R&D Tax & Innovation Lead

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a tax or accounting and R&D financials background to work within BDO’s Innovation & Technology Group based in the South, including Gatwick, Guildford, Reading and Southampton. BDO is an accountancy and business advisory firm, providing the advice and solutions businesses need to navigate today’s changing world. Our clients are Britain’s economic engine – ambitious, entrepreneurially-spirited and high‑growth businesses that fuel the economy - and the owners and management teams that lead them.

Our clients trust us because of the quality of our advice. That quality grows from a thorough understanding of their business, and that understanding comes from working closely with clients and building long-lasting relationships. The firm's specialist Innovation & Technology Group comprises engineers, software programmers and scientists as well as specialist finance professionals such as auditors and tax accountants, all of whom are experienced in claiming R&D tax relief.

The Innovation and Technology team provide the following services:

• Claiming R&D tax relief
• R&D Allowances (RDAs)
• Grant
• Patent Box
• International R&D relief

You’ll be someone with:

• A degree level education and/or CTA and/or ACA qualified or equivalent with demonstrable post qualified experience.
• Experience of managing a portfolio of clients including control of client take on and engagement, billings, and identification of opportunities to improve recoveries, together with cash collection.
• Understanding potential risks to the Firm in relation to the Firm’s quality control procedures and raising to the appropriate person.
• Experience of leading complex projects.
• Experience of people management.

The successful candidate will get the opportunity to work as part of the wider Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions (CMA) tax team, in a diverse team of highly successful tax and industry specialists. The CMA team provides bespoke taxation services to its clients and deals with all queries from basic compliance through to high-level advisory work. It prepares tax returns and computations, carries out tax planning/consultancy work, and deals with HMRC, clients and third parties.

This is a client facing role where the consultant will be working with customers primarily in a variety of sectors including TMT, Life Sciences, Deep Science and Manufacturing. A key aspect of this role is the ability to build rapport with the client, manage all aspects of the project and prepare and review the financial aspects of the claim from both a quality and ethical standpoint. In time we would also expect the successful candidate to review the technical elements of the R&D claim.

You’ll also be:

• Reviewing and/or preparing the financial assessment of claims the financial disclosure which will be submitted to HMRC.
• Review and submission of the R&D Additional Information Form and Pre-Notifications.
• Ensuring R&D claims meet the requirements of the relevant tax legislation and guidelines.
• Project managing the delivery of our work.
• Liaison with our technical tax staff on the preparation of tax documents comprising these R&D claims for submission of claims to HMRC.
• Supporting R&D Tax Relief claims in the event of HMRC R&D enquiries.
• Supporting in the preparation of Patent Box claims.
• Continuously developing own knowledge and skills and to keep technical knowledge up to date.

You will be required to work closely with the senior financial and technical staff of our clients and will be responsible for analysing the costing elements of their R&D projects. You will also have extensive client communication. As well as working directly with existing clients, you will also be offered the chance to support business development opportunities and cross-sector R&D and Patent Box claims.

Tax is a dynamic, ever-changing industry. As our clients’ needs and the regulatory environment evolve, you’ll encounter new problems to solve and new opportunities for growth. Whether it’s advising clients on high-profile specialisms like Corporation Tax or leading the implementation of intelligent technology solutions, you’ll enjoy variety as well as stretch in your role. You’ll be providing Tax Advisory services to start-ups and scale-ups, to private businesses and FTSE listed multinationals. Each of our clients has different needs and in applying your expertise in different contexts, you’ll develop your skills and gain valuable experience that will serve you throughout your career.

At BDO, we help entrepreneurial businesses to succeed, fuelling the UK economy. Our success is powered by our people, which is why we’re always finding new ways to invest in them. Across 17 UK locations, we are 6,500 unique minds coming together to help our clients reach their ambitions.

We’ve got a clear purpose, and we’re confident in our future, because we’re adapting and evolving to build on our strengths, ensuring we continue to find the right combination of global reach, integrity and expertise. We shape the future together with openness and clarity, because we believe in empowering people to think creatively about how we can do things better.

Working, achieving, and thriving together, our Tax team move with every challenge. Friendly, driven and diverse, they service our clients across the country and around the world. By providing expertise in many different specialist areas of tax, they collaborate across BDO to deliver wider business solutions. From meeting clients’ evolving business needs to managing changes to legislation, there are always fresh challenges to face in the Tax team. If you’re after a career that will keep you on your toes, we’ll give you the autonomy to drive your career forward.

Mutual support and respect is one of BDO’s core values and we’re proud of our distinctive, people-centred culture. From informal success conversations to formal mentoring and coaching, we’ll support you at every stage in your career, whatever your personal and professional needs.

We can provide the best support for our clients and people when we’re working side by side. Our agile working framework helps us stay connected, bringing teams together where and when it counts so they can share ideas and help one another. At BDO, you’ll always have access to the people and resources you need to do your best work.

We know that collaboration is the key to creating value for our clients and satisfying experiences at work, so we’ve invested in state-of-the-art collaboration spaces in our offices. BDO’s people represent a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and we’ll encourage you to build your network, work alongside others, and share your skills and experiences. With a range of multidisciplinary events and dedicated resources, you’ll never stop learning at BDO.

You’ll also be yourself; we’ll recognise and value you for who you are and celebrate and reward your contributions to the business. We’re committed to agile working, and we offer everyone the opportunity to work in ways that suit them, their teams, and the task in hand. At BDO, we’ll help you achieve your personal goals and career ambitions, and we have programmes, resources, and frameworks that provide clarity and structure around career development.