Tax Senior Associate

Canonical

Join Canonical, a globally respected open-source technology company, as a Tax Senior Associate. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded and forward-thinking tax professional to help shape and build a modern tax function within a profitable, fast-growing international business.

Reporting directly to the CFO, you will play a pivotal role in supporting Canonical’s global growth by designing scalable tax processes, managing compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and helping the business navigate an increasingly complex international tax landscape.

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About Canonical

Canonical is a leading provider of open-source software and operating systems for enterprise and technology markets worldwide. Its flagship platform, Ubuntu, powers innovation across public cloud, AI, data science, IoT, and advanced engineering.

With more than 1,200 colleagues across 75+ countries, Canonical is a pioneer in distributed work. The company is founder-led, profitable, and continuing to grow, with teams coming together in person several times a year to collaborate on strategy and execution in inspiring locations around the world.

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The Opportunity

This role offers the chance to make a real impact by building and enhancing Canonical’s tax capability across a number of international entities. You will be responsible for creating practical, technology-enabled tax processes that support a dynamic global software business.

The ideal candidate will combine strong technical tax expertise with strategic thinking, intellectual curiosity, and an interest in how technology is transforming the tax profession.

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Location

• Remote within the EMEA region, or

• Office-based in London, UK

Canonical has a preference for candidates located within EMEA time zones.

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What You’ll Be Doing

• Manage global tax compliance

• Oversee the preparation, coordination, and review of corporate tax, VAT, and other relevant tax filings

• Ensure all returns are submitted accurately and on time across multiple jurisdictions

• Support transfer pricing and tax planning

• Partner with external advisers to develop transfer pricing documentation

• Contribute to tax planning strategies and lead implementation initiatives

• Lead on tax authority interactions

• Act as a primary contact for tax audits, reviews, and enquiries

• Prepare responses and supporting documentation with external advisors as needed

• Build smarter tax processes

• Identify opportunities to improve tax controls, workflows, and data quality

• Leverage technology and automation to improve efficiency and accuracy

• Own tax provisioning and reporting

• Manage tax provisioning under IFRS

• Calculate effective tax rates and prepare tax disclosures for financial reporting

• Collaborate across the business

• Work closely with finance, legal, and operational teams to provide practical tax support

• Ensure tax considerations are integrated into wider business decisions

• Track legislative developments

• Monitor tax law changes across relevant regions

• Assess potential impacts on Canonical and recommend appropriate actions

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What We’re Looking For

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Outstanding academic performance from both high school and university

• Undergraduate degree in:

• Business

• Finance

• Economics

• Technology

• Or another quantitative discipline

• Fully qualified:

• Accountant: ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent

• Tax professional: CTA, ADIT or equivalent

• 3–5 years of relevant tax experience, ideally from:

• A Big 4 / Top 10 accounting firm, or

• A multinational in-house tax team

• Exposure to international tax matters in a multinational environment

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strong strategic thinking and intellectual capability

• Confidence to contribute ideas, challenge constructively, and communicate clearly

• Ability to explain complex tax topics to non-tax stakeholders

• Excellent written and spoken English

• Strong presentation and interpersonal skills

• High level of accountability, curiosity, and flexibility

• Self-motivated, thoughtful, and results-driven

• A consistent track record of exceeding expectations

• Willingness to travel internationally twice per year for company events of up to two weeks

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Nice to Have

• Leadership capability

• Experience in the software or technology sector

• Exposure to public company finance and reporting

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Why Join Canonical?

Canonical offers the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of open source and global technology. You’ll join a company that values excellence, independence, collaboration, and innovation—while giving you the freedom to work in a distributed environment with talented colleagues from around the world.

What’s on Offer

• Distributed work environment

• Twice-yearly in-person team sprints

• Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year

• Annual compensation review

• Performance-driven annual bonus or commission

• Recognition rewards

• Annual holiday leave

• Maternity and paternity leave

• Team Member Assistance Program

• Wellness Platform

• Opportunities to travel and meet colleagues globally

• Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long-haul company events

Compensation is shaped by a combination of geographical location, experience, and performance, with regular reviews to ensure fairness and recognition of outstanding contribution.

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A Career at the Forefront of Open Source

As the company behind Ubuntu, Canonical is helping drive the future of AI, cloud computing, IoT, and enterprise software. Working here means being part of a high-performing global team that embraces innovation, challenges conventional thinking, and continuously raises the bar.

If you are an ambitious tax professional who wants to combine technical excellence with strategic influence in a truly international technology business, this could be the ideal next step.

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Equal Opportunity at Canonical

Canonical is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a workplace free from discrimination. We believe that diversity of background, perspective, and experience strengthens our teams and leads to better outcomes for our people and products.

Whatever your identity or background, your application will be considered fairly and thoughtfully.