At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a new R&D tax product and streamline claim processes.
- Company: Join Caribou, a game-changing tax platform backed by top investors.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous EMI options, and health insurance.
- Other info: Dynamic hybrid work environment with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the world of international tax and innovation funding.
- Qualifications: Hands-on experience with HMRC/IRS R&D claims and strong project management skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About Caribou
International Tax is a rigged system.
Tax rules get ever more complicated, compliance gets more expensive, and the Big Four controls the expertise.
They charge fees that only giant companies can afford, while smaller businesses are left flying blind.
Caribou is a tax platform designed to make international tax accessible to every global business.
We're fixing Transfer Pricing first, where one million businesses are in need, but only ten thousand experts exist.
R&D relief is our next product.
Our backers include Y Combinator, Accel, Lakestar and angel investors who were founders or executives of leading companies in London and San Francisco.
About the Role
Caribou is building a new R&D tax offering at the intersection of transfer pricing and innovation funding — and we're looking for a Senior Manager to own it end-to-end.
This isn't a pure advisory role.
You'll be working alongside our engineering team to productize the service: systematising claim processes, building tooling, and turning what used to be manual consulting work into something scalable.
The mix of hands‑on R&D tax advisory with product instinct is what makes this different from a standard tax consultancy position.
We're looking for someone who's been in the trenches with HMRC and/or the IRS on R&D claims, with a passion for building things that don't exist yet.
You’ll report directly to our Head of Tax, James Boreham, and have real ownership of the vertical from day one.
- In this role, you will
- Liaise directly with customers to assess R&D eligibility and understand their business.
- Own the end-to-end claim process, from notification of intent to claim through advance assurance, drafting, submission, and defending claims under enquiry.
- Translate your real-world claims experience into rules, checklists, and logic that can be built into an automated product.
- Identify what proof and documentation a claim actually needs to withstand scrutiny, and work with the team to design data capture that gets it right the first time.
- Explain R&D concepts to non-specialists, ranging from founders to operations leads, to accountants.
- Coordinate with a customer's other advisors, including bookkeepers, lawyers and other tax experts.
- Shape the R&D product itself — pricing, scope, and what should be automated versus handled by a specialist.
- Determine a customer's reporting obligations and build the workflows that generate the necessary documents.
Requirements for the role
- Meaningful hands‑on experience with HMRC and/or IRS R&D claims, including defending claims under enquiry
- Deep practical understanding of what proof and evidence a tax authority actually requires, beyond the written guidance
- You take ownership and enjoy driving multiple projects involving a wider range of stakeholders
- Comfortable working in a fast‑paced and dynamic environment with ambiguous and rapidly evolving priorities
- Bonus points
- Experience across both UK and US R&D regimes
- Startup experience
Perks & Benefits (for UK-based full-time employees)
- Competitive salary
- Generous EMI options
- 100% book subsidy
- Pension
- Health Insurance
London-based, hybrid.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
R&D Specialist in London employer: caribou
Caribou is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where your contributions directly impact the user experience of our cutting-edge product. Located in a dynamic environment, we offer competitive EMI options, professional growth opportunities, and a chance to work closely with experienced leaders in the field, ensuring that you thrive both personally and professionally while creating meaningful solutions for our clients.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land R&D Specialist in London
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like caribou.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like caribou.
We think you need these skills to ace R&D Specialist in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at caribou that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at caribou and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at caribou
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at caribou, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show caribou that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At caribou, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
