Fractional International Tax Consultant (VAT)
Remote | Fractional (Approximately 10 Hours per Week)
Overview
Our client is seeking a highly experienced Fractional International Tax Consultant (VAT) to provide specialized expertise in global indirect tax matters, with a critical focus on Swiss VAT. Reporting to the Head of Tax, this consultant will serve as a trusted advisor and hands-on contributor within a lean tax organization, helping navigate complex VAT issues related to pharmaceutical research, drug development, manufacturing, and international operations.
This role requires an individual who can seamlessly shift between strategic advisory work and detailed execution, partnering closely with tax, finance, supply chain, and operational stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary subject matter expert for Swiss VAT and broader international indirect tax matters.
- Advise leadership on VAT implications related to biopharmaceutical research, clinical testing, manufacturing activities, and product development operations.
- Provide technical guidance on VAT registration, compliance, reporting, invoicing, recoverability, and cross-border transactions.
- Assess and improve VAT processes, controls, and documentation across international operations.
- Partner with internal finance, tax, and operational teams to identify VAT risks and planning opportunities.
- Support audits, tax authority inquiries, and compliance reviews related to indirect taxes.
- Review and advise on supply chain, procurement, distribution, and intercompany transaction structures from a VAT perspective.
- Execute day-to-day VAT projects, research, analyses, and compliance activities as needed.
- Develop technical memoranda and practical recommendations for complex international VAT issues.
- Provide mentoring and knowledge transfer to internal tax and finance personnel.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of international indirect tax experience with significant expertise in VAT.
- Deep, demonstrable experience with Swiss VAT across compliance, technical advisory, operational implementation, and planning.
- Experience supporting multinational organizations within:
- Biotechnology
- Pharmaceuticals
- Life Sciences
- Medical Devices
- Manufacturing
- Strong knowledge of European VAT frameworks and cross-border transaction structures.
- Experience advising on VAT implications related to R&D, clinical trials, product development, manufacturing, and distribution activities.
- Ability to operate independently and effectively within a small or understaffed tax department.
- Proven ability to move between executive-level advisory work and hands-on execution.
Preferred Qualifications
- Background serving as Global Tax Director, VAT Director, Head of Tax, or International Indirect Tax Leader.
- Experience supporting Swiss entities, manufacturing operations, and international supply chains.
- Familiarity with ERP environments such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar platforms.
- CPA, Chartered Tax Advisor, MST, JD/LLM Tax, or equivalent tax qualification.
