At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our tax team to manage compliance and reporting for corporate and VAT taxes.
- Company: Halfords, a leading retailer in motoring and cycling with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, employee discounts, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Supportive team culture with opportunities for leadership and career growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic environment while developing your tax expertise.
- Qualifications: Professionally qualified in tax with experience in corporate or VAT tax.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
About us
At Halfords, our mission is to inspire and support a lifetime of motoring and cycling. As a specialist retailer, we lead the market through customer-driven innovation and a distinct product range. We are dedicated to providing our customers with an integrated, unique, and convenient service experience, from e-bike and electric vehicle servicing to on-demand solutions. Our commitment is to foster customer loyalty by offering compelling reasons to keep coming back to our stores, ensuring a lifetime of motoring and cycling enjoyment.
The teams at our Support Centre work with every other area of our business, putting them at the heart of the action and playing a key role in our success and growth. Everyone brings their individual knowledge and experience to work every day, working as one team to keep things moving smoothly.
If you’re willing to get stuck in, you’ll love it here too. So put yourself at the heart of a dynamic, fast-paced working environment where expertise and focus take people far.
The role
As Group Tax Manager at Halfords, you’ll join a small, collaborative tax team within a large, listed retail and services group, supporting both Direct and Indirect Tax across the business. This is a varied, hands-on role where you’ll work closely with the Senior Direct Tax Manager and Senior Indirect Tax Manager to support compliance, reporting and advisory work, while gaining exposure across multiple areas of tax. It’s an ideal opportunity for someone looking to make their first move into industry, or for an existing in-house tax professional keen to broaden their experience across both corporate and indirect taxes within a supportive team environment.
Day to day, you’ll take responsibility for the preparation and review of VAT and corporate tax returns, working closely with the Tax Analyst and providing reviewed outputs to senior managers for their oversight and sign-off. You'll support tax accounting at half year and year end, including tax disclosures in the statutory accounts, and play an important role in ensuring tax reporting and compliance processes run smoothly and consistently. You’ll also get involved in a range of project and advisory work across the tax team, from supporting audits and assessing the impact of legislative changes, to improving processes and helping implement new tax technology. The role offers plenty of variety, and the balance of direct and indirect tax work will develop over time depending on your background and experience, allowing you to develop broader capability while building confidence and ownership across key areas.
This is a great opportunity to join a supportive team during a period of change and development, where you’ll be given the opportunity to learn, take on responsibility and develop your career in-house. You’ll also have line management responsibility for a Tax Analyst, giving you the opportunity to develop leadership experience while continuing to build your technical and commercial knowledge across a complex, international business.
Key responsibilities
- Support the review and submission of UK and overseas corporation tax returns, working with the Senior Direct Tax Manager.
- Support the review and submission of UK and overseas VAT returns, working with the Senior Indirect Tax Manager.
- Assist with preparation and review of tax accounting and disclosures for group and entity reporting.
- Support accurate VAT accounting, balance sheet reconciliations, and process documentation within SAP.
- Support any tax audits and contribute to required documentation for SAO/BRR+/CCO obligations.
- Help maintain transfer pricing documentation, including CbC reporting.
- Assist the Senior Managers in providing practical and timely tax advice on queries, restructuring, and transformational initiatives.
- Contribute to new tax processes in response to international and domestic legislative changes (e.g. Pillar 2) and evolving business models.
- Support delivery of VAT technology initiatives such as the VAT platform project.
- Liaise with auditors, finance teams, legal, and other business stakeholders.
- Monitor and analyse tax data, KPIs, and performance indicators.
- Support tax-related projects, process optimisation, and continuous improvement.
- Line manage the Tax Analyst, providing training and development support.
About you
- Professionally qualified (ACA, ACCA, CTA or equivalent) with experience in either Direct Tax or Indirect Tax.
- Strong technical knowledge in corporate tax, VAT, or both, with a willingness to learn and develop across the other area.
- Experience preparing or reviewing tax returns, tax accounting, or VAT returns within practice or industry.
- Experience using tax and finance systems such as SAP, OneSource, GVRT or similar.
- Comfortable working with data, running reports and carrying out analysis to support tax filings and reporting.
- Strong organisational skills, able to manage multiple deadlines across compliance and project work.
- Confident communicator, able to work with finance teams, auditors and other stakeholders across the business.
- Proactive and self-motivated, with a willingness to get involved in new areas and support wider tax projects.
- Experience or interest in process improvement, automation or tax technology would be advantageous.
- Comfortable managing and developing a junior team member (Tax Analyst).
Reward & benefits
A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave.
Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations.
We offer hybrid working with a blend of working in our Support Centre and from home.
You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services.
Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords.
Not sure you meet all the criteria? We'd encourage you to take the wheel and apply anyway! At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We're an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.
Halfords operates a Hybrid working policy with this position being based 2 days per week at our Support Centre in Redditch, West Midlands.
Group Tax Manager employer: Halfords Careers
Halfords is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where you can lead a passionate team in the UK's largest automotive service business. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide extensive training opportunities, an uncapped bonus scheme, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous discounts and health support. Join us in our mission to enhance customer experiences while enjoying a fulfilling career with ample progression potential.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Tax Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Halfords on LinkedIn or through mutual connections. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research Halfords' recent projects, especially in tax compliance and technology. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a mate to do a mock interview with you. Focus on articulating your experience in direct and indirect tax clearly, and don’t forget to highlight your leadership skills with the Tax Analyst role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the Halfords family and ready to contribute to their exciting journey.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Tax Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Group Tax Manager role. Highlight your tax knowledge, compliance experience, and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how you can contribute to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background makes you a great fit for Halfords. Don’t forget to mention your enthusiasm for working in a collaborative environment like ours.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Since this role involves tax accounting and compliance, be sure to highlight your technical skills with tax systems like SAP or OneSource. We love candidates who are comfortable with data and can run reports, so make that clear in your application!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the Halfords family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Halfords Careers
✨Know Your Tax Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of both Direct and Indirect Tax. Familiarise yourself with the latest tax regulations and how they apply to retail and services. Being able to discuss recent changes or challenges in the tax landscape will show that you're proactive and engaged.
✨Showcase Your Team Spirit
Since this role involves working closely with a small, collaborative team, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully worked in teams before. Highlight your ability to communicate effectively with different stakeholders, as this is key to keeping things moving smoothly at Halfords.
✨Prepare for Practical Scenarios
Think about potential scenarios you might face in the role, such as preparing VAT returns or supporting tax audits. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach these tasks, demonstrating your problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions. Inquire about the team's current projects or how they handle process improvements. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand how you can contribute to the team's success.
