VAT Assistant

Following the firm’s November announcement that Wright Hassall has joined HCR Law, we are looking to recruit a VAT Assistant to join our specialist team based in Leamington Spa.

Our VAT team supports businesses and their advisers, including accountancy firms, to navigate a wide range of complex VAT matters. This includes work on property transactions and construction projects, international and cross‑border transactions, schemes for small businesses, financial services, supply chain reviews, aircraft and yachts, mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations, HMRC investigations, tribunal appeals, partial exemption and margin schemes. The VAT Assistant role will involve undertaking a range of routine legal tasks and administrative duties. Key responsibilities will include:

• Undertaking legal research using appropriate methods and sources, and presenting findings accurately and in a timely manner.
• Providing day-to-day legal and administrative support, and at times acting as a resource to support the wider team.
• Ensuring all work complies with the firm’s risk management policies and procedures, including GDPR.
• Managing deadlines effectively and ensuring work is progressed efficiently.

About You

You will work closely under the mentorship of a specialist in high‑value and complex VAT work, who is experienced in teaching others their craft, with a background that includes lecturing, training placement students and making direct contributions to HMRC’s VAT manuals. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys problem‑solving, has an appetite for learning, and gets a thrill out of solving the seemingly impossible – untangling complex issues and finding a route through where others see dead ends.

This position could suit a non-law graduate, and the responsibilities of the role will evolve as your technical knowledge and experience develop. As a VAT Assistant, you will demonstrate:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with confidence liaising with stakeholders at all levels.
• A collaborative approach to work and a willingness to support colleagues across the wider team.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail in all aspects of your work.
• Good IT literacy and accurate typing skills.
• A client‑focused mindset and a professional approach to work.

About Us

Benefits at HCR as a VAT Assistant include:

• 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
• Annual bonus scheme up to 10%
• Life Assurance
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (4% employer contributions)
• Healthcare cash-plan (providing you with financial support for private medical, dental and wellbeing)
• 1/3 gym membership contribution
• Electric vehicle scheme
• Happy People/Perks at Work benefits portal
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Flu vaccinations

Is HCR the smart move for you? HCR suits people who love a challenge and want to work in an environment where careers thrive on the back of hard work and personal merit. Our people enjoy feeling part of something bigger than themselves, and whilst our clients drive our development, it is our people who bring their energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial mindsets together to solve problems and help our clients succeed.

Why HCR people love their jobs Our people tell us they enjoy working on good quality, interesting matters from a wide variety of our clients, because they get the experience they want to develop their careers. We will give you responsibility early, the mandate to make things happen and we’ll back your good ideas. Our “Passion for People” lives and breathes every day throughout the firm as our peoples’ energy and sense of fun create a warm environment in which to thrive.

What career progression will HCR offer you? HCR’s growth constantly creates opportunities for people who want to go places and make a difference, your career plan can become part of our growth plan. At HCR you can expect to work with friendly, energetic, ambitious people, who love getting stuck into a client problem, and enjoy celebrating a good outcome. Our people value the sense of community provided by the individual personality of each office and the collegiate approach across all our service and sector teams.

What does HCR believe, achieve and stand for? As a Times Best Law firm, among the UK Top 50, we provide the full range of services that you would expect to organisations, business leaders and individuals. However, in our mission to give everyone the opportunity to experience a different kind of legal service we take an entrepreneurial approach. We’re flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients, delivering the best outcomes for them. We have more than 1000 lawyers and support staff, including more than 180 partners, and have been awarded the Law Society’s Lexcel quality mark in recognition of our compliance and client care standards.

With 13 offices in England and Wales our well-established presence stretches from west to east, ensuring clients can access a full-service legal offering no matter where they’re located. We’ve expanded significantly across all our regions, and are well-respected as a regional firm with a strong London and international presence.

With solid connections in the communities we work in, and a track record of delivering legal advice to businesses and individuals throughout the areas we base ourselves in, our clients continue to value our approach to providing legal advice, in the way they need, when they need it.

As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don’t just accept differences, we celebrate them. We want to attract a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and skills to create a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and which works together to achieve the best outcome for our clients. We are privileged to be an armed forces-friendly organisation.

We also want you to achieve your absolute best during the recruitment process. Please let us know of any changes we can make at any point that will help support your application. If this opportunity sounds of interest to you, please make an application and submit your CV.