Indirect Tax Product Manager at CQS Technology Holdings

An exciting opportunity to take your passion and experience in VAT to the next level as a Product Manager for our pioneering and innovative ACL tax products.

• Be responsible for the success and roadmap of the current Indirect Tax (mainly VAT at this stage) products we sell on the data analytics platform of ACL.
• Add to and drive the direction of the tax technical points of the products.
• Think of new tests, improvements, bug fixes and new features by obtaining further info from clients and other sources.
• Facilitate Product Advisory Board Meetings with key stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Work closely with engineering/development team when the product is under development for a release.
• Participate in high level product testing.
• Successfully manage internal and external relationships.
• Manage and maximize the working relationships with external tax consultants.
• Support our technical consultants and sales team with subject matter expertise, as well as the provision of training on the tax products and demonstrations.
• Assist with sales meetings as a VAT expert and Product Manager.
• Assist with and management of marketing collateral for the products.
• Continuously develop an understanding of the competitive landscape.
• Maintain and improve personal VAT and indirect tax knowledge and competency.

• Completed three-year tertiary qualification, with a major in tax.
• Three year’s minimum VAT and indirect tax experience through articles at an audit firm or working in the finance or tax team of a company.
• Data analytics or ACL, as well as SAP / similar ERP experience is preferable.

• A good understanding of how tax/finance teams currently handle VAT on a day to day basis.
• The ability to see the potential of using ACL and data analytics to change and better the way the VAT processes and other indirect taxes are done.
• Thorough understanding of the VAT and indirect tax environment.
• Excellent ability to be market-facing, identify market opportunities, and translate these opportunities into new software technology, products, features and similar.
• In-depth, working knowledge of South African accounting and tax principles and legislation specifically for VAT and other indirect tax.
• Ability and vision to take this product internationally.
• Must be IT / technically inclined.
• Enthusiastic and passionate about VAT and indirect tax.
• Passionate about using technology and the automation of processes: someone who challenges inefficient manual processes and is constantly seeking improvements using technology.
• The successful candidate would need to be self-motivated, self-starter and work without direct management.
• Driven, ambitious and confident.
• Thought leader: with having sole ownership of the tax products, the candidate needs to be a natural thought leader in the business by being the go-to person for their tax products and tax knowledge and experience.
• Client facing: this role is not only working on data analytics but requires frequent client interaction to obtain feedback about the products or to attend sales meetings as the tax expert.
• Analytical: the ability to be analytical and dive deep into processes and data is a key ability for this role.
• Team player: although no direct reports for this role, it does require ongoing and various cross-functional team involvement and collaboration.

What will make the incumbent succesful in the role?

An individual with a passion for indirect tax especially VAT and also technologically inclined is the best starting point, but someone with an entrepreneurial attitude who is willing to challenge the norms and actively sees the future of technology in tax will truly succeed in this role.