OECD lines up next transfer pricing chief after Joe Andrus

The OECD has launched the search for the successor to Joe Andrus as head of the transfer pricing unit in its Centre for Tax Policy and Administration (CTPA). Andrus joined the organisation in October 2011 for a two-year period, but is staying on for a little longer. The OECD wants his successor to start in January and take over completely - also for two years, with a possibility of renewal - when he leaves in early summer next year.

The OECD is looking for “a highly qualified and dynamic transfer pricing expert” with the technical expertise and strategic guidance to further develop its policy and administration work in the area. They should have at least eight to 10 years’ experience of transfer pricing, particularly in “ conceptualising and analysing complex issues”, along with an advanced university degree in law, economics, public finance or equivalent qualification, preferably an LLM or equivalent degree in international taxation.

The advertisement states that the unit’s work at this time is mainly related to the BEPS action plan, which came out in July and has a series of deadlines attached to it that fall in 2014 and 2015. The new person will also be required to strengthen the OECD’s work with non-member countries on transfer pricing and contribute to its tax and development agenda and the CTPA’s wider tax work.

The responsibilities of the job, which will pay at least €7,799 a month, free of French income tax, plus allowances based on eligibility, are broken down in to two parts: leadership and management; and representation, communication and liaison. Written and spoken fluency in either French or English, the two official languages of the OECD, and a willingness to learn the other, is required and a knowledge of Spanish is described as an advantage.

Apart from the technical requirements, applicants have to be from one of the 34 countries that are members of the OECD. October 20 is the closing date if you are interested.

Andrus and his predecessor, Caroline Silberztein, both came to the OECD from backgrounds as private practitioners. Is it industry or government’s turn now?