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Job Purpose

The purpose of the role is twofold: to ensure that decisions and functions operated by the business are sufficiently robust from an indirect tax perspective and that business transactions are organised in the most VAT efficient way.

Contextual Information

The post-holder will liaise with financial and other colleagues within the group of companies, joint ventures and associated companies ensuring that the indirect tax returns, payments and repayments are made in a timely manner. Any errors will need to be disclosed and settled with HMRC, minimising any potential interest or penalties.

The job requires an individual who is a qualified tax advisor, experienced and capable in providing indirect tax advice. They must be able to liaise with a range of people across the Company at an appropriate level and ultimately to work with a minimum of supervision, managing their own projects, workloads and priorities. Flexibility and a sound knowledge of all indirect taxes are essential as they will be involved in working with HM Revenue and Customs in respect of a range of business activities across all our companies. Computer literacy particularly in Microsoft 365 is essential and knowledge of SAP accounting systems, customer billing systems and VAT Reporting Tools would be an advantage.

The role has line management responsibility and is expected to contribute to the overall Indirect Tax strategy and agenda.

The post-holder will be a member of the Tax Team and will be expected to play an active role within it. They will be required to grow the role and to take on responsibilities from their line manager over time.

Dimensions

Managing a tax throughput of c. £3bn

Tax at stake on individual issues usually exceeds £1m and often exceeds £10m

Mainly UK centric, but the global nature of the supply chains results in international issues arising from time to time

Principal Accountabilities

The Indirect Tax Manager requires a flexible approach to meet the changing commitments of the Company:

• Provide technical opinions and high-quality advice to the business on legal compliance, planning and financial impacts
• Manage external reporting to tax authorities and the integrity of the data reported
• Manage a programme of monitoring correct implementation of advice in the business and with colleagues in a Finance Shared Service Centre
• Maintain a network of key business partners to help identify risks and advice needed
• Ensuring that all indirect tax returns are submitted accurately and on time by managing others
• Using reporting tools to quality assure data that feeds into the various returns and resolving any issues identified
• Strategic management of cash flow requirements with treasury colleagues
• Dealing with audits, correspondence and notices from HMRC as well as chairing regular business update meetings with the HMRC VAT Officer
• Reviewing changes in the legislation and outcomes of cases to ensure the business correctly accounts for indirect taxes and achieves all benefits attainable
• Discovering and reporting any errors and benefits via voluntary disclosure, working with the Business Units to improve systems accordingly. Working with HMRC to ensure interest and penalties costs are minimised
• Constantly reviewing processes to ensure indirect taxes are reported in an efficient manner, reducing the tax burden and compliance costs within the business
• Providing all round support on new systems projects, from design documents to testing and implementation
• Line management and development of an Indirect Tax Advisor
• Any other duties commensurate with a tax role at this level

The above does not represent an exhaustive list of activities. The role will be subject to variety of the needs and workload of the wider team.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• CTA, ACCA, CIMA qualified or equivalent experience
• A sound knowledge of VAT, CCL and other indirect taxes and an ability to apply knowledge in a commercial way
• Very strong attention to detail
• Ability to deal with significant amounts of ambiguity and to resolve complex problems
• Solution orientated approach to work
• Ability to prioritise a complex workload
• Ability to work independently and to tight deadlines
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Intermediate O365 skills and experience of SAP Financials; and
• An analytical approach

Finance Functional Competencies

Below are the relevant Finance Functional Competencies for this role:

Health & Safety Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control, and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations.  This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Employees are responsible for ensuring they fully understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly, where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and particularly where there are legal requirements, employees are responsible for understanding those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied