VAT Manager
Duration: 12 Months
Would this role be remote based: ideally 3 days per week in the office but remote work can be considered provided contractor is able to come to the office where need be
The Opportunity
We're looking for an experienced and technically strong VAT Manager to join our EMEA VAT Planning team on a 12-month contract. This highly visible role will be crucial in providing expert UK VAT advisory to support our ongoing business, drive new initiatives, and ensure robust compliance.
You'll operate at the intersection of tax, technology, and business, managing complex, cross-functional projects. This is a chance to apply deep technical knowledge to unique and high-profile commercial and regulatory challenges, including those stemming from the post-Brexit environment and occasional Pan-EU retail projects.
You will be an integral part of a small, dedicated UK VAT team, working alongside the EMEA VAT Director and interacting daily with a broad network of internal stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- UK VAT Advisory & Project Leadership: Act as the primary VAT subject matter expert for UK-based business and regulatory initiatives, from inception through to implementation. This includes operationalising complex VAT requirements into practical business solutions.
- Compliance Support: Provide high-level technical guidance to the UK VAT Compliance team to resolve complex queries and ensure accurate filings.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner daily with internal teams across the organisation, including Legal, Finance, Accounting, Business Teams, and specialists in the Tax Engine and Taxonomy groups to deliver integrated tax solutions.
- Transaction Review: Take the lead on VAT-related reviews of commercial agreements, with a specific focus on UK real estate transactions.
- Technical Analysis: Determine the correct VAT treatment and rate application for new and complex products and services.
- Operational Excellence: Serve as a key resource for operational VAT questions, providing clear and practical answers to finance, accounting, and operational teams.
- Complexity & Challenge: Engage with a diverse project portfolio, tackling VAT topics that range from routine (but operationally complex) to highly unique, niche, and technically demanding.
Required Skills and Experience
To excel in this contract, you must possess the following stack-ranked skills:
Extensive VAT Experience (6.5+ Years): Demonstrable, robust VAT experience gained in a global consulting/law firm or a large, blue-chip commercial organisation.
In-Depth UK & Cross-Border VAT Technical Expertise: Comprehensive technical knowledge covering both UK domestic and international/cross-border VAT, with practical experience and exposure to post-Brexit rules and complexities for a Retail Business.
Exceptional Communication: Excellent proficiency in English, both verbal and written, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical VAT concepts to a non-tax audience, including senior business leaders.
Team Structure
You will report into the EMEA VAT Director and join the UK VAT team (part of the wider EU VAT Planning Team). You will be a key addition to a small, focused UK team of two people, backed by a broader team of 15+ VAT experts across EMEA, providing exposure to a wealth of local and cross-border expertise.
