Tax Director in London

Role can be based in any Southern office to include: Brighton, Sutton, Orpington, Sidcup. Affinia is a UK Top 35 Accounting firm, where we support our clients with everything from day‑to‑day Accounting, Audit and Tax planning to strategic business advice, compliance and specialist services such as Cloud Accounting, Payroll and Mergers & Acquisitions across a wide range of sectors. We are committed to delivering excellence in every aspect of our work, adapting to the evolving regulatory landscape while consistently exceeding client expectations.

Purpose Of The Role

As a Director within either our Personal or Corporate team, you will be responsible for continuing to grow our overall Tax offering within the firm both internally within the existing client portfolio but also externally through your own professional contacts and connections. This role goes beyond technical tax oversight — it is a leadership position responsible for building high‑performing teams, developing future leaders, ensuring operational excellence, and helping shape the firm’s long‑term strategic direction. You will act as a key advisor to clients, supporting business development efforts and identifying opportunities to add value.

Accountabilities

• You will be required to manage a comprehensive and complex client list, provide line and performance management and make a significant contribution to ongoing growth of a successful Tax practice.
• You will have a direct contribution to the development and achievement of building the practice and will be required to build and maintain relationships with third parties.
• You will be expected to advise clients in connection with their tax affairs and onboard them to the team to offer bespoke advice.

Client and Portfolio Leadership

• Lead service delivery for a portfolio of high‑value or technically complex clients, ensuring timely, high‑quality, and compliant output.
• Partner with firm leadership to define and execute the tax practice growth strategy.
• Lead capacity planning, resource allocation, and workflow optimisation during periods of rapid expansion.
• Identify new service lines, cross‑selling opportunities, and market expansion initiatives.
• Contribute to firm‑wide strategic planning and innovation initiatives.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Monitor WIP, billing, and recovery rates, taking proactive action to maximise profitability and manage overruns or scope creep.
• Identify potential tax risks and cash savings opportunities, and support initiatives to manage the risks or realise the opportunities.
• Meet targets for billable hours, utilisation, and portfolio profitability, ensuring jobs are delivered within agreed budgets and timeframes.

Strategic and Operational Contribution

• Contribute insights to the development of service line and group strategy, particularly in any areas of specialism or market knowledge.
• Support Directors and Service Line Leaders (SLLs) on strategic initiatives and internal planning projects.
• Take ownership of service line projects, driving outcomes that support operational efficiency, quality, or growth.

People Leadership and Culture

• Provide ongoing guidance and structured development opportunities to junior team members, particularly Managers and Senior Managers.
• Act as a role model for firm values and behaviours, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Risk Management and Compliance

• Ensure all services are delivered in line with firm quality standards, ethical policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Manage risks associated with client engagements, including reputational, legal, and compliance risks.

Professional Skills/qualifications

• CTA qualification or an equivalent professional tax qualification.
• Ideally 10+ years in practice with demonstrable experience managing large or complex clients.
• Experience and ability to assist in managing the KPIs such as Chargeable Time, Recoveries, Utilisation and Gross Margin and take necessary actions to improve performance where needed.

Core Benefits

• 30 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank Holidays.
• Auto enrolment Pension Scheme with True Potential.
• Death in Service.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Professional membership support.
• Paycare – claim money back for Dental / Optical / Professional Therapies.
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy.
• Dress for your Diary Policy.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required to take on additional responsibilities when requested. Affinia is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion, or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.