VAT Accountant in England

Contract duration: Initially 9 months

POSITION PURPOSE: This role sits within the Tax COE Europe team. The two main aspects of the role are to take responsibility for VAT reporting compliance for a group of markets within Europe and other international markets, and to provide advice on VAT compliance queries, coordinating with external and internal stakeholders. Maintain awareness of local VAT legislation and act as an internal consultant to satisfy stakeholder expectations.

Responsibilities:

• Take responsibility for and manage VAT reporting compliance requirements for a group of markets within Europe region and other international markets, ensuring internal and external deadlines are met.
• Provide advice on VAT compliance related queries, coordinating with external and internal stakeholders where necessary.
• Maintain constant awareness of local VAT legislation and act as a real internal consultant to satisfy stakeholder expectations.
• Prepare monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly or annual VAT returns and other indirect tax returns (sales listings, domestic listings, purchase listings, Intrastat, SAF-T) using Excel and/or indirect tax return preparation tool technology.
• Prepare and request necessary VAT submission approvals from internal stakeholders and follow up on VAT payment requests and archiving documentation after submissions are completed.
• Prepare VAT General Ledger reconciliation and follow up on issues and open items.
• Reconcile GL sales to reported VAT sales and follow up on issues and open items.
• Manage and assist with VAT compliance queries from the business as necessary.
• Support preparing VAT requirements documents and other documents as needed.
• Support Tax Technology team to test and implement requirements on a timely basis, as necessary.
• Continuously monitor VAT legislation to identify relevant changes.
• Assist in maintenance of VAT codes tables and VAT codes in accounting system.
• Assist with VAT audits and liaison with tax authorities as necessary.
• Support strategy of standardisation and automation, continuous improvement and risk management.

Qualifications and Skills:

• 2+ years’ experience of VAT compliance in at least one jurisdiction in a multinational tax environment or equivalent.
• Experience with SAP or Oracle is advantageous.
• Fluency in English.

Functional/Technical:

• Ability to successfully manage competing priorities.
• Ability to work with a range of technically and culturally diverse people.
• Ability to effectively communicate to a diverse audience at multiple levels within the company.
• Autonomous working.
• Ability to establish formal relationships with internal customers.
• Demonstrates a team orientated approach.
• Strong written and verbal communication to facilitate relationships with peers and senior management.
• Ability to assess and resolve problems.
• Strong analytical skills.

Developmental Value:

• Opportunity to gain an understanding of the business needs of an international pharmaceutical company from a VAT compliance perspective.
• Opportunity to work within a professional and high performing team.
• Develop the ability to impact and influence within the company to deliver superior business results.
• Opportunity to gain international and country specific VAT expertise.
• Opportunity to gain experience of working within a European team and in a shared services environment.