Tax Accountant in London

We are the UK’s leading provider of on-campus residential and academic accommodation infrastructure. Every day, we support over 35,000 students on their journey through higher education, working with our university partners to create an amazing student experience. We have a great opportunity for a Tax Accountant to join the Tax and Treasury team. The Tax Accountant’s primary focus will be to manage the Group’s VAT compliance obligations. The role will also support VAT forecasting, budgeting and analysis, working closely with Finance to ensure VAT impacts are appropriately reflected in business planning and decision-making. In addition, there will be expectation that the individual can support PSA and corporation tax compliance obligations. This role will also provide cover for Treasury activities when needed. On-the-job training will be provided to build your knowledge and familiarity with treasury operations and processes, and we are looking for you to be willing to learn and support this area. This hybrid role is based in our award-winning offices near London Bridge, Cannon Street and Monument stations.

Key role responsibilities include:

• Review of transactions for all the SPVs and operating entities on a monthly basis to make sure correct VAT treatments have been applied by the Finance and AP team before the month close.
• Prepare and submit VAT returns in accordance with statutory deadlines.
• Ensuring the timely payment of all relevant VAT liabilities.
• Oversight and review of VAT Balance Sheet Reconciliations by set deadline, ensuring appropriate back up and issues resolved in a timely manner.
• Carry out the partial exemption calculation and annual adjustments.
• Preparation and delivery of VAT training where necessary to Finance and AP Team, and other teams/business.
• Ensure clear and concise working papers are maintained and suitable for audit purposes.
• Support VAT forecasting, budgeting and analysis, working closely with Finance to ensure VAT impacts are appropriately reflected in business planning and decision-making.
• Monthly analysis of transactions to identify PSA items for a smooth PSA return completion at the year end.
• Provide support on corporation tax compliance work.
• Provide treasury cover with day-to-day support with treasury operations, including cash management, payments, banking activities and reporting.

We are looking for an experienced professional with 3 years+ VAT compliance experience gained in a medium/large practice/corporate environment with complex property structures, along with:

• Solid understanding of VAT legislations related to land and properties, construction, and partial exemption legislations and practical experience of carrying out partial exemption annual adjustment calculations.
• Practical experience of simultaneously dealing with the monthly/quarterly VAT compliance of 20+ VAT registered entities and taking full ownership of the end-to-end VAT compliance process.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience to deal with large data sets such as power query, power pivot, various Excel formulas such as xlookup, xmatch, sumifs, iferror, various date functions, offset, sum-product, nesting of formula, pivot tables, Macro etc.
• Prior experience in applying advanced Excel knowledge for process improvements.
• ACCA or CIMA part-qualified or be willing to study towards a professional qualification.

Alongside this, you will have a high level of initiative, ownership and accountability, combined with a passion to deliver high-quality outputs and develop on your tax and IT skills to drive continuous process improvement and best practice.

In return, we are offering a competitive salary of c.£60k along with a great benefits package which includes a discretionary performance bonus, private healthcare, pension, life assurance, training, two paid volunteering or personal development days, cycle to work scheme and 29 days holiday plus bank holidays, as well as discounts from a variety of top retailers, restaurants, gyms and more.

UPP welcome all applications and recognise the value of having a diverse and inclusive culture, which reflects the communities we work with and has a positive impact on our people, our student residents, and our university partners. We understand all disabilities, impairments and conditions are unique, so please advise us of any adjustments which would support you through our recruitment process and also help you to thrive at work. Our core values of Innovation, Sustainability, Community, Partnership and Respect, are fundamental to our culture and summarise what is important to our business and our people. We’re a team that works with energy, pace, and passion to deliver the very best customer-focused experience for our partners and student residents. Apply today and one of our in-house Recruitment Team will be in contact.