Tax Manager in Manchester

Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world's most iconic sports properties.

As we continue to scale our global platform, the Tax Manager, International — Tax & Treasury will play a critical role in owning multi-jurisdictional VAT compliance and enabling tax-informed growth across Fanatics Commerce, Collectibles, and Betting & Gaming.

ROLE OVERVIEW

This is a hands-on tax role sitting within a small, high-performing Tax & Treasury team at the centre of Fanatics International's finance function, reporting directly to the Head of Tax & Treasury. The Tax Manager takes primary ownership of the Group's monthly VAT compliance cycle across 20+ registrations spanning the UK, EU, and wider international markets, while also supporting corporation tax compliance, employment taxes, technical advisory, and day-to-day business partnering across the international business.

HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT

Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes.

• Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams)
  • Partner with Finance, Commercial, Legal, and Operations as the first point of contact for tax queries, translating complex VAT and direct tax issues into clear, practical guidance that enables confident decision-making across the enterprise.
  • Coordinate with external advisers and third-party compliance agents across UK, EU, and international markets, managing those relationships to ensure accurate, timely filing and consistent execution of the Group's compliance obligations.
  • Contribute to the Tax function's growth by supporting process improvement initiatives, maintaining compliance documentation, and helping build scalable infrastructure as Fanatics continues to expand into new markets.
  • Act as a trusted subject-matter resource for junior finance colleagues, providing guidance and review on VAT ledger positions, compliance schedules, and supporting workings to raise the overall capability of the team.
  • Support the Head of Tax & Treasury in preparing materials for CFO and Finance leadership reporting, including the tax risk register, SAO certification evidence, and briefings on emerging tax developments.
• Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans)
  • Partner with new market entries — including marketplace launches and cross-border supply chains — by providing tax analysis covering VAT registration requirements, withholding tax, and customs duty implications, ensuring fans in new geographies can access Fanatics products without friction caused by compliance gaps.
  • Prepare VAT payment schedules and communicate the cash flow implications of VAT liabilities and reclaims to Treasury, enabling the business to serve fans reliably by maintaining the financial health underpinning day-to-day operations.
  • Assist with VAT technical issues including supply classification, supply chain movements, and cross-border place of supply questions, ensuring the integrity of the commercial and fan-facing offer across all channels.
  • Support briefing notes and internal communications on emerging tax developments across UK, EU, and international markets, keeping commercial and operational teams informed so the fan experience is never compromised by unexpected regulatory change.
• Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit)
  • Identify and implement process improvements across the VAT compliance cycle to reduce manual effort, improve accuracy, and build a more scalable and resilient compliance infrastructure as the business grows.
  • Leverage indirect tax compliance platforms and ERP systems — such as Avalara, OneSource, Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, or Oracle — to improve how VAT is determined, posted, and reconciled at the transaction level.
  • Support technical input on new commercial arrangements, including marketplace launches and cross-border supply chains, bringing creative and practical tax thinking to complex, fast-moving business problems.
  • Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by maintaining and enhancing the Group's tax control framework and compliance checklists, ensuring consistent execution across an expanding portfolio of entities and jurisdictions.
• Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset)
  • Own the end-to-end monthly VAT compliance process across 20+ UK, EU, and international registrations — including preparation, review, submission, and ledger reconciliation — maintaining a clear audit trail and taking accountability for accuracy and timeliness.
  • Manage the Group's VAT registration portfolio, tracking filing frequencies, deadlines, and obligations as Fanatics enters new markets, ensuring no compliance obligation falls through the gaps.
  • Assist in managing VAT audits and correspondence from tax authorities, including drafting responses and supporting schedules, and act as internal coordinator for corporation tax compliance by gathering information for external advisers and preparing supporting schedules.
  • Maintain transfer pricing documentation and support current and deferred tax calculations during financial close, demonstrating a methodical and thorough approach to compliance across direct and indirect tax obligations.

AI & DIGITAL CAPABILITY

We are building a future-ready organization. This role is expected to:

• Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes.
• Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance.
• Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

CAPABILITIES & EXPERIENCE YOU BRING

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrable, hands-on VAT and indirect tax experience, including primary ownership of or material contribution to a multi-entity VAT compliance cycle — encompassing return preparation, reconciliation, and submission across multiple jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to manage multiple compliance deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, with a methodical and detail-oriented approach that ensures accuracy and completeness without dropping standards.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex tax issues into clear, practical guidance for non-tax stakeholders across Finance, Commercial, Legal, and Operations.
• Experience managing third-party compliance agents and external advisers, with the ability to coordinate and hold those relationships accountable for on-time and accurate delivery.
• Comfort operating across multi-entity, multi-jurisdictional tax environments, with an understanding of the compliance obligations and operational complexities that come with UK, EU, and international registrations.
• Exposure to broader tax disciplines beyond VAT, including corporation tax compliance, transfer pricing, withholding taxes, or international indirect tax (GST, digital services taxes) is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, or Oracle) and indirect tax compliance platforms (e.g. Avalara, OneSource, or similar), with an understanding of how VAT is determined and posted at the transaction level, is desirable.

Education:

ACA, CTA, ATT, or equivalent professional qualification is desirable but not required; we are open to qualified-by-experience candidates who can demonstrate the technical depth and ownership mindset this role demands.

WORK LOCATION

Hybrid: The primary place of performance of this role is the Company's office located in Manchester, subject to the Company's current hybrid work policy. This role currently requires in-office presence 3 days per week.

At Fanatics, we operate with a BOLD mindset - We Build Championship Teams, we’re Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset. If you’re ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.