Tax Accountant (Zeirishi) - Japan

GoGlobal is establishing an in-house tax capability in Japan. With a growing client base and existing outsourced providers at capacity, bringing this work in-house will improve service quality, continuity and economics. This role establishes and operates that capability.

This is a combined accounting and tax role rather than a tax-only position. The postholder prepares, reviews and — as a licensed Zeirishi — signs and seals Japanese tax returns, and also delivers bookkeeping, period-end closes and management accounts, providing practical advisory support to clients. Tax work is integrated with wider accounting delivery, not carried out in isolation.

Two positions are available, at Senior and Junior level, to provide cover, resilience and a route for progression, and to avoid a single point of failure. Together the postholders will establish and operate a Zeirishi Houjin (tax accountant corporation) under GoGlobal, reporting within the GoGlobal structure and locally to the Japan Country Lead.

The role is stable and compliance-focused and is suited to a technically strong professional who values accurate, on-time recurring delivery and the position of trusted local expert.

Roles & Responsibilities

Tax Compliance and Filing

• Prepare, review, seal and submit statutory Japanese tax filings for a portfolio of corporate clients, including corporate income tax, local inhabitant and enterprise taxes, and consumption tax.

• Manage the filing calendar and ensure clients remain fully compliant with all statutory deadlines, including February consumption tax and March corporate/local tax filings.

• Liaise with the National Tax Agency and local tax offices, and respond to inquiries, audits and notices on behalf of clients.

Accounting Delivery

• Deliver / Review monthly and annual accounting services for the same client portfolio, including bookkeeping, closing, and preparation of financial statements.

• Provide tax and accounting advisory support to foreign-headquartered clients entering or expanding in Japan, working alongside business development and client management colleagues.

• Work as an integrated member of the Accounting & Tax team, supporting accounting engagements beyond pure tax work and sharing knowledge across the delivery organization.

Team & Practice Development

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of internal processes, templates and quality controls as the in-house practice scales.

• (Senior level) Supervise and develop the Junior Tax Accountant and team, act as the primary reviewer and signatory for filings, and serve as the escalation point for complex client matters.

• (Junior level) Support preparation of returns and accounting deliverables under the supervision of the Senior Tax Accountant, with a defined path for professional progression.

Key Performance Indicators

• Tax returns filed accurately and on time, with no missed statutory deadlines.

• Monthly close and management accounts delivered on time and accurately.

• Successful transition of clients from outsourced providers to in-house delivery.

• Client satisfaction across tax and accounting delivery.

• Procedures documented and continuity maintained across the team.

•     Licensed Japanese tax accountant (zeirishi) or Japanese CPA, qualified to seal and submit tax returns in Japan. Audit rights are not required for this role.

•     Native Japanese; intermediate English (strong written English is sufficient).

•     Solid working knowledge of both Japanese tax compliance and general accounting; willingness to work across both disciplines is essential.

•     Experience in a professional services, corporate services or accounting firm environment — ideally from the Big 4 — serving multiple clients, including foreign-headquartered companies operating in Japan.

•     Organized, deadline-driven and comfortable managing a multi-client filing calendar.

•     A team player: this role is designed around collaboration with the wider accounting and delivery organization, not a standalone tax silo.

•     (Senior level) Substantial post-qualification experience, including review responsibility and staff supervision — for example at manager or senior manager level in an accounting or tax firm.

•     (Junior level) Qualification obtained or in final stages, with some practical compliance experience and strong motivation to develop under senior mentorship.

As a privately owned company, we are free from the pressures of venture capital or private equity investors demanding exponential growth in unreasonable time frames.

Sometimes, things just take time to do well. In our business, delivering great results is a process - and we're committed to doing it right.

We are not for sale. We believe that financial success is a natural outcome of our work, not the primary goal. Unlike many investors who view money as a goal, our focus is on long-term growth and sustainable success.

We are a global team, built for those who want to go further. Here's what your career at GoGlobal looks like:

A company small enough for your voice to be heard meaningfully, yet large enough to make a global impact

Collaborating with a diverse, global and supportive team

Built for the long-haul - no VC or PE pressure, just a focus on sustainable growth

WHY WE ARE DIFFERENT

We Make Growing Your Career Possible

• We operate with the benefits of a partnership without the complexities of a partnership. Our hybrid partnership-corporate model offers all employees the opportunity to become a partner, while maintaining a streamlined corporate structure so that decisions are made quickly.
• We do not offer equity plans. As we are not for sale and are not chasing an exit, "stock options" hold little value in our business model. Instead, we provide opportunities for outstanding employees to make partner and share in the profits. We believe it's better to build lasting value than to chase a one-time payout.
• We prioritize organic and sustainable growth. Expanding operations quickly by way of mergers and acquisitions might seem appealing, but the reality is integrating diverse cultures can be challenging. We're proud of our own culture and prefer to grow it our way.
• We're global. We offer career opportunities across the world-whether it's new job roles or international locations
• English is our official language, but for many, it's our second language. We embrace this and find it rewarding communicating with colleagues from all over the world.
• We are not a family. We operate more like a high-performing sports team where each individual's contribution is crucial to our collective success.
• We keep things simple and collaborative. Our structure makes it easy for teams to work together across borders so we can serve our clients with global needs more effectively. Unlike big, siloed companies, we work seamlessly to handle international deals without the headaches of territorial ownership.
• We believe in transparency and trust. Every month, we share our financials with the team so everyone knows where we stand and what's coming next. It's all about open communication, building trust and empowering every individual to be part of our journey. We don't tell you what to think - we provide the information you need to make your own informed decisions.
• We believe flexibility drives success. Our company is built on trust, and that's why we embrace fully remote work, and hybrid options in some countries. Forget rigid office routines - it's old school! This flexibility fuels productivity, strengthens our workforce, and ensures we remain agile in a fast-changing world.

Ready to take the next step in your career with us? Apply now!

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