Head of Direct Tax

Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits

Location: London Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1M 6HA

Contract type: Permanent

Business area: Finance & Transformation

Closing date: 04 June 2026

Requisition ID: 400062984

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work‑life balance. That’s waiting for you here at Sainsbury’s. For a FTSE business, we move incredibly fast. When we’re not leading projects, we’re supporting teams across the wider group to achieve their goals. And here, you can see the impact of your work as soon as you walk into a store, giving you a real sense of purpose and responsibility. Better still, the team around you will listen to your ideas and opinions, and you’ll have every chance to try something new. The scale and complexity of our business mean there’s always something new to learn, and we’ll support you every step of the way. We’re trusted to get on with it. So get ready to make things happen.

Location: London or Coventry Store Support Centre & Home. Colleagues go into the office 2 days per week on average.

Joining Sainsbury's as the Head of Direct Tax offers a unique opportunity to lead and shape the direct tax strategy for a market‑leading organisation with a strong focus on innovation and collaboration. In this role, you will have the autonomy to make key decisions, drive strategic initiatives, and provide direct tax advice that impacts various business units, including Sainsbury's Supermarkets, Argos, Nectar, and other Group companies. With the support of a dedicated team and the resources necessary to succeed, you will play a pivotal role in managing the direct tax compliance and reporting requirements while contributing to the overarching business goals of the company.

What you'll do

• You will be responsible for managing the direct tax matters of the group, overseeing compliance and reporting requirements, providing direct tax advice to various areas of the business, and owning the strategic agenda for direct tax.
• You will work closely with project teams on key corporate projects, review implications of new business systems and processes, and manage the direct tax team to support the development of team members.
• Building positive relationships with key stakeholders, demonstrating tax technical excellence, and driving change to support the overarching business goals will be essential for success in this role.
• Your role will involve exercising judgement in direct tax compliance and reporting and making key technical decisions to ensure accurate and timely completion of HMRC requirements.

Who you are

• You are a seasoned tax professional with a proven track record in managing direct tax compliance, reporting, and advisory matters for a diverse group of companies.
• Your leadership qualities, technical expertise in areas such as transfer pricing, and ability to distil complex technical information for non‑technical stakeholders demonstrate your commitment to delivering strategic tax solutions with a commercial mindset.
• You excel in fostering positive relationships with key stakeholders, driving change, and upholding a robust control environment, all while embodying Sainsbury's values and culture through your proactive and adaptable approach in a dynamic and fast‑paced environment.
• Qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA, ACCA, or equivalent) and Chartered Tax Advisor - Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).
• Demonstrable in‑house experience delivering tax reporting, compliance, and advisory activities, including accurate and timely completion of HMRC requirements.
• Proven technical expertise in tax, including transfer pricing and application of tax accounting principles, systems, and processes.
• Evidence of managing a team, including setting direction, supporting delivery, and maintaining a controlled and compliant environment.
• Ability to communicate complex technical tax information in a clear and accessible manner to non‑technical stakeholders and build effective working relationships.
• Demonstrated capability to manage multiple priorities independently, meet deadlines under pressure, and contribute to change initiatives such as improvements or transformation of reporting systems.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whatever you are and wherever you work. Around here there’s always the chance to try something new, whether that’s as part of an evolving team or elsewhere across the business, and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues who go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working.

Benefits:

• Starting off with a colleague discount, you will receive 10% off at Sainsbury’s, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day.
• You also have coverage for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover.
• You may also be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 65% of salary, depending on performance (in cash and shares).
• Your wellbeing is important. You will receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday.
• We offer benefits to help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance to access some of your pay before pay day, and a range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
• You will receive a company car cash allowance unless you are travelling 10,000 business miles in your role, then you can choose a car.
• There is also an employee assistance programme and you may be eligible for private healthcare.
• Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you, which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.

For more about our benefits, please see www.sainsburys.jobs (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).