Strategic Accountant

Directorate-General for Tax Administration (DGBD)

The Tax and Customs Administration is undergoing significant changes. In early 2020, it was decided that the Benefits and Customs divisions would be separated from the Tax and Customs Administration. This will help strengthen the management of the Tax and Customs Administration, Benefits, and Customs so that necessary improvements can be implemented more quickly and effectively. The Tax and Customs Administration currently has over 33,000 employees. Once Customs and Benefits are separated, this number will be approximately 26,000.

Other key developments include modernizing interactions with citizens and businesses, implementing customized services—in addition to mass-scale processes—and professionalizing information-based oversight. The influence of political, media, and social dynamics has also increased significantly for the Directorate-General for Taxation.

Learn more about the Tax and Customs Administration:

https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/nl/home/home

The Large Enterprises Division

The Large Enterprises Directorate (GO) is responsible for handling approximately 9,000 of the largest companies, nonprofit organizations, and high-net-worth individuals. The GO Directorate is divided into five regions, each of which may have multiple offices. These regions are managed by regional directors.

In addition, the management team comprises three units that operate nationwide: Collection, International, and National Supervision & Economic Enforcement, each of which is led by a unit director.

In 2021, GO’s management translated its vision into the updated Implementation and Supervision Strategy. This strategy is set out in the GO Supervision Guidelines. The strategy focuses on maintaining or positively influencing the compliance of GO’s clients through individualized client management.

The companies and organizations handled by the Large Enterprises Division are characterized by significant economic and tax interests, complex structures, and high-quality intermediary support. These companies and organizations are key providers of financial and nominal information for other target groups.

The departure of experienced employees in recent years means that ensuring the continuity of processes and preserving knowledge will require special attention in the coming years. In addition, it is important to provide effective guidance to new employees and to the colleagues who train them.

Our employees take pride in their craftsmanship; they are aware that their work takes place within a political context and can have a significant impact.

GO operates in five regions and also has units that operate nationwide, namely Collection, International, and National Supervision & Economic Enforcement. Together, they have a total of over 2,900 employees.

What does the job entail?

The GO S15 strategic accountant plays a key role in helping the GO management team achieve its objectives. The position is characterized by the complexity and diversity of its responsibilities. The strategic accountant is an authority in his or her field or area of expertise and bridges the gap between management and technical expertise by making contributions that have an impact across the entire management team or the Tax and Customs Administration.

Given the increasing complexity of tax legislation and the speed with which it must be implemented and applied, it is important that the GO management team includes roles in which the respective employee is an authority in their field or specialty. Someone who is regarded by peers as a leader among equals. Someone who is aware of recent developments and trends in their field, communicates these effectively, and inspires and mentors colleagues.

What kind of person are we looking for?

You are an authority in the field of accountancy, both in terms of current legislation and future developments. You can apply your knowledge to client service as it is structured within GO. You keep colleagues informed of (international) developments in your field and serve as a sounding board and source of inspiration for fellow accountants, corporate tax specialists, client coordinators, team leaders, and others.

You have your own vision for the future of your field or specialty, you articulate a clear perspective on this, and you connect it to other fields.

You are actively involved at the national level in current issues within your field, including the further development of horizontal oversight, as well as digitization and the use of new tools. You also identify key political, administrative, and societal developments for senior management, translate these into your field of expertise, and keep other stakeholders informed.

You will work on cross-case issues and be available for assignments nationwide. This may involve a wide range of tasks related to implementation, policy, and legislation, and may be initiated by the GO management team or other departments. In this role, you will serve as a key link between individual client service, tax expertise, and management.

This involves making a key contribution to strategic and/or sensitive (fundamental) issues with social and/or political-administrative relevance, in which you are able to provide guidance and advice to stakeholders in developing and achieving strategic (oversight) objectives.

