Director, SEA Tax

About the role

Applied Materials is hiring a Director, SEA Tax in Singapore, a senior leadership role overseeing all tax matters across Southeast Asia in line with the global tax strategy. The role suits someone comfortable working at a strategic level and also diving into detailed data, processes and technical issues, and includes direct people leadership responsibility.

Key responsibilities

• Lead regional tax across direct tax, indirect tax, withholding tax, transfer pricing and cross-border matters, translating global strategy into regional execution and advising on emerging risks and regulatory developments.
• Oversee end-to-end tax compliance (CIT, GST/VAT, withholding tax, transfer pricing, incentive reporting), including detailed reviews of workpapers, Excel calculations and reconciliations, and timely quarterly and annual tax deliverables.
• Own SOX tax controls, including design, execution, documentation and audit readiness, and maintain governance over tax data quality and controls.
• Lead tax audits, assessments, rulings and appeals, and build audit defense strategies with external advisors.
• Partner with the Global Transfer Pricing team on policy, intercompany agreements and documentation, and evaluate tax implications of business model changes and supply-chain restructuring.
• Oversee tax incentive strategy and governance, including applications and compliance with conditions.
• Act as a tax advisor to business, finance, legal and operations leaders, and embed tax considerations in M&A, reorganizations, cross-border structuring and system implementations.
• Improve tax processes, systems and data flows, driving simplification, standardization and automation, including ERP and tax reporting tool improvements.
• Manage and develop the team, set priorities and performance expectations, coach and mentor, and build a high-performing team with strong succession and retention.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Tax, Finance or a related field.
• 18+ years of progressive tax experience, ideally combining Big 4 and in-house roles.
• Solid tax accounting and SOX/internal controls experience.
• Experience in manufacturing, technology or supply-chain-intensive multinational environments.
• Prior exposure to tax incentives or large ERP implementations.
• Proven leadership of multi-country tax matters and teams.
• Able to move between executive discussions and detailed technical work.