Head of VAT

Head of VAT

London, UK (with occasional overseas travel)

Up to £130,000

Consumer

We are delighted to be retained by a highly respected FTSE 250 organisation at the heart of a global transformation. As part of a bold change agenda, this business is evolving rapidly—investing in digital capability, expanding into new and emerging markets, and reshaping its operational model to ensure agility, resilience, and long-term sustainable growth.

With a footprint that spans multiple continents and a diverse portfolio of products and services, this multinational group is a recognised industry leader with a strong commitment to innovation, compliance, and excellence. Tax plays a critical role in this transformation journey—and the company is now seeking a Head of VAT to lead its global VAT strategy and operations.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a dynamic, high-performing finance function, where your leadership will directly influence group-wide efficiency, compliance, and risk management. You’ll be central to shaping the company’s tax technology roadmap and building capabilities to meet the demands of evolving global reporting standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Representing the VAT discipline in senior tax forums and governance committees, acting as a trusted voice in strategic decision-making.
• Developing and implementing innovative VAT technology solutions to drive automation, increase compliance accuracy, and prepare for the wave of digital tax reporting.
• Overseeing global VAT compliance processes, including reviewing and approving VAT returns for UK and above-market companies.
• Managing the VAT control framework and ensuring alignment with internal risk, control, and SOx compliance policies.
• Enhancing and maintaining VAT process maps and data governance to support operational excellence across top end markets.
• Advising on complex VAT and indirect tax issues across global markets, including contract reviews, structural changes, and regulatory shifts.
• Leading and developing a global VAT team, including central and shared service resources, with a strong emphasis on capability building and continuous improvement.
• Monitoring VAT cashflows and ensuring accurate and timely payments across all jurisdictions.
• Managing tax audits, official enquiries, and regulatory inspections, while providing guidance and support to in-market teams.
• Collaborating with finance, legal, commercial, and technology teams to embed VAT considerations into broader business decisions.
• Driving the creation of training, learning resources, and best-practice guidance to improve VAT literacy across the organisation.
• Owning VAT configuration and master data integrity in SAP, working closely with process owners and technology stakeholders.

The ideal candidate

• Qualified accountant or VAT/indirect tax specialist with significant experience in a multinational corporate or advisory environment.
• Relevant experience in large, complex consumer goods or FMCG organisations, with the ability to navigate matrix structures and global supply chains.
• Strong knowledge of global VAT systems, compliance models, and tax technologies.
• Experience implementing VAT governance frameworks and integrating tax considerations into ERP platforms (SAP preferred).
• Proven track record in leading global VAT teams and managing external relationships with tax authorities and advisors.
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and simplify complex regulatory issues.
• Analytical, agile, and forward-thinking, with a passion for driving operational excellence and innovation.

For more information, please apply for this role or contact Alba Amigo at alba.amigo@phippscameron.com