Global VAT Compliance Manager

Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

The Global VAT Compliance Manager will lead a team of indirect tax professionals and oversee 70 jurisdictions across the world. This role is responsible for ensuring global VAT compliance, delivering strategic VAT guidance on complex projects—particularly within the EAME region—and fostering collaboration between various internal business partners such as EAME logistics, project management, Global Trade Compliance and Caterpillar Global Indirect Tax. The ideal candidate will possess technical VAT knowledge, strong leadership capabilities, and a business-oriented mindset to support operational excellence and mitigate tax risk.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership and Operational Oversight

• Lead and manage the indirect tax teams located in Prague, Czech Republic, and Tijuana, Mexico, promoting a high-performance culture and ensuring timely, accurate VAT filings.
• Ensure direct and indirect reports understand relevant regulations, processes and communication protocols.
• Oversee EC Sales lists, Intrastat declarations and other VAT-related filings.
• Maintain and evaluate internal controls and the VAT Control Framework to minimize VAT risk.
• Liaise with tax authorities and CAT Global Indirect Tax during audits and inquiries
• Oversee VAT configuration and maintenance within ERP systems.
• Review general ledger account reconciliations related to indirect tax activity.

Strategic VAT Support & Cross Functional Collaboration

• Provide VAT guidance to EAME project management teams on complex cross-border transactions, ensuring VAT-efficient supply chain, customer and logistic structures.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration between EAME logistics, Project Management and Caterpillar Global Indirect Tax, to align on VAT strategy and compliance.
• Act as a strategic liaison between business units and Caterpillar Global Indirect Tax translating complex VAT issues into actionable business insights for non-tax stakeholders.
• Represent the VAT function in cross-functional meetings and strategic initiatives.
• Monitor changes in VAT legislation and assess their impact on business operations.
• Support e-invoicing and B2G initiatives in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Skills:

• Strategic Thinking: Knowledge of effective planning techniques and ability to contribute to operational (short term), tactical (1-2 years) and strategic (3-5 years) planning in support of the overall business plan.
• Tax Operations: Knowledge of tax laws, organizational tax practices, obligations; ability to manage organization tax related issues.
• Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
• Judgment and Decision Making: Knowledge of the decision-making process; ability to carefully evaluate the impact of emerging business situations and choose the best path forward communicating actions and activities that maximize organizational performance.
• Managing People: Knowledge of processes involved in managing people; ability to lead successful teams and diligently address issues related to performance and conflicts at the workplace.
• Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

Qualifications:

• Business Related Degree or equivalent experience required.
• Professional certification is preferred.
• Experience in international VAT.
• Candidate must demonstrate a strong process-oriented mindset, with a focus on driving consistency across the globe.

Additional Information:

• This position is open to EAME locations where employees are expected to come into a Caterpillar or Solar office 5 days per week. 
• This position may require 10% travel.
• Visa Sponsorship is not offered for this position.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.