Global Equity Compensation Tax Lead

Location:

Datchet, Slough

Job ID:

R0112533

Date Posted:

2025-11-17

Company Name:

HITACHI EUROPE LTD.

Profession (Job Category):

Human Resources

Job Schedule: 

Full time

Remote:

No

Job Description:

Our Company

Through its Social Innovation Business that brings together IT, OT(Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries – and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2024 (ended March 31, 2025) totaled 9,783.3 billion yen, with 618 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 280,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at www.hitachi.com.

What you’ll be doing

The successful candidate will report to the head of global equity compensation in Switzerland and support the global equity compensation manager in the UK with all tax matters related to equity plans. We will consider candidates with substantial experience in equity compensation tax compliance obligations globally, including withholding tax and social security requirements, expatriate tax, knowledge of capital gains and dividends tax, and a deep understanding of tax equalization and tax protection policies. The selected candidate will join the Global Equity Compensation team, comprising six members, and be part of Hitachi’s Global Total Rewards (GTR) function that includes approximately 30 people. The Global Equity Compensation team works with several internal functions and external advisors to uphold high tax and legal compliance standards in all countries impacted. Other responsibilities include designing and implementing competitive equity compensation policies, building and maintaining robust governance frameworks and internal controls, and preparing and delivering communications and training for global and senior audiences. Additionally, the team works with internal colleagues and external advisors to ensure the flawless delivery of each equity compensation event using new or existing tools, templates, procedures, and technology solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage tax compliance matters for domestic employees and international global movers (assignees, permanent transfers, business travelers, and project workers) across all companies of the Hitachi Group that will operate equity incentives, especially for the restricted stock units plan (RSU).

• Uphold strong compliance, governance, and internal control standards.

• Develop and update tax policies and procedures to meet tax compliance obligations globally.

• Establish and maintain the tax position paper, identify, and maintain the correct withholding tax and social security positions for domestic employees and global movers.

• Work with external tax advisors to identify and manage withholding tax requirement changes.

• Act as advisor and subject matter expert for equity compensation income tax, social security, and finance and accounting matters.

• Improve system functionalities and interfaces to mitigate tax compliance risk exposure.

• Create and deliver tax training and tax-related communications to equity plan participants.

• Work with tax advisors, HR Operations and payrolls globally to prepare for and deliver the annual share filings in all impacted countries, including, but not limited to, the UK share fillings, Australia annual share filings, China SAFE (including the plans registration where applicable).

• Work with the global equity compensation manager and external tax advisors to manage the RSU grant and vesting process, including monthly leavers and the regular grant and vesting cycles.

• Work with tax advisors, global mobility, and payroll to prepare for and deliver the RSU vesting cycle and tax return season for global movers.

• Oversee the payroll tax funding process with the global equity compensation manager in Japan.

• Prepare tax position simulations and tax cost projections for international assignees and permanent transfers according to business demands.

• Support corporation tax reviews and recharge agreements with Japan Tax and Finance.

• Respond to internal and external tax audits upon request.

• Correspond with the local tax authorities in various countries to clarify technical tax matters if required.

• Manage emerging tax technical topics with internal and external stakeholders, including the implementation of country-specific equity plans with tax advantages if applicable.

• Define the scope and timelines to deliver significant projects.

• Manage the relationship with external tax advisors and group company payrolls.

Project work:

Work will include, but is not limited to, identifying and establishing the tax compliance framework and operational requirements for several equity compensation workstreams, such as global mobility policy design, communication materials, and domestic and expatriate taxation matters. The incumbent may also support the wider global mobility transformation project impacting all group companies

What you bring to the team

We are looking for a team player, who is motivated by delivering great work and the Hitachi vision. Under our hybrid working model, employees can work flexibly depending on business requirements.

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and background:

• Candidates must have eight or more years of experience with the taxation of equity compensation plans in large and complex companies, and with a global geographical scope.

• Strong knowledge of equity compensation policies.

• Deep knowledge of the withholding tax process for domestic employees and global movers, including income sourcing, foreign tax credits, double taxation matters, and tax treatment policies.

• Knowledge of tax compliance and accounting under IFRS.

• Strong experience in working with payrolls, HR operations, and finance matters related to equity plans.

• Previous experience in managing equity compensation tax matters globally is highly desirable.

• In-house experience with equity compensation plans is preferred.

• A relevant professional qualification would be an advantage (CTA, ACA, ICAS, ACCA).

• Candidates must be willing to work on administrative tasks and regularly liaise with several stakeholders from different group companies to ensure the timely implementation of various equity compensation processes and control steps.

• Willing to work flexibly to meet tight deadlines and attend calls during flexible hours across different time zones. Travel to Japan may be required occasionally.

• Collaborative team player with ability to build strong working relationships, strong written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail, able to juggle competing priorities and meet tight deadlines.

Benefits Package

Company Funded Benefits

Along with a market competitive salary and discretionary bonus scheme, employees have the option to work flexibly in line with our hybrid working model and we would be happy to discuss this with you during the hiring process.

• Generous holiday entitlement - with the option to buy up to an additional 5 days per year

• A Holiday Banking scheme allowing you to bank untaken holiday to use another year

• Group Personal Pension

• Private Medical Insurance with self-funded option to cover family members

• Employee Assistance Programme available to all employees

• Personal Accident Insurance

Voluntary Benefits (funded by employee) including;

• Cycle To Work scheme

• Gym Membership

• Dental Insurance with option to include dependent children

• Health screening

• Dining card

Our Values

We are proud to say we are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all applicants for employment without attention to any factor that doesn’t impact your ability to do the job, including race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. We are proud of Japanese heritage, with our values expressed through the Hitachi Spirit:

Wa – Harmony, Trust, Respect

Makoto – Sincerity, Fairness, Honesty, Integrity

Kaitakusha-Seishin – Pioneering Spirit, Challenge