International Indirect Tax Manager

About the Role & Team
Be you, be here, be part of the story!

At The Walt Disney Company, magic is more than just a word; it's a way of life. For a century, we've been inspiring imaginations, celebrating diversity, and bringing families together through our beloved stories, characters, and experiences. From our iconic theme parks and resorts to our groundbreaking films, television shows, interactive media and products, we're dedicated to creating magic that knows no bounds.

We are looking for an enthusiastic International Indirect Tax Manager to make a meaningful impact and be part of a dynamic team. Join us in shaping the magic behind the scenes!

The Indirect Tax Manager will support the Principal International Indirect Tax on compliance, advisory and legislative matters for supporting all of Disney line of businesses. The role will encompass indirect tax advisory, VAT audit support, tax legislation updates and The Walt Disney Company’s (“TWDC”) technology and tax digitalization strategy.

The successful candidate will act as an Indirect Tax liaison with a number of our business and finance partners to ensure that ongoing and new business requirements are appropriately supported from both an advisory and VAT reporting perspective. Disney’s International footprint encompasses a number of diverse businesses which include but are not limited to TV and film production, licensing, broadcasting, Disney+ D2C streaming, retail, travel, cruise lines and theme parks. The successful candidate should have industry experience in several of these sectors in order to act as the VAT subject matter expert supporting the relevant businesses.   

Disney has operations or makes direct to consumer sales into multiple countries worldwide and so hands-on experience of working in a Big 4 or Multinational tax team advising on cross border supplies of goods and services is critical.  Disney is also enhancing its relationship with external managed services providers (MSP) and so experience of partnering with an MSP either from within a Big 4 environment or from a recipient of MSP services would be extremely advantageous.  

The Indirect tax team are also responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with global Digital Service Taxes and so experience of DST’s is helpful but not essential. Similarly, as the global requirement for digitised invoicing and e-reporting rapidly increases, experience of implementations with third-party e-invoice/ reporting would be favourable.   

Please Note: This is an office-based role. 4 days working in the Hammersmith, London office with 1 day working from home (Monday or Friday).

What You Will Do

Business Partnering

• Providing ongoing VAT advice and training (where applicable) to the various Lines of Business (licensing, retail, travel, cruises, production), accounts payable and to Disney’s internal and external Shared Service Centres

• Support the Principal and Senior Manager, International Indirect Taxes and our businesses to fully understand all commercial initiatives, evaluating business models, effectively structuring and suggesting potential solutions or changes to supply and contractual flows to manage risks, costs and maximize opportunities

• Working with other members of Disney’s International finance and business teams considering the local country operations, reviewing commercial initiatives across the region and work with the Principal/ Senior Manager to ensure the operations are structured appropriately and have the correct processes and controls from an indirect tax perspective

Compliance

Although primarily this is not a compliance focused role, certain VAT compliance tasks will be required which include but are not limited to:

• Occasional review of VAT returns as required

• Requesting new tax codes and other tax master data attributes

• Arranging the payments for VAT liabilities, including obtaining the necessary approvals

• Support with the preparation of information for and coordination of VAT audits

• Review and submission of EU VAT refund and 13th Directive VAT refund claims

• Experience of Alteryx would be helpful.

Tax Environment changes

• Pro-actively work with advisers and other stakeholders to monitor local, EMEA and Global tax legislation changes, working with Principal and Senior Manager IDT to appropriately manage these changes

• Work with the Principal and Senior Manager Indirect Taxes on implementing Tax technology initiatives such as digital reporting and e-invoicing.

• Act as one of TWDC’s focal points for identifying changes in legislation such as SAF-T, SII, Making Tax Digital and split payments. Responsibilities include liaison with the overall Project Manager and other business stakeholders to ensure all tax legal and reporting requirements are delivered.

Training

• Supporting Disney global stakeholders on an ongoing basis with training and technical advice

• Writing material and undertaking training for in-house staff on VAT technical matters  

Team

• Work closely with other international tax colleagues in supporting cross-over work i.e. Film and TV, business restructuring, new business initiatives production entity support and PSA reporting.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Significant indirect tax experience preferably including international and domestic supplies of goods and services

• Experience of advising on the VAT treatment of electronically supplied services is desirable

• Experience of advising in the following industries is helpful: travel, international transport/ cruise lines, online retail

• CTA or equivalent qualification

• Strong Accounting and VAT reporting background in a multinational environment

• Awareness of VAT and associated reporting obligations across multiple jurisdictions

• Experience in ERP systems (particularly SAP), Alteryx and Excel is highly desirable as is involvement in systems transformations projects

• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines to deliver

• Analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to make decisions and recommendations

• Able to manage workload to tight deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks and work streams

• companies

• Strong working knowledge of Indirect Tax compliance processes, from data extraction to return submission with focus on data integrity and global compliance automation and process solutions.

• Strong interpersonal skills to establish effective working relationships at all levels of the organisation

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave

• Private medical insurance & dental care

• Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free

• Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing

• Excellent parental and guardian leave

• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.