Head of Tax (London)

Side is a global video game development and services provider, providing technical and creative services to many of the largest developers and studios around the world. Founded in Japan in 1994, Side has grown to become a global force in the gaming industry. Our industry-leading services include art production, game development, quality assurance, player support, community management, localization, localization QA, audio production, and data collection. With an international footprint and offices across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia, Side is building a world-class finance and compliance function to support its growth.

Role Overview

Side is seeking a commercially minded and technically strong Head of Tax to lead the Group’s global tax compliance and transfer pricing strategy with a view to minimising the Group’s effective tax rate. This role will be responsible for ensuring robust tax governance across the Group’s international operations, managing external advisors, overseeing transfer pricing strategy and compliance, and mitigating tax risk. Reporting directly to the CFO, the Head of Tax will play a key role in strengthening tax processes, supporting audits, and ensuring the Group operates efficiently and compliantly across multiple jurisdictions. This is a newly created role ideal for an experienced professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can design, implement, and manage a robust international tax function, initially acting as an individual contributor.

Tax Compliance & Reporting

• Oversee all Group corporate tax compliance across jurisdictions.
• Manage the preparation and review of corporate tax returns, provisions, and filings.
• Ensure timely and accurate quarterly and annual tax reporting.
• Maintain oversight of indirect tax (VAT/GST) compliance where applicable.
• Ensure timely and accurate filing of all corporate income tax, VAT/GST, and withholding tax returns across all jurisdictions.
• Work with the D365 systems manager to see how the system can be used to improve compliance and enhance reporting functionality.
• Oversee preparation and review of tax provisions for consolidated financial statements (IFRS/local GAAP).
• Monitor changes in tax legislation and assess impact on the Group.

Transfer Pricing

• Own the Group’s global transfer pricing framework.
• Ensure transfer pricing documentation is prepared and maintained in line with OECD guidelines.
• Oversee intercompany pricing policies and ensure alignment with operational reality.
• Manage external advisors supporting transfer pricing documentation and benchmarking.
• Support defence of transfer pricing positions in audits or enquiries.
• Work with the Treasury Director on efficient financing arrangements for inter-group and intra-group debt and associated interest rates and timing of tax cash payments for cash flow forecasting process.

Tax Risk & Governance

• Develop and maintain appropriate tax governance policies and controls.
• Act as the primary point of contact and build relationships with tax authorities and external advisors.
• Manage tax audits and enquiries.
• Identify and mitigate tax risks across the Group.

Advisory & Business Support

• Provide tax support on commercial initiatives, contracts, and cross-border transactions.
• Serve as the primary tax advisor to executive leadership, our parent company and our business partner with our operating entities.
• Partner closely with the Group Financial Controller on both compliance and strategic initiatives.
• Partner with the broader Finance, Legal, and operational teams to ensure tax implications are understood.
• Support modelling and analysis related to international structuring as required.
• Support entity simplification of Side’s corporate structure, working with the CFO and the finance leadership team.
• Assist CFO with Board-level reporting on tax matters when required.

External Advisor Management

• Manage relationships with local advisors globally.
• Drive cost control and ensure value from external advisory spend.
• Coordinate global compliance calendar across multiple jurisdictions.

Qualifications & Experience

• Qualified tax professional (e.g. CTA, ACA, or equivalent).
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in international corporate tax, ideally including time in an accounting firm and an in-house role in a similar or related industry.
• Strong knowledge of international tax laws and cross-border structuring.
• Demonstrable experience managing tax across multiple jurisdictions (especially UK, the US, and APAC or EU).
• Demonstrate involvement with initiatives to monitor and reduce an international group's effective tax rate.
• Experience with high-growth and public companies is a plus.
• Strong expertise in international corporate tax and transfer pricing.
• Experience managing multi-jurisdictional compliance.
• Experience handling tax audits and authority interactions.
• Comfortable operating in a lean environment with reliance on advisors.

Skills & Attributes

• Commercially pragmatic with strong risk awareness.
• Hands-on and detail-oriented.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Able to communicate tax matters clearly to non-tax stakeholders.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, international business environment.

Benefits

• Hybrid working: 3 days studio based.
• Annual Leave: 26 days per year (plus public holidays).
• Bonus: Eligibility to participate in the company’s discretionary bonus scheme with a target of 20% (% is only covered at offer stage).
• Pension: Company pension contribution (of 3% confirmed at offer stage).
• Dedicated employee wellbeing programme.
• Regular Team socials.
• A supportive community inclusive of LGBTQ+, and any age, ethnicity, religion, or disability.
• Studios based in Kings Cross with onsite amenities including gym, café, onsite bar, transport to and from Kings Cross station.