Wilhelmsen is looking for an Indirect Tax Manager

Wilhelmsen Ships Service sells maintenance products and service to globally trading vessels in 70+ countries, through 50+ legal entities in all corners of the world. With sales to more than 26 000 vessels, we reach more than half the world fleet. Indirect tax compliance is especially important to us due to the increasingly strict requirements that needs to be fulfilled to qualify for zero rated sales when selling to internationally trading vessels.

Navigating the global landscape of import duties/import VAT is also very important for us, as the high-quality products we sell to our customers are often sourced in one location and then redistributed to our stock points across the globe. And while we of course do not expect you to know the ins and outs of every country we serve; we are looking for someone who would not be afraid to familiarize oneself with the rules and regulations of different jurisdictions as issues emerge. So, your work will be both challenging and appreciated. Appreciated because at WSS we deem the need for compliance within the field of indirect tax not an inconvenience, but rather a truly foundational element of our business model, and integral part of our competitive advantage.

What you’ll be doing:

As a key member of Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) finance department, the Indirect Tax Manager will work closely with the VP Finance/finance team in WSS and the GBS finance organization at both the global and local level. We are currently also recruiting a Global Tax Manager, who you will be working closely with in this role.

The function’s main goal is to be an efficient support to the business goals of WSS and specific responsibilities include monitoring indirect tax/VAT regulations in the countries in which WSS operates and develop corresponding strategies and business processes to ensure WSS indirect tax/VAT compliance.

You will be responsible for:

• Overall indirect tax/VAT compliance
• Monitor indirect tax regulations in our operating countries in cooperation with internal and external stakeholders
• Develop strategies for tax efficient compliance to local regulations
• Manage externally sourced indirect tax advice services
• Advice and support the finance teams on indirect tax audits and tax claims handling
• Contribute to development of business processes related to indirect tax compliance
• Assist in coordination of global tax advice services
• Liaise closely with Wilhelmsen group corporate tax resources and other internal stakeholders, especially the WSS Global Tax manager
• Ad hoc analysis / tasks

Required experience and skills:

• Master’s degree in law / business
• Minimum 4-5 years of relevant experience within indirect tax, preferably in an international/European setting
• Good command of written and spoken English language
• Analytical and capable of transferring theoretical knowledge into practical business processes
• Ability to work on own initiative and in a team
• Structured and accurate

Additional preferences:  

• Strong interpersonal understanding with an awareness of different cultures within the customer base, team, and organization
• Ability to meet deadlines through good time management and allocation of priorities
• Understanding of the underlying business, and be willing to make decisions, not only recommendations

What we offer:

We can offer a culture and work environment of strong leadership, career development, work-life balance and a job that is both challenging and stimulating. Our organization thrives by using modern tools and is eager to utilize the business opportunities that comes with new digital tools and skills. Beyond this, we have benefits that include, but are not limited to:

• Mobile phone  
• Extremely competitive pension plan 
• Company cabins 
• Social events year round (e.g., wine tastings, cooking classes, yoga, dance, and rock-climbing lessons etc) 
• Sports club membership that includes sporting and cultural activities (e.g., group training in our gymnasium, sailing, theatre, and concert tickets etc)  

Sounds interesting?

If you can see yourself in this role, please let us know why you are our new Indirect Tax Manager. You can apply online today through our career portal by creating a ‘Candidate Home’ account. Here you can upload your resume and a motivational letter.

Work Location:

The role will ideally be based at one of the following WSS location: Lysaker, Norway, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Piraeus, Hellas, Szczecin, Poland but flexible working arrangements will be available and some travel is to be expected.