Associate Director - Indirect Taxation

Areas of taxes and legal entities

• Responsibility and ownership for Indirect taxes for all 4 legal entities (AIL, AHPL, SJM and ArDX) in India. Indirect taxes consist of Goods & Service Tax and legacy Value Added Tax, Central Sales Tax, Excise, Service Tax, Municipal Taxes spread across 24 states.

Business advisory

• Partnering with businesses and pro-actively support in their initiatives including advising on tax implications and business models to be followed for new businesses, business re-structuring, etc. so as to ensure that the same is made tax compliant and efficient.

• Provide regular updates to senior management on tax matters and on the potential impact of new/changes in laws and regulations on the compliance and businesses of Abbott. Ensure that systems and processes are implemented / amended to meet the new tax requirements.

• Incumbent is expected to proactively engage with business providing visibility on Provisions made in the books, Ops risks and cashflow from a RLBE perspective. Offer insights into change in regulations affecting doing business for Abbott legal entities in India eg : Invoice Management System (IMS), Medical Council of India Guidelines and its interpretation due to Apex Supreme Court judgement, UCDPMP medical devices draft guidelines and UCPMP.  Engagements relate to what activities are permitted / not permitted having impact on GST credits to be claimed for third party invoices, amendment to contracts, proof of performance and other guidance from a GST perspective.

Compliance

• Ensure timely and accurate payment of taxes and filing of tax compliances for 57 GST registrations spread across 24 states for AIL and AHPL and 6 States for SJM as well as 3 Input Service Distributor Registration. In all 1,980 returns to be filed annually. Also 54 Annual Returns to be filed after audit by EY.

• Review the compliances frequently to ensure that maximum claims are made to optimize tax cost to Abbott.

• Automate systems and processes to ensure compliance with GST regulations and change in law / GST Govt. systems.

Litigation management

• Represent before multiple Tax Authorities across India during Audits to defend the claims made in the Returns.

• Decide on further appeal to be made before First Appellate Authority, and Tax Courts, High Courts on disputed tax issues. Represent before Appellate Authorities for successful resolution of disputed tax issues. Significant issues with high stakes under litigation including Writ’s filed in multiple High Courts.

• Manage ongoing relationships with external consultants, Counsels and advisors to ensure the organization receives satisfactory standards of service.

Tax planning

• Ideate and implement various tax planning measures for utilization of tax credits, claiming of refund of taxes etc. thereby contributing positively to EBIDTA and Cashflow.

• Responsible for tax savings of INR 150 MM on yearly basis.

Special projects

• Lead special projects and ensure successful implementation Eg : Review of QR code, automation of ISD and cross charge, distribution of IT assets etc., automation of QR code validation, state-wise Trial Balance, Jason for bill booking etc.

• Conduct business reviews and provide insights to business on areas of improvement to mitigate GST exposure including ITC accumulation liquidation strategies post GST 2.0.

People management

• To develop and nurture the team for independent handling of the internal and external stakeholders, successfully conclude audits and assessments and litigation management.

• Knowledge transfer and train tax team and accounts team on Indirect taxes to update them with relevant updates in Indirect Tax.

Legal compliances in relation to GST of all Abbott Group of Companies in India. Tax planning, research, compliance, reporting and filings, auditing, and communicating with external tax agencies. Evaluate activities, policies, practices, and transactions to ensure they comply with all relevant laws and regulations. Partnering with businesses to structure transactions with respect to Indirect tax issues including drafting of tax clauses to optimize tax benefits in major third-party agreements. Handling business restructurings / expansions of business in India including new plant set-up. Effective handling of litigations and endeavoring to reduce the disputes. Advisory services to cross functional teams in relation to GST and also for old matters on Service Tax, VAT / CST and Excise. Finalising service agreements (including drafting) to optimise the tax benefits for Abbott Group Companies in India. Finalising the replies, appeals (including drafting) and representing before Appeallate Authorities including Commissioner (Appeals) and Tribunal (Appeals). Liaisoning with Auditors, Consultants and counsels to ensure effective representation/appeals. Timely response to the Corporate queries and reporting. Always look-forward for automation of processes to accelerate the team results and making the processes system driven. Oversee all aspects of the function including managing the consultants and their fees approvals etc. Nurture the team for continuous growth on overall basis. Handling internal and external audits i.e. handling SOX audits, departmental audits, assessments etc.  

Overall responsible for Indirect taxes in India Reducing litigations and strengthening compliances. Responsible for sustainable and continuous growth of the team. Contribute towards increasing the visibility of CFS. Partnering with businesses and ensuring timely responses. Clean audit reports.

This position is primarily responsible for overall Indirect taxes compliances in India to ensure the effective execution of aforesaid Primary, Core and Management responsibilities in result oriented manner.

No of position reporting  :  6 Direct reports. Team size 10 permanent and 6 contract.

Chartered Accountant. Degree in Law will added advantage.

Minimum 15-20 years of experience is handling indirect taxes in large manufacturing company.