Job Title: Senior VAT Manager
Role Purpose
The Senior VAT Manager is a key senior position within the tax function. Reporting into the Head of Tax, you will be responsible for managing all aspects of the indirect tax agenda (the role is principally a VAT one but does involve assessing the applicability/impact of other indirect taxes). This will require:
Devising and implementing a suitable indirect tax strategy which accords with the commercial context and wider tax strategy;
Leading and developing others in the indirect tax team and fostering a collaborative, team-centric culture within the business' complex commercial environment;
Delivery of high-quality technical advice on a pro-active and timely basis - this will be especially relevant in relation to multiple high-profile commercial projects and property transactions;
Accountable for meeting all external indirect tax reporting obligations, being compliant with all applicable indirect tax legislation, and process improvements being regularly considered and implemented;
Identifying appropriate indirect tax opportunities and anticipating and planning for future commercial and legislative changes in indirect tax;
Partnering with key stakeholders to ensure visibility and comprehension of indirect tax issues;
Maintaining robust internal policies, processes and controls particularly with respect to certain regimes (e.g. SAO, BRR, CCO);
Ensuring business-as-usual operations are running effectively and efficiently from an Indirect tax perspective.
Principal Accountabilities
Provision of advice/technical input into various commercial projects, property transactions, systems implementations, business transformation projects, and business-as-usual queries.
Overall management of the indirect tax team.
Working in conjunction with the Head of Tax to maintain the organisation's relationship with HMRC.
Working with Finance, Legal, Commercial, Property, the Business Support Centre, and other areas of the business to ensure end-to-end finance processes include all necessary indirect tax elements.
Overseeing the indirect tax aspects of digitisation and transformation efforts including the formulation and implementation of an automation roadmap.
Ownership of the indirect tax aspects of the tax risk register. Maintaining a suitable governance framework and evaluating against BRR and SAO obligations, and HMRC's guidelines for VAT compliance.
High-level review of UK VAT returns (as prepared and reviewed by the Indirect Tax Analyst and VAT Manager respectively).
Qualifications and Experience
Proven experience working in a senior advisory role within a commercial context.
A strong understanding of the type of commercial and indirect tax issues that can impact a large UK organisation.
ACA / ACCA / ATT / CTA qualified (or equivalent) with several years post qualification experience in VAT.
Strong leadership and managerial skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with key stakeholders.
Commercially minded and capable of providing clear, considered advice - ability to think strategically and pragmatically and to consider future implications when preparing/reviewing work and/or advising on project work.
