Global Income Tax and Tax Reporting Lead - Zürich

But at ABB, you’ll never run alone. Run what runs the world.

This Position reports to:

Function Head - Finance

In this role, you will be accountable for the ABB Group income tax provisioning, reporting, forecasting process under USGAAP (hereinafter referred as “tax reporting”) for about 300 legal entities worldwide. You will ensure the accuracy of Group Effective Tax Rate (ETR) disclosed externally, including notes to consolidated financial statements.

You will follow major (corporate) income tax policy developments, analyze the key drivers for ABB Group ETR and develop global planning strategies to minimize tax liabilities and outflows.

You will drive any automation initiative related to Corporate Income Tax (CIT) compliance process, leveraging global financial reporting tools, such as SAP S4 Central Finance (CFIN).

You will lead tax transparency and ESG tax related matters and initiatives (i.e. Public CbCR).

You will manage and develop a small team of in-house tax professionals.

Reporting to ABB Global Head of Taxes, this role is based in Zurich, Switzerland. Another location in Europe possible, with willingness to travel.

Your main role and responsibilities:

• Understand and interpret international CIT laws.
• Analyze the key drivers for ABB Group ETR, as well as in key individual countries, and develop global strategies to minimize tax liabilities and outflows.
• Model potential implications of major tax law changes on group ETR.
• Lead and continuously improve OECD Pillar 2 compliance process for global and domestic rules.
• Identify and implement any tools/technology available for CIT compliance process, incl. Pillar 2.
• Join industry or business associations, share insights on global taxation matters, make recommendations to policy makers, lobbying government agencies where relevant.

Global methodology, guidance and internal controls on processes under your responsibility:

• Define the requirements, structure and usage of (corporate) income tax accounts in the Central Finance (CFIN) group Chart of Accounts (CoA). Approve the creation of any new (corporate) income tax account (or any change to an existing tax account) in CFIN. Be the primary speaking partner to the Corporate Accounting and Financial Reporting team.
• Develop and maintain a global methodology/guidance for US GAAP (1-7 series) and Statutory/Tax (8 series) accounts usage.
• Develop and maintain global methodology/guidance for the use of multiple ledgers in CFIN; Ensure the connection between the tax reporting solution and CFIN; Drive the use of CFIN Tax Ledger for Corporate Income Tax (CIT) compliance process, working together with Country Tax teams.
• Develop and issue instructions about provisions for tax exposure.
• Define robust internal controls on global processes under your responsibility.

• Lead and continuously improve the global USGAAP income tax provisioning and reporting process (in accordance with ASC 740), including Uncertain Tax Positions (UTP) and other tax contingencies assessment.
• Prepare quarterly materials for global Head of Tax to present at Disclosure meeting.
• Prepare tax footnotes for annual consolidated financial statements and any other external disclosure related to tax.
• Coordinate and interact with other Functions (incl. FP&A, Corporate Controlling, Investors Relations etc.), with respect to ETR guidance, Annual Planning Process (APP) and Long-term Planning Process (LPP).
• Manage relationships with external auditors and other external stakeholders, as necessary.
• Run strategic analysis on global ETR (disclosed ETR versus comparable multinationals, operational ETR versus target..); For major countries, review waterfall between statutory tax rate and ETR and discuss findings with country tax team.
• Compile detailed tax models to simulate ETR impacts and Pillar II considerations for significant transactions and business combinations.
• Support cash tax forecasting and actual analysis, oversee the recoverability of income tax receivables.
• Ensure the tax reporting tools are fit for purpose, integrated and easy to navigate.
• Ensure that proper training is delivered to Tax Operations teams, Country tax manager, R2R or any other stakeholders operating the USGAAP tax reporting process.

• Assess at consolidated level the impacts of M&A transactions (incl. acquisitions, divestments and joint ventures) on group ETR and Cash Tax.
• Review global Purchase Price Allocation (PPA) and potential tax attributes; Validate tax positions for opening Balance Sheets (OBS); Oversee the booking of UTPs, deferred taxes etc.. in OBS.
• Advise on best deal structure from Pillar II/public CbCR perspective.
• Drive post-closing integration on matters under your responsibility.

• Drive Public Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR) process.
• Drive Total Tax Contribution, both in terms of numbers and narratives.
• Obtain assurance from external auditor on Transparency reports, as required.
• Supervise tax aspects of ESG ratings in liaison with Communication/Sustainability teams and other Functions.

Your qualifications:

• Minimum 15 years of experience in tax area, within global accounting firms, or in MNCs
• Bachelor/master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Tax or Law
• Good understanding of tax accounting rules under USGAAP (or IFRS)
• Experience/knowledge about Pillar 2 and other OECD initiatives, as well as CSRD requirements
• Knowledge of SAP; HFM; CFIN and a tax reporting solution is a plus
• Data acumen, willingness to own and leverage data relevant to processes under responsibility
• Excellent listening, analytical, communication and presentation skills. Strong ability to communicate complex topics to non-tax experts, including C-level
• Strong project management skills. Ability to plan, follow through and complete tasks on time
• Strong E2E process understanding and skills in process excellency
• Ability to adapt to change and react with agility, speed, perseverance, and tenacity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team worker
• Excellent English skills, both written and verbal, any additional language is a plus.

We value people from different backgrounds. Could this be your story? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to read more about us and learn about the impact of our solutions across the globe.