Finance Projects and Change Subject Matter Expert, Indirect Tax and Compliance Reporting

The role

This newly-created role will play an integral part in the Finance Projects and Change team, with a core responsibility to oversee and develop the firm’s VAT reporting processes and other compliance reporting processes, ensuring they are robust and fit for purpose and that they continually adapt to the increasing digitisation of VAT reporting globally.

The role will involve close cooperation with VAT Central Team, liaison with finance staff across the firm internationally and will work closely with other members of the Finance Projects and Change Team working both for DLA Piper and our implementation partners by providing expert knowledge to the project.

The Finance Projects and Change Background:

DLA Piper recently replaced the firms Practice Management System.  The Practice Management system (PMS) is core to the operations of the firm. Handling the creation and distribution of bills, revenue management along with the core accountancy functions and controls. This high exposure and complex programme  impacted all aspects of the firm functions, people, and offices. 
The programme is taking the opportunity to not only replace the underlying out of service technology but also review the associated business processes to drive for improvement, efficiency and standardisation across the international user base.  As well as providing an enhanced experience and ‘smarter’ ways of working for the fee earners.

As part of Practice Management System, Advance Compliance Reporting Module isbeing implemented. The aim of this module is supporting and streamlining  statutory reporting for countries with the most complex requirements. At the same time DLA is actively analysing all best options to support firm’s indirect tax reporting requirements,  in light of increasing internationally requirements for e-invoicing and e-reporting.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervising and reviewing AS IS indirect tax business processes across International
• Assisting in the design of and supervising and reviewing TO BE indirect tax business processes across International including analysis of potential tools/systems to be used in the process
• Identifying and designing the harmonization and standardisation of processes as far as is appropriate across International.
• Efficacy of the final design process
• Liaising between users and the implementation team.
• Facilitating change management.
• Foreseeing and reporting problems and preparing mitigations.
• Contribute to decisions made during the design process
• Progress reporting as required for governance
• Assist with the production of user and training documentation
• Liaising with local and central finance teams to ensure they are able to contribute to the design process and to deal with any concerns they have
• Play an active role in further development, testing and rollout of the Advanced Compliance Reporting module as well as related setups of new PMS
• Play an active role in development, testing and rollout of the E-invoicing and e-reporting modules Internationally, via chosen by DLA tool, in cooperation with implementation partners, ensuring we maximise our opportunity to implement best practices as far as possible;
• Work with finance teams located Internationally to ensure local VAT reporting processes are appropriately documented 

ABOUT YOU

The Indirect Tax and Compliance Reporting SME must have strong organisational and communication skills. The individual appointed must also be capable of understanding the wider objectives of the project, be able to influence others, and be able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders, with team colleagues and with service providers involved in the management and operation of the project and have the experience to mentor and support team members.

The role holder will have a background in working on large-scale Finance Transformation Programmes involving indirect taxes. 

• Qualified Accountant (ACCA or relevant equivalent) or Tax Advisor (CTA or equivalent)
• Proven success in the execution of Finance Transformation activities or projects
• In depth understanding and experience of VAT processes 
• Advanced excel skills and experience of VAT reporting systems
• Experience in requirements gathering
• Experience in process optimisaion
• Solid experience of working with SAP S4/Hana
• Effective communication skills including documentation and workshop facilitation and ability to present and discuss at all levels within the firm
• Self-motivated, logical and organised approach to work
• Great team working skills and a passion for delivering results
• Able to work independently and adapt to change
• Ability to judge and manage priorities effectively and work to tight timescales
• Experience of working within both Waterfall and Agile environments 

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.