Job Description:

We are looking for an experienced Senior Manager - Direct Tax to lead and manage direct tax matters, ensuring tax compliance, effective tax planning, and timely resolution of tax-related issues. The role will work closely with finance, business, legal, and senior management teams to provide strategic tax advice and ensure compliance with applicable tax laws and regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Direct Tax Compliance:

- Oversee timely and accurate compliance with the Income-tax Act, 1961 and applicable rules, regulations, and notifications.

- Review and monitor corporate income-tax returns, tax computations, advance tax, self-assessment tax, and related filings.

- Ensure timely compliance with TDS/TCS provisions, including return filing, reconciliations, and correction statements.

- Review tax provisions and deferred tax calculations in coordination with the finance and accounting teams.

- Monitor tax notices, communications, and statutory requirements.

2. Tax Planning & Advisory:

- Develop and implement effective tax-planning strategies aligned with business objectives.

- Provide tax advice on business transactions, contracts, investments, restructuring, financing, and other strategic initiatives.

- Evaluate tax implications of new business models, transactions, and commercial arrangements.

- Identify opportunities for tax optimisation while maintaining a strong focus on compliance and risk management.

3. Tax Assessments & Litigation:

- Lead and coordinate income-tax assessments, audits, appeals, and other proceedings before tax authorities.

- Manage interactions with tax consultants, legal advisors, and external counsel.

- Review responses to tax notices, assessment orders, appeals, and submissions.

- Track tax litigation matters and assess potential tax exposures and contingent liabilities.

- Develop appropriate strategies for resolution of tax disputes.

4. Transfer Pricing & International Tax:

- Coordinate with internal teams and external advisors on transfer-pricing compliance and documentation, where applicable.

- Review international transactions and assess implications under domestic tax laws and applicable tax treaties.

- Advise on withholding-tax implications for cross-border payments.

- Support matters relating to DTAA, PE exposure, withholding taxes, and international tax compliance.

5. Tax Risk Management:

- Identify and evaluate direct tax risks across business functions.

- Establish appropriate tax controls and processes to minimise compliance risks.

- Monitor changes in tax laws, judicial precedents, CBDT circulars, notifications, and regulatory developments.

- Assess the impact of significant tax-law changes on the organisation and communicate key implications to stakeholders.

6. Stakeholder Management:

- Partner with Finance, Accounting, Legal, Treasury, Procurement, HR, and business teams on tax-related matters.

- Present tax positions, risks, and recommendations to senior management.

- Manage relationships with tax consultants, auditors, and regulatory authorities.

- Drive awareness of tax compliance requirements across relevant business teams.

7. Team Management:

- Lead, mentor, and develop the direct-tax team.

- Allocate responsibilities and monitor deliverables to ensure timely completion.

- Build strong tax processes, documentation standards, and knowledge within the team.

- Review the quality and accuracy of work performed by team members and external advisors.

Key Deliverables / KPIs:

- Timely and accurate completion of all direct-tax compliances.

- Effective management and reduction of tax risks and exposures.

- Successful management of assessments, audits, and litigation.

- Optimisation of the organisation's effective tax rate within the applicable legal framework.

- Timely identification and implementation of tax-saving opportunities.

- Accurate tax provisioning and forecasting.

- Effective management of tax consultants and external advisors.

- Timely communication of changes in tax laws and their business impact.

- Strengthening of tax controls and processes.

Qualifications:

- CA (Chartered Accountant) - mandatory/preferred.

Experience:

- 8 - 12 years of relevant experience in direct taxation.

- Strong experience in corporate income tax, TDS, tax assessments, litigation, and tax planning.

- Exposure to international taxation and transfer pricing would be an advantage.

- Prior experience in managing a team is preferred.