Indirect and Operational Tax Manager

To lead the Group’s indirect and operational tax agenda, with a particular focus on VAT, employment taxes and related compliance obligations. The role is responsible for ensuring the business meets all statutory tax requirements, maintains a strong control environment, and proactively identifies and mitigates tax risks across the organisation.

Working closely with finance, people, operations and commercial teams, the successful candidate will provide pragmatic, commercially focused tax advice that supports day-to-day business activities, strategic projects, acquisitions, and organisational change. The role will play a key part in translating complex tax legislation into practical guidance, helping the business make informed decisions while balancing compliance, efficiency and commercial objectives.

As a trusted adviser to stakeholders across the Group, the postholder will drive continuous improvement in tax processes, support governance and regulatory requirements, manage relationships with external advisers and tax authorities, and ensure tax considerations are embedded into business planning and decision-making.

Responsibilities

Indirect Taxes

• Manage the preparation and submission of UK VAT returns and related filings, including payments and reconciliations.
• Monitor and manage VAT group registrations, de-registrations and associated obligations.
• Support indirect tax aspects of statutory audits and tax audits.
• Ensure robust VAT control/testing processes and documentation to support indirect tax compliance and SAO requirements.
• Drive forward process improvements and use data analytic tools, to automate and enhance the VAT reporting process.
• Provide practical VAT and indirect tax advice to finance and operational stakeholders.
• Identify VAT recovery opportunities, including agreeing preparing PESM calculations with and submission to HMRC.
• Lead HMRC VAT enquiries and disclosures if/where required.
• Provide VAT training and guidance to finance and operational teams.
• Advise on VAT implications of complex transactions, including corporate reorganisations, M&A, property transactions, international trading arrangements and cross border supplies of goods and services.
• Provide VAT support on staff recharges, secondments, management charges, staff benefits/expenses and international mobility arrangements.
• Review contracts, products, customer and supplier arrangements and new business initiatives from a VAT perspective.
• Review overseas VAT registrations, reporting and compliance.
• Monitor global e-invoicing developments and collaborate with Finance, IT, procurement and business stakeholders on timing, implementation and testing.
• Manage customs/excise responsibilities, including any import VAT and postponed VAT accounting requirements.
• Assess changes in VAT and indirect tax legislation and communicate to business.

 

Operational Taxes (training may be given if necessary)

• Support on employment tax matters (excluding payroll related/BAU matters)
• Prepare annual PAYE Settlement Agreements (PSA).
• Support the Head of Tax on Employment Related Securities matters, co-ordination and filings.
• Partner with HR, Payroll and Reward teams to review tax compliance across employee remuneration and benefits programmes and to support in the development / maintenance of employment tax policies, controls and governance procedures, aligning with SAO requirements.
• Employment tax support relating to Global Mobility.
• Lead/Support on HMRC employment tax enquiries, reviews and disclosures if required.

General

• Undertake tax technical research to address ad hoc tax queries and to support the Group Head of Tax on specific matters
• Build networks with UK teams/stakeholders and external advisors to foster supportive, collaborative and open working relationships 

Critical Skills and Experience required

• Excellent communication skills, specifically with non-tax proficient stakeholders
• Experience of tax technology and financial transformation
• Technical excellence
• Confidence to advance work independently and with accountability for delivery
• High attention to detail
• Professional mindset in communications and behaviour
• Driving work through to completion, maintaining momentum throughout
• Ability to prioritise work
• Agility to develop in role as the Group grows
• Anticipate deadlines and workflows to manage deliverables

Qualifications (Essential & Desirable)

• CTA and/or qualified accountant (ACA or ACCA)
• 4+ years post-qualified VAT experience, ideally with strong financial services experience
• Trained within a leading professional services firm (Top 6 UK desirable)
• Employment tax training can be provided if required
• Experience of ERP systems (specifically NetSuite), Anaplan, and data analytics and automation platforms (such as Alteryx)

Key Interfaces (Internal and External)

• Internal stakeholders include Finance, Legal, M&A, Risk, and the wider central functions and commercial and operational teams
• External stakeholders include advisors, auditors and HMRC 

Other information

• Hybrid - 3 days in-office working, at least 1 day per week aligning with Group Head of Tax in the London office on Wigmore street

Key behaviours

• Drive
• Agility
• Collaboration
• Pro-active
• Tenacity