At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the tax strategy and manage a dynamic team of tax professionals.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business, home to John Lewis and Waitrose.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a focus on work-life balance.
- Other info: Exciting opportunities for professional growth and innovation in tax technology.
- Why this job: Shape tax strategy and make a real impact in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: CTA qualified with deep tax knowledge and team management experience.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 120000 £ per year.
As Tax Lead, you will provide strategic direction and leadership for the Partnership’s tax function. Reporting to the Group Financial Controller, you will shape tax strategy, manage risk, and lead a team of 9 with 3 direct reports across corporate, indirect, and employment tax.
In this role, you will act as the primary liaison with HMRC including addressing any queries, oversee compliance returns, statutory accounts, champion modern tax technology, develop the team and collaborate across Finance, Commercial, Legal, and Technology to integrate tax requirements into the Partnership’s projects and daily operations. You will interact with senior stakeholders across the business - particularly on projects - including CFO for the SAO process.
At a glance
- Expected Salary: £100,000 - £120,000 (depending upon experience)
- Hybrid Working - This is a hybrid working role, therefore your time will primarily be split between working from home and the London / Bracknell Head Office. However, there will also be an expectation to visit other locations as the need arises.
- Contract type - Permanent.
Key Responsibilities:
- Service Delivery: Be accountable for leading, developing and implementing the tax strategy and policies for the Partnership taking account of the risk appetite mandated by the Partnership Board.
- Ensure a timely response to tax matters and accurate tax filings.
- Provide leadership and direction of service management relationship with customer and stakeholder groups.
- Proactively manage your own development including keeping up to date with internal and external development in relevant business/regulatory areas.
- Liaise with other internal teams to ensure integration and effective service delivery to the Partnership.
- Communicate tax policies to the business and externally as required.
- Liaising and managing relationships with HMRC during routine audits and ad hoc enquiries, including correspondence, leading meetings and maintaining a proactive relationship.
- Primary point of contact for tax advisors & external auditors.
- Leading the Tax team of nine Partners.
- Manage Partnership tax risks and mitigate risks by ensuring tax-related ICF controls are operated correctly and are fit for purpose.
- Managing the tax budget.
- Look for opportunities to drive value in terms of latest thinking for instance VAT on product files.
Quality & Compliance
- Ensure that all relevant business users are aware of corporate, indirect, and employment requirements and that these are addressed in any impacted business initiative.
- Review and communicate relevant changes to tax legislation or guidance.
- Liaise with other business functions e.g. Internal Audit, Business Risk, HR, Property, New Business, Legal and Company Secretarial, to identify and advise on new business and corporate initiatives.
- Lead on the annual Senior Accounting Officer process.
- Perform the final sign off of the tax numbers and disclosures in the annual and interim financial statements.
Delivering Change
- Identify, lead and deliver opportunities to optimise the Partnership's tax position, ensuring that arrangements are managed and implemented in a controlled and accurate manner and in accordance with the Partnership’s Tax Strategy.
- Represent the Partnership for tax matters on industry bodies.
Continuous Improvement
- Be accountable for fostering and maintaining a culture seeking to make incremental improvements to propositions, processes, controls and/or policies.
- Embed tax awareness across the organisation and improve operational efficiency by developing and using best practices and technology.
Core Finance Profession
You will be a member of the Core Finance profession leadership team and support the overall development of skills and capabilities for Partners aligned to this profession.
Essential skills/experience you’ll need
- CTA qualified (or ACA/ACCA qualified with extensive in-house or practice tax experience).
- Deep tax knowledge with a strong bias/specialism toward Indirect Tax / VAT.
- Experience operating within complex, fast-paced retail or consumer-facing environments at scale.
- Proven track record of team management, challenging the status quo, and influencing matrix stakeholders.
Desirable skills/experience you may have
- Exposure to international tax regimes.
- Hands-on experience driving tax technology implementation.
Additional Information
Should your initial application be successful, the subsequent stages will comprise two rounds of interviews - virtual and in-person assessments.
Closing Date: August 30, 2026
Pay: £99,000.00 - £136,000.00 Annual
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours of Work: 35
Job Level: Partnership Level 5
Where You'll Be Working: London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ
ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us. We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.
As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
Important points to note:
It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.
We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants. We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
Tax Lead in Bracknell employer: John Lewis
As a Retail Sales Assistant at John Lewis in Horsham, you will be part of a renowned company that values its employees and fosters a supportive work culture. With competitive pay and the opportunity for uncapped commission, you can grow your skills in a dynamic retail environment while enjoying flexible working hours. John Lewis is committed to employee development, ensuring that you have access to training and growth opportunities that make your role both meaningful and rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Tax Lead in Bracknell
✨Join Tax Networks
Get involved in tax-focused networks or associations, like the Chartered Institute of Taxation. These communities often host events and workshops which can help you make connections with industry professionals, plus they might even have job boards exclusive to members.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for tax-related conferences and seminars. Events like these are not only great for learning but also for meeting potential employers face-to-face. Use these opportunities to ask questions and express your interest; it’s all about putting a face to the name!
✨Leverage Social Media
Follow leading tax advisory firms, such as John Lewis, on social media. Engage with their posts – comment, share insights, or even ask questions. This can help you get noticed and show your enthusiasm for the industry before you even apply!
✨Showcase Your Knowledge
Consider writing articles or blogs on tax trends and issues. Sharing your expertise on platforms like LinkedIn can boost your visibility and establish you as someone who is serious about a career in tax advisory. Plus, it gives you something to discuss when you land that interview!
We think you need these skills to ace Tax Lead in Bracknell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tax Knowledge:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant tax qualifications, certifications, or coursework you've completed. We want to see that you understand tax laws, regulations, and compliance issues—so detail your academic background or any practical experience in tax advisory to catch John Lewis's eye!
Quantify Your Achievements:In the tax consultancy field, showing measurable outcomes from your previous work can set you apart. Use your CV to include specific examples of how your advice helped clients save money or avoid penalties. Numbers speak volumes in our industry and can really highlight your impact.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express why you're passionate about tax consultancy and why you're excited about working at John Lewis. Share any personal experiences or insights that fuel your interest in the tax advisory field—let your enthusiasm shine through!
Keep It Professional but Approachable:While your written application should maintain a professional tone, don’t be afraid to let a bit of your personality show. Tax advisory is about building relationships, so if you can convey your approachable nature in your writing, that's a bonus when applying for this full-time role at John Lewis!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis
✨Know Your Tax Fundamentals
Brush up on the core principles of tax law, especially recent updates that might affect clients. During the interview, we could face scenario-based questions where we'll need to apply these principles to solve problems, so get comfy with hypothetical situations!
✨Show Your Analytical Skills
Tax advisory isn't just about knowing the rules; it’s about interpreting them. Make sure to prepare examples from your previous studies or experiences where you successfully analysed complex data. We want to demonstrate how we can bring those analytical skills to the table for John Lewis.
✨Understand the Consulting Aspect
Since this is a full-time role, the interview might involve discussing how we communicate tax strategies to clients. Think about times we've interacted with clients or presented technical information in a digestible way. This shows we’re not just tax boffins but can also connect with people!
✨Your Long-Term Vision
As we're aiming for a full-time position, it's important to convey our enthusiasm and long-term interest in tax advisory. Be prepared to chat about why we’re passionate about this field and how we see ourselves growing within John Lewis. It helps to show our commitment!
