VAT Director/ Senior Manager

Please note this role can be based out of either our Manchester or Leeds offices.

As part of our National VAT practice, the successful candidate will be responsible for managing a diverse client portfolio, encompassing the delivery of tax advisory services as well as overseeing some complex VAT compliance. This is a challenging and interesting client-facing role, which will include exposure to a range of both UK and international clients. There is a pathway to partner for the correct candidate as the growth of our VAT service line forms part of a wider strategic objective to double the size of our tax services to corporates in four years.

The responsibilities

• Business development: Lead the development of the VAT practice across our North of England offices, nationally, focusing on our corporate, not-for-profit, real estate and landed estates clients. There is also an opportunity to develop a VAT-led offering in other markets.
• Working with the VAT senior team to ensure that the firm’s northern regional offices are kept updated on technical VAT developments and opportunities for discussions with clients.
• Involvement across sector groups to develop our VAT business and be involved in wider business development initiatives.
• Technical: Leading on complex VAT advisory projects across corporate, and not-for-profit, and landed estate clients. Review advice prepared by the national team. Lead on understanding client issues and proposing solutions for VAT technical matters, and process related issues, working with our Tax Technology and Transformation team.
• People: Line management responsibility as part of the senior VAT team for the manager group. Support the existing VAT partner and director group with developing the team with VAT technical skills, but also thought leadership, business development and client handling skills.

The Team

The VAT team consists of two Partners, two Directors, two Senior Managers, five Managers and Assistant Managers, and five assistants and trainees. The aim is to grow the team to 20 in the coming 12 months. The team operates as one team across five offices (Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and London).

You

The role would suit a CTA qualified person, or someone qualified by experience. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Strong UK VAT technical skills and familiarity with international VAT issues.
• Ability to analyse tax technical queries and provide robust advice and solutions.
• Knowledge of VAT processes, procedures and controls within mid to large businesses and the potential use cases for tax technology in supporting clients with management of risk.
• Project management skills, with the ability to plan and prioritise work and meet deadlines.
• Experience of managing a team and helping to deliver a very high standard of professional work to a challenging and varied portfolio of clients.
• Responsibility for the delivery and quality of work.
• Excellent communication skills.
• A clear client focus with a commitment to building strong client relationships.
• Ability to work collaboratively in different teams.
• Coaching and mentoring skills to develop other team members.
• Ability to build closer relationships with other service lines to increase VAT involvement in their clients.
• Ability to increase visibility of VAT within relevant sector groups.

Reward and benefits

A 35‑hour working week with a hybrid working policy with the flexibility to work from home for up to three days per week (our core hours are 10-4). Excellent benefits including contributory pension scheme, 25 days annual leave, Life Assurance cover and great flexible benefits and family‑friendly policies. Eligibility for the firm’s Profit‑Sharing Plan. Paid in December. Eligibility for the discretionary bonus scheme.

Equality, Diversity