VAT Specialist

Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2023 revenue of approximately $9.2 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Indirect Tax, the Indirect Tax Specialist is responsible for the oversight of Value Added Tax (VAT) compliance and planning, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements, and optimizing VAT processes to support the company’s business objectives while driving functional excellence and digitization of processes. The Specialist monitors Indirect Tax law changes and analyzes how they apply to Eastman businesses and operations, identifying process changes triggered by new tax requirements and initiating all necessary steps to assure Eastman companies and business comply with Tax requirements. Where needed, the Specialist leads Indirect Tax projects and develops strategic and operational implementation work plans to ensure Tax Compliance in EMEA. In this role cross-functional cooperation and partnership is essential.

Responsibilities

• Stay abreast of changes in the EU and other EMEA regulations concerning VAT, analyzing their impact on Eastman’s businesses, taking action to assure compliance and leading projects where needed.
• Supervise, review, and sign off on VAT returns prepared by the Indirect Tax Analysts.
• Assign tasks and monitor performance, provide for coaching and guidance to the Compliance Team.
• Drive optimization through process improvement and technology.
• Provide Indirect Tax training to Eastman functions and business.
• Support the Head of Indirect Tax in all Indirect Tax matters.
• Lead Indirect Tax audits.
• Assessment of indirect tax positions and interpretations of our business models.
• Manage Indirect Tax projects.
• Support Tax department to assure readiness for Real Time Reporting and the future state of the Indirect Tax functions.
• Ensure consistency with company strategy, commitments, and targets.
• Partner and support with business functions in projects and answer any queries. Build a cross-functional understanding of Indirect Tax rules and impact on Eastman Business, providing for presentations and/or training where needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Indirect Taxes, preferably a combination of experience in a big accounting firm and the industry.
• Bachelor or Master in Fiscal economics, Fiscal Law, Accountancy or similar.
• Technology savvy.
• Broad business acumen.
• Project Management skills.
• Knowledge of Customs regulations is a plus.
• Experienced with technology tools applied to Indirect Tax is a plus.
• Power BI knowledge is a plus.
• SAP knowledge is a plus.
• Fluent in English; the knowledge of other European languages is a plus.

Soft skills:

• Ability to have good grasp of the detail whilst understanding the “big picture” and the strategic approach.
• Ability to think “out of the box” finding new solutions to new problems.
• Eager to adapt in a fast-changing environment. Energetic and driven personality. Enthusiastic. Positive and energetic.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with all levels of cross-functional teams.
• Eagerness to drive optimization through process improvement and technology.
• Able to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines, and comfortable working in a fast paced and dynamic environment.
• Good communication skills. Can express complex technical ideas adjusting the language and style to different types of audience.

Eastman is committed to creating a powerfully diverse workforce and a broadly inclusive workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.