior tax staff. ###

Skills & experience

10+ years experience in international tax, with leadership roles in multi-national environments. Must have hands-on tax experience in the areas described. CTA / ACA qualified (or equivalent). Strong knowledge of IFRS, international tax law, transfer pricing, and tax technology. Able to lead from the front, be a proactive thinker, and manage the team and function independently. Able to manage stakeholders and work in a cross-functional matrix environment. Proactive, stress resilient, thought provoking, and challenging mindset. Ability to proactively plan resource and develop a highly multi-skilled team with the agility and flexibility to meet multiple stakeholders demands. Ability to multi-task, dealing with complexity and conflicting priorities and projects. Highly effective communication skills to both internal and external stakeholders. Ability to manage upwards, downwards, and influence across multiple teams and stakeholders. Able to build strong interpersonal relationships, influence and interact with individuals at all levels of the organisation. Innovative and forward thinking about streamlining processes for ultimate efficiency. Proven ability to identify opportunities for process improvements and to implement these successfully. Able to think both strategically and tactically but still ensuring compliance with tax standards and requirements. Ability to deep-dive into the detail when required, thorough, and focused on all aspects of the job to ensure accuracy.
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Benefits & culture

At Zellis we create AI-enabled HR, workforce management and payroll products and services, to power exceptional employee experiences so that you and your people do better. Our multi-award-winning products pay over five million employees a year, with almost half (42%) of the FTSE 100, 50% of the top retailers and 30% of the top universities in the UK & Ireland as customers, making us the largest provider of Payroll and HR software and managed services.



Our vision is to be the clear leader in pay, reward, analytics, and people experiences. We're passionate about creating an environment where people want to join, belong to, and be part of a progressive organisation. Our values, which were defined with input from all of our 2,000 colleagues, we live and breathe every day:

Unstoppable together. Always learning. Make it count. Think scale.
Our people are critical to our ongoing success; we're proud of our inclusive culture that gives you the platform to grow, challenge the status quo and play a crucial role in further enhancing our market position as the leading provider of HR & Payroll software and services. With Zellis you'll have the chance to stretch and challenge yourself in an environment that's varied, flexible and hugely supportive.


We also love to reward and recognise our brilliant colleagues. As part of your benefits package, you'll receive:

A competitive base salary and total benefits package. 25 days annual leave, plus your birthday off and the opportunity to buy additional holiday. Private medical insurance. Life assurance 4x salary. Enhanced pension scheme with company contributions up to 8.5%. * A huge range of additional flexible benefits across financial & personal wellbeing, lifestyle & leisure.