Direct Taxation

Key Result Areas (Key Performance Indicators)

1. Tax Compliance and Governance: Ensure timely and accurate filing of direct tax returns, assessments, and audits to maintain the company's tax compliance and mitigate risks.

2. Process Optimization and Automation: Leverage technology and digital solutions to streamline tax processes, improve efficiency, and enhance data-driven decision-making.

3. Team Leadership and Transformation: Provide strategic direction and operational oversight to the direct tax team, driving continuous improvement and process transformation.

4. Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders (e.g., tax authorities, auditors) to ensure seamless tax-related activities and strengthen the company's tax position.

Critical Tasks (Key Activities)

1. Tax Audit & Compliance Governance

• Lead and review the preparation of Tax Audit Reports across entities, ensuring technical accuracy, completeness, and alignment with statutory requirements.
• Establish review protocols and control frameworks to ensure timely completion of audits with zero non-compliance risk.
• Liaise with Statutory and Tax auditors and senior management for closure of critical observations and reporting matters.

Tax Automation & Digital Transformation

• Drive tax automation initiatives aligned with organizational digital strategy, focusing on efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Lead implementation and enhancement of ERP/SAP-based tax engines for TDS/TCS compliance.
• Identify and implement opportunities for process automation (RPA, workflows, AI tools) in:
• TDS applicability determination
• Automated reconciliation (26AS/AIS/TIS vs books)
• Tax Documentation
• Return preparation and validation checks
• Vendor/ Customer communication and certificate issuance
• Collaborate with IT and external advisors to design and deploy dashboards and compliance trackers.
• Evaluate and deploy advanced tax tools for:
• Risk flagging
• Data analytics
• Litigation tracking
• Ensure data integrity, audit trails, and system-based controls to reduce manual dependency and enhance compliance robustness.

TDS/TCS Compliance – Oversight & Review

• Provide strategic oversight over monthly TDS/TCS computations, ensuring accuracy in liability determination and timely deposits.
• Review and validate TDS/TCS deductions framework, ensuring correct applicability across diverse transaction types (including complex and cross-border payments).
• Implement periodic compliance health checks and exception reporting mechanisms.

Returns, Filings & Certifications

• Supervise and review quarterly TDS/TCS returns, including revisions, ensuring high accuracy and minimal defaults.
• Oversee issuance of TDS/TCS certificates, ensuring timely and error-free generation.
• Provide final-level review of certifications for foreign remittances, ensuring compliance with FEMA and Income-tax provisions.

Technical Advisory & Risk Management

• Act as the central technical authority on TDS matters for domestic and international transactions.
• Provide interpretational guidance on complex withholding tax issues, including applicability under DTAA, equalisation levy, and withholding obligations.
• Identify and mitigate tax risks through proactive advisory and policy interventions.

Litigation & Assessment Support

• Review compilation of data for income-tax and TDS assessments, ensuring completeness and defensibility.
• Support senior management in handling notices, scrutiny proceedings, and departmental queries.
• Evaluate exposure areas and ensure adequate documentation and litigation preparedness.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Oversee resolution of vendor and customer queries related to TDS/TCS, ensuring consistency and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Maintain strong coordination with consultants, auditors, and internal cross-functional teams.

Reconciliation & Data Integrity

• Review reconciliation of Form 26AS, AIS, and TIS with books of accounts, ensuring completeness of income and tax credits.
• Establish robust reconciliation processes and exception tracking dashboards.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead and mentor a team of 3 professionals, ensuring optimal allocation of responsibilities and high-performance standards.
• Build subject matter expertise within the team through continuous training and knowledge sessions.
• Drive a culture of accountability, accuracy, and process excellence.

Process Improvement & Governance

• Continuously review and enhance SOPs, internal controls, and compliance frameworks.
• Benchmark processes with industry best practices and leading corporates.
• Drive standardization, centralization, and elimination of fragmented processes.

Education Qualification & Certifications

The ideal candidate for this role should be a Chartered Accountant (CA) with a strong background in direct tax compliance and strategic tax management.

Relevant Experience

The candidate should have 10-12 years of direct tax experience in a large manufacturing organization, demonstrating a track record of successfully managing the company's tax obligations, driving process improvements, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Skills & Competencies

1. Strong expertise in withholding tax/TDS, assessments, and tax audits

2. Exposure to automation tools, ERP systems (SAP), and digital tax solutions

3. Proven experience in team leadership and process transformation

4. Ability to operate at strategic, review, and governance level

5. Well-versed with Income Tax Department's/TRACES website functionalities

6. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

7. Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities

8. Proficiency in tax data analysis and reporting

Skills Required
Automation Tools, Reporting, Tax Audits, Sap