This role supports the VAT Lead in ensuring that:
- The business fully meets its external VAT reporting obligations and is compliant with all applicable indirect tax legislation.
- Appropriate indirect tax opportunities are identified and executed in line with commercial decisions and Heathrow's Tax Strategy.
- High quality technical tax advice is provided on a pro-active and timely basis.
- Robust internal policies, processes and controls are maintained from a Senior Accounting Officer and Business Risk Rating perspective.
- Business-as-usual operations are running effectively and efficiently for VAT purposes.
As the VAT Manager, you will be dealing with a complex array of commercial and technical issues which involve tackling large amounts of data and high value sums. As well as managing the end-to-end reporting and compliance process, this role will also support in ensuring that a suitable governance framework is in place and that any process improvements are routinely considered and implemented particularly with reference to the Finance Team's digitisation / automation goals. You will be expected to partner with key stakeholders within finance and the wider business to manage risk and to collaboratively bring about workable solutions to multifaceted challenges.
You should be someone who is comfortable managing through change and adept at simplifying complex tax issues, communicating effectively at different levels and bringing a broad knowledge of tax and commercial concepts to bear on processes and discussions.
Principal Accountabilities
The role will have line management responsibility for one (the Finance Analyst, Indirect Tax) and will:
- Oversee and review the end-to-end monthly VAT return process for two UK VAT Groups.
- Support the VAT Lead in maintaining the HMRC relationship.
- Provide advice in relation to business-as-usual queries such as reviewing contracts and determining the correct VAT treatment of various sales and purchase transactions.
- Input into finance and commercial projects and other new business initiatives.
- Review key areas of the business and provide appropriate recommendations as part of ongoing controls and risks review work.
- Contribute to maintaining a suitable governance framework and assessing BRR and SAO preparedness.
- Monitoring and implementing any relevant changes in indirect tax legislation.
- Providing VAT training to the business.
Qualifications and Experience
These skills are essential:
- Proven experience working in a VAT compliance and advisory role within a commercial context.
- A strong understanding of indirect tax compliance processes particularly with reference to the UK.
- ACA / ACCA / ATT / CTA qualified (or equivalent) with several years post qualification experience in VAT.
- Strong team working and influencing skills and experience managing junior members of a team.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with key stakeholders.
- The ability to see tasks to completion from initial query to data gathering through to a satisfactory conclusion.
- Good time and project management skills - in particular, the ability to balance competing priorities and to communicate progress or escalate issues in timely fashion.
- Able to analyse data effectively and good attention to detail.
- Commercially minded and capable of providing clear, considered advice - ability to think strategically and consider future implications when preparing/reviewing work and/or advising on project work.
- Strong IT skills, especially Excel.
Ideally, you'll also have:
- Good knowledge of Oracle and OneSource for VAT.
Guidant Global (BH4SF) is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.