VAT Manager (2)

Overview

PKF is the 12th largest accountancy brand and the 12th largest audit practice in the UK. We are also an active member of PKF Global, an international network of legally independent accounting firms that gives us an on-the-ground presence in 150 countries around the world with access to more than 20,000 people across 440 offices globally. We provide a full range of audit, accountancy, tax and advisory services, and are experts at simplifying complexity. We are particularly well-known for working with complex clients with challenging issues in fast‑moving and highly technical areas, such as the insurance industry, the global capital markets and the not‑for‑profit sector. Our aim is to understand people, the organisations they run, and what matters to them, so we can simplify complexity and help them achieve their ambitions.

Division – Tax

The division provides VAT, Corporate Tax, Transfer Pricing, Personal Tax, Global Mobility and Employment Tax compliance and advisory services to a wide range of clients and prides itself on the quality of service, high degree of professionalism and personal approach that is offered to each and every client. The division has a growing number of corporate clients, with the team regularly involved in a number of transactional pieces of advisory work across a variety of sectors and covering a variety of taxation issues. These can impact both the company and individuals, for example, demergers, restructuring, acquisitions and disposals.

Responsibilities

The role requires an ambitious, confident individual, with excellent knowledge of VAT to join the growing VAT team. The successful candidate will be a member of the VAT team with a ‘home office’ of London (Canary Wharf), Leeds (city centre) or Manchester (city centre), responsible for assisting Directors and Partners in servicing clients, delivering VAT services and potentially also managing some of the people within the team.

The successful candidate may have specialist skills (e.g. able to advise on IPT, customs duty etc) but will primarily be responsible for managing a portfolio of clients in a variety of sectors, e.g. insurance, finance, fintech, crypto, property, retail etc. The successful candidate should have experience within their existing team of reviewing work electronically with minimal Partner/Director input so that few (if any) changes are made when Partner/Director reviews before issue of the written deliverable.

• Build and maintain relationships with clients by providing high levels of client service (responsiveness and clarity of communication) and engendering trust with clients.
• Able to convert “quick questions” re: VAT into high‑value / profitable advisory projects.
• Manage WIP and billing for own clients, ensuring that fee proposals are commercial and WIP recoveries are strong.
• Advise on a wide range of VAT issues such as expanding into different jurisdictions, VAT treatment of new income streams, handling / resolving HMRC disputes, etc.
• Potential general management of one or more direct reports, including delivering their appraisals.
• Support with tender proposals.
• Pro‑active generation of new clients / advisory projects from the numerous new contacts being made by the firm.
• Due diligence.
• Specialist VAT input into audit work.
• Opportunities to train staff on VAT matters.
• Review of complex VAT returns (e.g. partly‑exempt clients, non‑resident landlords of UK property etc).

People Management: The successful candidate will also manage one or more direct reports following successful completion of probation.

Person Specification – Skills and Experience

• Proven skills in VAT advisory work gained in practice.
• A thorough understanding of key VAT principles.
• Able to explain complex issues in a way that non‑VAT experts will understand.
• Up‑to‑date VAT technical skills and experience across a broad range of large corporate and owner‑managed business issues.
• Ability to manage a client portfolio profitably.
• Ability to deal with VAT advisory matters and report writing (including due diligence).
• Attention to detail when reviewing information / documents (e.g. contracts) and VAT law, case‑law precedent, HMRC / EC VAT guidance etc.
• Able to draft written advice that is clear, precise, well‑written (SPAG) and addresses all the points that need to be covered.
• Strong Word skills – Excel and Powerpoint would be great too.

Person Specification – Attributes

• Willingness/desire to help colleagues and clients resolve their issues.
• Tenacious, creative and enjoys solving puzzles/problems.
• Interested in trying to understand issues and other people’s perspectives on them.
• Thoughtful, reflective and considered / well‑researched before offering views/opinions.
• Able to quickly identify the main ideas / important points in written text or during verbal interactions.
• Organised, efficient and responsive.
• Clear and concise communication (both verbal and written).
• Willingness/desire to expand knowledge and improve skills (of self and others).
• Responsive / attentive.
• Proactive.
• Positive / can‑do attitude.
• Calm / unflappable / patient.

Qualifications – Not Essential, But Helpful

• ACA/CA/CTA or equivalent.