Counsel, Tax & Mergers and Acquisitions Lead

OVERVIEW

In the Senior Tax Counsel and M&A Lead role, you will navigate the complexity of a variety of tax rules as they relate to General Mills' legal entity structure including partnerships. You will provide internal counsel with respect to tax-specific matters to the corporation, including setting of tax function policies, providing guidance and insight for legal documentation and litigation across all aspects of General Mills' activities (e.g., U.S. federal, state, local and global direct and indirect). You will also lead and manage all merger, acquisition, divestiture, and joint venture activities in the 100+ jurisdictions in which General Mills operates.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Provide internal counsel with respect to tax-specific matters to the corporation, including setting of tax function policies, providing guidance and insight for legal documentation and litigation across all aspects of General Mills' activities (e.g., U.S. federal, state, local and global direct and indirect)
• Provide legal support for audits, manage risks and compliance from a legal perspective
• Remain current on tax regulatory and compliance developments, tax law changes, and interpret complex legislative and regulatory actions relating to transactions
• Lead and manage all tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, and joint venture activities in close coordination with corporate development, strategy teams, and other tax directors/senior managers
• Lead and manage tax due diligence for transactions, including contract review
• Lead and supervise financial analysis to assess the tax consequences of specific transactions
• Assess and manage tax risk and opportunities for transactions
• Responsible for development of, and participation in, internal finance council (cross-functional team) and responsible for reviewing and advising on intercompany transactions
• Lead and manage Tax Counsel and M&A team
• Collaborate with director/senior manager peers to show leadership to the tax team and collectively help drive team initiatives
• Manage and supervise the work of external vendors that assist in tax legal and M&A work
• Collaborate with corporate development and/or strategy teams as well as other functional and business teams regarding all transactional activities
• Closely collaborate with other tax teams, functional teams, global and regional business units, and sector teams when appropriate
• Interact with external parties such as auditors, consultants, and tax compliance advisors

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in tax, accounting, finance, economics, or related fields, JD required
• 5 - 8 years minimum of combined tax counsel and/or M&A experience
• Strong stakeholder management skills with ability to communicate complex tax technical topics to non-tax stakeholders, as well as work effectively with external accountants, attorneys, and tax auditors
• Strong project management and communication skills
• Ability to risk assess in an ambiguous environment
• Ability to use own judgment and initiative in problem resolution
• Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced environment
• Experience leading the tax workstream of transactions
• Proficient in Excel and Microsoft Office

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in tax, accounting, finance, economics, or related fields
• 8 + years tax counsel and/or M&A experience with 3+ years of direct management experience
• Experience in consumer foods industry preferred

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one other and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what's next.