Senior Principal, Tax Controversy in London

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

The Tax Controversy team is responsible for developing and implementing Airbnb’s global audit strategy, including determining a vision for global tax disputes and coordinating and leading responses with tax authorities worldwide. The tax controversy team collaborates across all areas of the tax group, legal, and policy in responding to audit and tax litigation issues involving Airbnb’s direct and indirect taxes. This role allows a candidate to be immersed in a variety of tax issues and high profile tax disputes, and will work with the Airbnb Tax Controversy and Dublin Tax teams, outside advisors, and across departments at Airbnb to respond to global tax authorities and support the company’s return positions with a focus on EMEA issues.

You will be responsible for helping the Tax Controversy team deliver superior tax audit and litigation results with a focus on EMEA. This includes managing tax disputes by preparing responses to tax authority requests, mastering the company’s facts, preparing for and participating in regular meetings with tax authorities, and helping develop the audit and tax litigation strategies. You will also be responsible for working cross functionally to ensure the business is updated and aware of audit risks and business concerns, and working across all groups of the Tax team to help strengthen our tax positions as they are being considered.

A typical day includes supporting the Tax Controversy team’s management of tax audits and litigation by coordinating across all groups of the Tax team, outside advisors, and other internal stakeholders including Legal and Policy. You will co-lead significant EMEA tax litigation cases (including local administrative appeals, litigation before EMEA tax authorities and courts), overseeing discovery, formulating legal strategies, and managing key case milestones. You will act as the point of contact for EMEA-based external counsel, government officials, and regulators in ongoing tax disputes. You will advise on jurisdiction-specific litigation risks, privilege issues, and compliance in the EMEA tax environment. Collaborating with US, EMEA, and global tax, legal, and policy teams to ensure consistent messaging and strategic alignment across regions will be essential. You will analyze and make recommendations about the trade offs and implications of various audit strategies, dispute resolution forums, tax administration procedures, litigation postures, tax risks, and business goals. Additionally, you will prepare responses to tax authorities' information requests by compiling data, researching company facts, and understanding technical tax issues.

Your expertise should include a law degree and 10+ years of experience with a focus on tax audits and litigation, experience in leading tax audits and tax litigation, and excellent English skills. Proficiency in French, Italian and/or Spanish is preferred. A robust understanding of the tax litigation processes and other tax resolutions processes across key EMEA jurisdictions is necessary, along with a strong foundation in tax and the ability to quickly learn new and complex tax issues. Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail are required to prepare accurate and persuasive responses to tax authorities. You should demonstrate the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage competing deadlines for numerous tax controversy matters across multiple jurisdictions in all levels of audit, administrative appeal, and litigation. Expertise with corporate tax issues common to EMEA disputes, including transfer pricing, data production, withholding tax, and VAT issues is also important.

Airbnb is committed to working with the broadest talent pool possible. We believe diverse ideas foster innovation and engagement, and allow us to attract creatively-led people, and to develop the best products, services and solutions. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.