Senior Manager, Direct Tax

Benefits

• Salary up to 86,000 GBP depending on skills and experience
• Eligible for participation in the company’s annual bonus plan
• Eligible for participation in the company’s Long Term Incentive program, subject to plan rules
• Car Allowance
• Family cover healthcare
• Attractive contributory pension scheme
• Hybrid working, 50% home / 50% office, giving you flexibility and balance
• 26 days holiday, plus bank holidays, plus festive shutdown
• Career and qualifications support, we invest in your growth
• Modern office with a range of on‑site benefits, including on‑site parking

As Senior Manager, Direct Tax, you’ll sit at the heart of our UK-based Europe Tax Centre of Expertise (Europe Tax CoE), working closely with senior finance and business leaders, shaping compliance strategy, and making a real difference to how BMS navigates a complex international tax landscape. With a primary focus on Germany, you’ll own meaningful, high‑profile work while developing deep cross‑border expertise that sets you apart in your field.

If you’re a tax professional ready to step into a role where your expertise genuinely influences business decisions across one of the world’s leading biopharma companies, this is the opportunity for you.

• Lead tax audits strategically in close collaboration with local finance teams and BMS’s corporate tax function - setting the audit plan, managing information flows, aligning stakeholders, and driving issues through to resolution.
• Drive risk management at a senior level by acting as the German Tax Compliance Management System Officer. You’ll build and maintain a risk register, drawing on input from payroll and indirect tax colleagues, and present your findings directly to the Finance Director and General Manager each quarter.
• Own end‑to‑end tax compliance for Germany (and select European markets), leading the planning and execution of local tax requirements. You won’t just be filing returns - you’ll be managing internal and external resources to ensure everything is accurate, timely, and strategically sound.
• Influence global tax strategy by supporting US GAAP provision, projection and contingency reporting, contributing to transfer pricing documentation, and aligning global tax requirements with local German regulations - connecting the dots between jurisdictions in a way that's both compliant and commercially smart.
• Be a trusted business partner - advising the Head of Finance in local markets, proactively educating colleagues on legislative changes, and providing practical tax support on operational issues as they arise. You’ll build relationships across tax, finance, legal, treasury, HR, customs, and external advisers.
• Leverage technology to create smarter, more efficient calculations that support tax returns and provisions - helping to modernise how the team works.
• Lead, develop and inspire the team - you’ll coach junior colleagues, encourage every voice to be heard, and foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous development.
• Manage budgets with strategic foresight - planning internal resourcing, maximising knowledge retention in‑house, and ensuring external adviser spend is well‑planned and transparent.

• A relevant degree or chartered tax advisor qualification
• Solid professional experience in a large corporate tax environment (in‑house or advisory)
• Experience working within a global or regional tax team
• A track record of managing and developing people
• Strong knowledge of accounting provisions, audit requirements, and financial statement disclosures
• Familiarity with US GAAP is an advantage
• The ability to balance big‑picture thinking with sharp attention to detail
• Comfort navigating ambiguity, competing priorities, and cross‑border complexities
• A collaborative, inclusive leadership style, someone who actively brings quieter voices into the conversation
• German language skills are helpful but not essential
• Experience working on Germany‑related tax matters (in‑house, advisory, or with German entities) is helpful but not essential.

BMS has an occupancy structure…