Senior Tax Manager UK, Europe and South Africa

Finance

Job Family Group

Tax Group

Job Description

Our purpose is to deliver energy to the world, today and tomorrow. For over 100 years, bp has focused on discovering, developing, and producing oil and gas in the nations where we operate. We are one of the few companies globally that can provide governments and customers with an integrated energy offering. Delivering our strategy sustainably is fundamental to achieving our ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner.

Join us as Senior Tax Manager UK, Europe and South Africa!

About the team and role

The UK, Europe and South Africa tax team is responsible for providing expert tax advice and support across all businesses, taxes and countries within this geographical region. This team will act as the primary holder of relationships with fiscal authorities and business leaders, driving effective tax risk management. They will have accountability for managing non-routine or contentious tax audits and disputes within the region.

Within tax, the team will work closely with cross-functional teams to provide local tax knowledge and insight.

Reporting to the VP UK, Europe & South Africa, you will be a key contributor within a regional team of tax professionals providing mainly direct tax expertise across the team’s activities. The role also serves as bp Southern Africa’s Public Officer.

The Johannesburg-based role includes working with a broad network of multidisciplinary experts across bp to understand the business transactions with a view to providing commercially insightful tax advice.

In this role, you will

• Serve as the senior tax advisor to bp’s businesses in South Africa, providing strategic tax leadership on business tax compliance, growth, restructurings, acquisitions, divestments, financing arrangements, and other complex commercial initiatives.
• Provide tax advice to all bp’s commercial operations across Southern Africa, UK and Europe (but also across the globe when required) related to all kinds of Tax matters and with support from specialist teams, e.g. Customs & Excise, VAT, Transfer Pricing etc.
• Develop and maintain relationships with leadership of the regional businesses to understand commercial plans and adapt tax advice in support of their delivery.
• Work with bpTax Leadership to manage tax risk. Continuously identify tax planning initiatives in line with bp’s ethical framework and help facilitate decision making on implementation.
• Work with the Tax Operations and Transfer Pricing team to support timely and accurate filings. Provide tax compliance support when required to meet bp’s regulatory requirements.
• Manage design, documentation and monitoring of direct tax compliance processes in close cooperation with other parts of the Tax and Finance function and support the Tax Reporting team managing direct tax related reporting.
• Provide tax policy advice and advocacy strategy on South African tax policy matters in support of the Tax Policy team and implement said strategy when required.
• Work with Governments and relevant tax authorities to resolve tax disputes.
• Work fluently with bp’s data and digital tools – continuously improve the use of data and data analytics for the advisory and compliance work.

As a Senior Level Leader within bp, you will

• Provide visible leadership in navigating an increasingly complex and highly scrutinized tax environment.
• Influence executive decision-making through sound judgment, strategic thinking, and deep commercial acumen.
• Build strong internal relationships and understand the needs and goals of the team,
• Balance business growth objectives with governance, compliance and reputational considerations.
• Drive a culture of accountability, innovation, continuous improvement and ethical decision-making in service od bp’s strategic direction.
• Champion digital transformation and the adoption of emerging technologies, including AI, to enhance tax capability and business value.
• Develop future leaders while building organisational capability and succession strength.

Essential experience and qualifications

• Educated to degree level with a relevant professional qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CTA, or equivalent).
• 15+ years of relevant experience in multinational tax advisory, tax governance, controversy management/dispute resolution or strategic tax leadership roles.
• Deep expertise across corporate income tax, indirect taxes, transfer pricing, OECD guidelines, international tax and tax risk management..
• Extensive experience in tax planning and advisory in a global or multinational environment.
• Experience in direct tax and income tax.
• Deep technical knowledge of transfer pricing regulations, OECD guidelines, and international tax principles.
• Fluency in English.
• Strong business sense and sound judgement in taking risk-based decisions.
• Proven experience in managing complex audits, disputes, assessments and engagements with tax authorities.
• Ability to understand business operations and their tax impact, enabling business teams to make informed decisions that drive profitability and efficiency.
• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Adaptability and resilience, with a willingness to embrace and lead change.
• Experience in leading technology-enabled tax transformation and data-driven decision-making initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams, manage complex projects and stakeholder environments as well.
• Ability to harness technology and digital solutions including AI.

We support our people to learn and grow in a diverse and challenging environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to crafting an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected and treated fairly.

Travel Requirement

Up to 10% travel should be expected with this role

Relocation Assistance

This role is not eligible for relocation

Remote Type

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working

Skills

Commercial Acumen, Communication, Decision Making, Digital Fluency, Direct Tax, Empowering Others, Income Taxes, Influencing, Leadership, Local Taxes, Managing tax dispute resolution and controversies, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking, Strategy, Tax advisory, Tax Compliance, Tax Planning, Tax Policy, Tax Reporting, Tax Risk Management, Tax Strategies

Legal Disclaimer

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us .

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.