In addition to the above, you will also play an active role in handling a number of politically sensitive and tax-related complex (domestic and international) cases. You are capable of analyzing complex cases and risks, thereby ensuring these complex cases are handled appropriately. You possess strong professional expertise, and other accountants/tax specialists and senior accountants/senior tax specialists are eager to draw on your knowledge, skills, and guidance in their work. As a result, your knowledge and skills make you a valuable asset nationwide.

Specifically for this position:

• You are registered as a certified public accountant in the NBA registry (and therefore possess the required university-level academic and intellectual ability);
• You have at least 7 years of recent and relevant work experience as a certified public accountant and are an authority in your field;
• You have experience with politically sensitive and tax-related complex (domestic and international) cases, handling senior executive positions and complex transfer pricing issues, and you have the network to step in quickly
• In addition to your knowledge and experience in the field of accounting, you have a solid understanding of and experience with corporate income tax, enabling you to collaborate quickly and easily with colleagues in the corporate income tax department on cases involving, for example, complex transfer pricing issues;
• It is an advantage if you have gained knowledge and experience in various settings, such as implementation, knowledge groups/coordination groups, policy-related areas, etc.;
• Experience with the concept of personalized customer service is a plus;
• Experience in managing a team of professionals is a plus.
• It is an advantage if you have completed a strategic development program.

Skills

• Forming an opinion
  
• Vision
  
• Environmental awareness
  
• Planning and organizing
  
• Customer focus
  

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a good sense of the political dynamics and administrative context of issues,
  
• Moves easily within networks, acts as a connector, and draws on the knowledge and expertise of their relevant professional circle,
  
• Is well-informed about international and social developments, weighs relevant criteria against one another, and thereby arrives at well-founded assessments,
  
• Takes responsibility for what he or she stands for,
  
• Sets a good example and expects others to do the same,
  
• takes the lead and can get others on board,
  
• Possesses above-average empathy,
  
• Is approachable and open to feedback,
  
• Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills (fluent in spoken and written English),
  
• Is demonstrably mobile and flexible, and is willing to work in different locations as needed.
  

Talent as a foundation, diversity as a strength

We want everyone to feel at home at the Tax and Customs Administration and to be able to reach their full potential. After all, working together to ensure a financially healthy Netherlands is what we stand for. We do this by drawing on a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and insights, because we believe this enhances our collective thinking. Everyone is welcome. With your unique contribution, we can better meet the needs of our society.

For this position, the Large Enterprises Division is specifically seeking candidates who will enhance diversity within the division.

Terms of Employment

• Pay Grade 15
  
• Monthly salary: Min. €5,810 – Max. €8,163 (gross)
  
• Employment Status: Permanent Employment Contract
  
• Minimum number of hours per week: 32
  
• Maximum number of hours per week: 36
  
• Location: Breda, Eindhoven, or Maastricht
  

Other terms and conditions of employment

In addition to your salary, you will receive an Individual Choice Budget (ICB). The ICB consists of money (16.37% of your gross annual salary) and time. With the ICB, you can make choices that suit you and customize part of your employment benefits. For example, you can choose to have a portion of your monthly income paid out whenever you wish. You can also convert this budget into leave and vice versa, or spend it on tax-friendly purposes. The Dutch government is strongly committed to personal growth and career development and offers numerous opportunities for this. Secondary employment conditions include various study facilities, company fitness programs, full reimbursement of your public transportation costs for commuting, and partially paid parental leave.

Comment

We look forward to receiving your response by April 2, 2023. Please email your cover letter and current resume, citing the job reference number DGBD/GO-……, to the following email address:vacatures-MD@minfin.nl

Job Description

For more information, please contact the following people:

About the job opening:

Niels Smetsers, Deputy General Manager, Large Enterprises, Phone: 06 5248 5517,
E:nat.smetsers@belastingdienst.nl

About the application process:

Iris Huisman, MD Advisor, Dutch Tax and Customs Administration, Phone: 06 50185553

E: i.huisman@minfin.nl

A (development) assessment and a discussion to gauge support are part of the process. References may also be requested.