Tax & Finance Assistant

Tax & Finance Assistant

Full-Time 25000 - 32000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Smart Pension

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support tax compliance and finance operations while gaining valuable experience.
  • Company: Join Smart, a leading financial technology company transforming financial wellbeing.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, professional development budget, and extensive healthcare.
  • Other info: Hybrid working available and a culture that values diversity and inclusion.
  • Why this job: Kickstart your career with hands-on training and mentorship from industry experts.
  • Qualifications: A-Level education or equivalent, strong numerical skills, and attention to detail.

The predicted salary is between 25000 - 32000 £ per year.

At Smart, our mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Tax & Finance Assistant to join our growing finance team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate, school leaver, or early-career professional who is keen to develop specialist tax expertise, accounting experience, valuable exposure to payroll and wider financial operations.

We offer full study support towards a recognised professional qualification, along with hands-on training, mentoring from experienced tax and finance professionals, and the opportunity to work across a broad range of UK and international matters.

Reporting to the in-house Tax Manager, with regular rotation to support the wider Financial Operations team, this role is based in London with hybrid working available.

Key Responsibilities

  • Tax
  • Working closely with the Tax Manager, you will support a variety of tax compliance and advisory activities, including:
  • Maintaining the global tax compliance calendar to help ensure all filing deadlines and regulatory requirements are met.
  • Assisting with the preparation and review of UK VAT returns.
  • Supporting the preparation and submission of corporation tax returns and other tax filings.
  • Assisting with the UK Group's R&D tax relief claim process.
  • Building relationships with external tax advisers and coordinating information requests.
  • Assisting with tax audits and preparing supporting documentation.
  • Maintaining tax controls and compliance procedures.
  • Supporting tax-related correspondence and responding to routine enquiries.
  • Assisting with tax reporting and balance sheet reconciliations.
  • Working with colleagues across Finance to improve tax processes, controls and reporting accuracy.
  • Contributing ideas to improve efficiency, controls and ways of working.
  • Finance

Alongside your tax responsibilities, you will gain valuable experience across key finance operations, including payroll, with responsibilities such as:

  • Posting of journals within your areas of responsibility.
  • Taking ownership of key balance sheet reconciliations within your areas of responsibility.
  • Supporting with the month end procedures.
  • Assisting with internal and external audits as required.
  • Assisting with the operation of UK and international payrolls.
  • Liaising with external payroll providers to coordinate payroll inputs, outputs and queries.
  • Supporting payroll-related tax reporting, including PAYE and employee benefits.
  • Assisting with HMRC reconciliations and correspondence.
  • Helping to maintain pension administration processes and responding to employee queries.
  • Supporting payroll system improvements and process enhancements.
  • Working with HR and Finance teams to ensure payroll information is accurate and up to date.
  • Gaining exposure to accounting processes and wider financial operations across the business, with increasing responsibility and development opportunities as you progress.

Who We Are Looking For

  • Educated to A-Level (or equivalent)
  • Strong numerical and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail Comment start Comment end
  • Ability to work accurately with confidential and sensitive information
  • Good written and verbal communication skills
  • Comfortable using Microsoft Office

Who We Are

We work in partnerships with governments and financial institutions in the UK and internationally.

Our cloud-native digital platform is revolutionising how people around the world think about, and save for, their retirement.

At heart, we’re a financial technology business.

What we do is all about innovation, and using the power of digital change to put the customer first.

Our Engineers will tell you that working at Smart gives you the opportunity to play your part in developing world-class technological solutions, working with – and learning from – like‑minded people.

You’ll also find that, across our business, our colleagues love Smart’s culture, and how what we do means better financial outcomes for savers.

That feels worthwhile, and it means that what we do, collectively, goes way beyond the nine to five of a typical working day.

Don’t just take our word for it – you can see what our colleagues say about working at Smart on Linked In Life and Glassdoor.

Benefits

  • 25 days’ holiday per year, increasing with length of service.
  • £500 annual training budget to spend on your professional development
  • Extensive private healthcare, including dental, eyecare and EAP
  • Enhanced sick leave (three months’ pay per year)
  • Enhanced maternity and paternity (maternity – 6 months fully paid/paternity – 3 weeks fully paid)
  • Death in service insurance cover
  • Fully-paid five-week sabbatical after five years of employment
  • In office wellbeing, such as manicures, massages and barbers.
  • Smart employees also enjoy a 50% discount on orders from our sister company Arena Flowers, Britain's most ethical florist.

They offer unique hand-tied bouquets, luxury flowers, letterbox flowers, plants and gifts to spend on friends and loved ones or even for yourself.

At Smart, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to do their best work.

We believe that diverse perspectives help us lead the way in transforming retirement, savings, and financial wellbeing.

We welcome differences in background, experience, thinking, and identity, and we recognise that innovation is strongest when it is built on inclusion and fairness.

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace, we encourage you to let us know - we are committed to supporting you.

Our mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world.

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Tax & Finance Assistant employer: Smart Pension

At Smart, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions professional growth and a collaborative work culture. Our commitment to employee wellbeing is reflected in our generous benefits package, including extensive private healthcare, a £500 annual training budget, and a fully-paid five-week sabbatical after five years. Located in a vibrant environment, we foster inclusivity and innovation, making it a rewarding place for individuals looking to make a meaningful impact in the financial wellbeing sector.

Smart Pension

Contact Details:

Smart Pension Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Tax & Finance Assistant

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 Smart Pension, 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 & Finance Assistant

Tax Compliance
VAT Returns Preparation
Corporation Tax Returns
R&D Tax Relief Claims
Tax Audits Support
Balance Sheet Reconciliations
Payroll Operations

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 Smart Pension'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 Smart Pension. 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 Smart Pension!

How to prepare for a job interview at Smart Pension

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 Smart Pension.

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 Smart Pension. It helps to show our commitment!