The Wonderfield Group has recently been purchased by Zensho Holdings, the leading food service company in Japan with a market cap of $5.5b and whose aim is to become the worlds largest food company, a position from which we can eradicate hunger and poverty from around the globe. We operate restaurants, factories, and thousands of sushi kiosks and have recently built a successful cut fruit business, Snowfruit. Combining this with the three businesses previously owned by Zensho, AFC, Sushi Circle and Sushi Take, results in annual sales of $2.5b and Ebitda in excess of $140m a year with an ambitious growth trajectory.
The Head of Tax is responsible for leading and managing the organization’s tax function, including tax planning, compliance, and tax risk management. The role involves developing and implementing tax strategies that align with the company’s overall financial goals, ensuring adherence to all relevant tax laws and regulations, and minimizing tax liabilities. The Head of Tax will work closely with the CFO and other senior executives to advise on the tax implications of business decisions and transactions.
• Tax Strategy and Planning:
o Develop and implement tax strategies that align with the Group’s financial goals and business objectives.
o Provide strategic tax advice on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other business transactions.
o Optimize the company’s tax position through effective planning and use of tax-efficient structures.
• Tax Compliance:
o Ensure timely and accurate filing of all tax returns (corporate, income, VAT, sales tax, etc.) and other tax-related documentation.
o Monitor changes in tax legislation and ensure the company’s tax practices remain compliant with local, national, and international tax laws.
o Manage relationships with tax authorities and external auditors.
• Tax Risk Management:
o Identify and manage tax risks, including conducting regular tax risk assessments.
o Implement internal controls and procedures to mitigate tax risks.
o Lead tax audits and manage tax disputes or litigation with tax authorities.
• Leadership and Team Management:
o Develop an in-house tax team, and move away from the current outsourced solution.
o Provide training and development opportunities for finance team members to enhance their skills and knowledge, particularly around tax reporting and provisioning
o Coordinate with other departments (e.g., Legal, Finance, Accounting) to ensure integrated tax planning and compliance.
• Financial Reporting:
o Oversee the preparation of tax-related disclosures in financial statements and ensure accurate reporting of tax liabilities.
o Collaborate with the finance team to integrate tax considerations into the financial planning and analysis process.
• Advisory and Stakeholder Engagement:
o Advise senior management on tax implications of key business decisions and strategic initiatives.
o Engage with external advisors, including tax consultants and legal experts, to support complex tax matters.
o Represent the company in discussions with tax authorities and other regulatory bodies.
Qualifications:
• Experience:
o Minimum of 10 years of experience in tax, with at least 5 years in a senior tax role.
o Strong knowledge of local and international tax laws and regulations.
o Experience in managing tax
