Head of VAT

What are we looking for in our Head of VAT?

Head of VAT
FTSE Listed, Professional Services
Remote role opportunity, with travel to London once per quarter.

Our client, a well known FTSE listed Professional Services company are looking for an experienced Tax Professional for a Head of VAT role.  The purpose of the role is to set the group’s VAT strategy and lead the function to effectively and efficiently deliver on all aspects of external VAT reporting, VAT governance and VAT advisory matters.

Job Description:

What you'll be doing

• Lead and manage a remote team of 2 UK based staff (Senior Manager and a VAT Analyst).
• Develop and execute a strategy for the management of VAT for the group.
• Accountability for the end-to-end delivery of UK and Ireland VAT compliance and oversight of the group’s VAT status in its key international jurisdictions (Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, UAE, and India).
• Responsible for ensuring an appropriate VAT governance framework is in place and operating effectively, including SAO compliance in the UK.
• Full VAT advisory support on large and complex BPO contracts (including financial services, insurance, and education exemptions), international supply chains, internal restructuring projects and M&A transactions.
• Proactive management of the group’s Partial Exemption status.
• Continuous improvement of the group’s VAT systems and processes to ensure that they are fit for purpose and operating efficiently.
• Engaging in proactive and regular contact with key internal stakeholders and their teams to improve awareness of VAT and the work of the team.
• Be the VAT lead on the HMRC relationship and support finance teams with managing their relationships with local tax authorities.
• Establish a close and trusted network of external advisors and industry contacts, including membership of external industry body groups
• Reports to Director of Group Tax
• Line management responsibility for a Senior Manager and a VAT Analyst.
• Key member of the tax leadership team working alongside the Head of Direct Tax and Head of Employment Tax.
• Works closely with the wider Tax Team, finance, and other internal stakeholders.

What we're looking for:

• Enthusiastic and self-motivated individual with a “can do” attitude
• Experienced people manager
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong commercial awareness and solution driven mindset
• Proven experience in transformation and process improvement projects
• Highly proficient written and verbal communication skills
• Performs well under pressure
• Minimum 10-15 years VAT experience in the profession (“big 4”) and industry
• CTA qualified (ideally)
• Financial services and insurance sector experience helpful but not essential
• In-house / industry tax team experience preferred