THE ROLE & THE TEAM
Are you an accomplished and visionary tax professional ready to make a significant impact? We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Lead (all genders) to join Zalando's Group Tax Department in Berlin, leading the tax compliance team and taking full ownership of all tax compliance processes in the group, working alongside an international team of experts in direct and indirect taxation.
Reporting directly to the Director of Tax and serving as a key member of the Tax Leadership Team, you will assume end-to-end ownership of tax compliance processes and operations, including vendor management of external advisers. In this role, you will drive process optimisation, tax technology implementation, and automation initiatives within a fast-paced e-commerce environment.
WHAT WE'D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING)
•Take complete ownership of the accurate, complete, and timely fulfillment of all statutory tax reporting obligations across Zalando entities while maintaining robust internal controls.
•Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external stakeholders on all tax compliance topics, effectively managing relationships with external tax advisors and service providers.
•Collaborate closely with the tax advisory team and key business partners to formulate tax policies and seamlessly integrate evolving European tax regulations.
•Lead the operational execution and system implementation for critical initiatives, including ERP enhancements and tax integrations, translating technical advisory requirements into scalable workflows.
•Drive continuous review and enhancement of internal tax systems and operational processes to ensure alignment with industry best practices.
•Optimise, automate, and digitise tax compliance workflows through strong cross-functional collaboration, supporting broader strategic Zalando Group initiatives.
WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF
•Master's degree in Taxation, Law, Economics, Business Administration, or a professional qualification as a certified Tax / VAT adviser.
•Minimum of 10+ years of relevant tax experience within an in-house tax function or international advisory/auditing firm, demonstrating deep practical experience in VAT reporting and direct tax compliance oversight.
•Proven track record of leading complex, large-scale tax projects, including tax technology rollouts, regulatory implementations, and ERP indirect tax integrations.
•Strong proficiency in ERP systems (preferably SAP S/4HANA) and tax reporting tools; practical experience with AMANA GTC is highly advantageous.
•Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage complex workloads autonomously and work effectively as a collaborative team player.
•Fluency in both written and spoken English and German is required.
•Willingness to work on-site at our Berlin office for a minimum of 3 days per week to engage directly with team members and key stakeholders.
OUR OFFER
Zalando provides a range of benefits, here's an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer.
•27 days of holiday a year to start for full-time employees (+1 day for every calendar year up to 30 days)
•40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners
•Family support, including counselling and dedicated services for parents and carers
•Company pension scheme
•Employee shares programme
•Health and wellbeing options, including Wellhub
•Mental health support and coaching
•Development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review
•2 paid volunteering days a year
•Relocation assistance (subject to prior agreement)
About Zalando
Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando is the leading European technology platform for fashion and lifestyle. Connecting 62 million active customers with more than 7,000 brands across 29 markets, our operations are built on a unique AI-powered data and infrastructure platform. For our customers, our multi-app approach - comprising Zalando, ABOUT YOU, and Lounge by Zalando - delivers an inspiring, highly personalized shopping experience, serving different customers with different needs. For our partners, we are building the operating system for e-commerce. Through ZEOS, Tradebyte, and SCAYLE, we open our logistics, software, and service capabilities to brands and retailers, enabling them to seamlessly scale their businesses across borders.
