Senior VAT Manager

Senior VAT Manager

We are looking for a seasoned Senior VAT Manager to join our Group Tax function. This role will be responsible for managing the company’s indirect tax affairs, with a particular focus on VAT compliance, advisory support, system and process improvements, and risk management.

Key Responsibilities

• VAT Compliance and Reporting: Oversee the preparation and review of VAT returns across relevant jurisdictions; Ensure accurate and timely filing; Review reconciliations, controls, and financial reporting of VAT.
• VAT Advisory: Provide commercially focussed technical VAT advice on transactions - cross‑border activities, supply chains, financing, and business initiatives - while identifying risks, opportunities, and supporting VAT structuring for M&A and reorganisations.
• Risk Management and Governance: Ensure compliance with local and international VAT regulations, identifying risks, maintaining strong processes, policies, and controls, and keeping robust documentation to support VAT positions taken.
• Tax Authority Interaction: Manage relationships with tax authorities, coordinate responses to queries, audits, and investigations and support dispute resolution when required.
• Process Improvement: Drive VAT related financial systems and process improvements by identifying efficiencies, supporting implementation of technology solutions, and ensuring VAT accuracy within accounting systems in collaboration with finance and IT.
• Stakeholder Management: Act as the organisation’s primary VAT contact by partnering with internal teams, managing external advisers, and developing indirect tax knowledge within the finance function.

Required Skills & Experience

• Experience: 7+ years of VAT / indirect tax experience, with a professional tax qualification (e.g., Chartered Tax Adviser) and/or accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CPA).
• Experience gained in Big 4 / professional services and/or multinational corporate environment specifically in relation to VAT, including VAT compliance, advisory, tax authority interaction and complex VAT issues.
• Strong technical knowledge of VAT and indirect tax legislation with excellent knowledge of cross-border VAT rules, e-invoicing regulations and EU VAT framework.
• Experience implementing indirect tax technology and process improvements an advantage.
• Strong IT skills essential (particularly Excel) and familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and VAT reporting tools.
• Ability to thrive in a complex, fast-paced and potentially ambiguous environment.
• A confident self-starter with the ability to act on their own initiative and influence people.
• Must also have strong numerical and analytical skills, with a problem solving mindset, and emphasis on attention to detail and accuracy.

Why Join [Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk]?

• Opportunity to shape and enhance VAT processes and systems within a growing, global organisation.
• Exposure to complex, cross-border tax matters and strategic initiatives, including M&A and business transformation
• Collaborative, purpose-driven global organisation
• Hybrid working model
• Competitive reward and benefits package