Assistant Tax Manager

Cowgills, part of the Sumer Group; Stockport; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Cowgills, a Sumer Group company in Stockport, seeks an Assistant Tax Manager to join its Tax Advisory team. You will work on tax advisory projects for SMEs and owner-managed businesses, with a pathway toward CTA qualification. The role suits a proactive self-starter who communicates effectively and can thrive in a small, collaborative team.

Exposure to tax compliance plus advisory work is valued, and you’ll develop broad technical skills in a supportive environment with growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• CTA qualified (or within ~2 years post-qualification).
• Strong background in tax compliance, ideally gained in practice.
• Experience with SMEs and owner-managed businesses.
• Broad general tax knowledge with some advisory exposure desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Self-starter with initiative and ability to work independently.
• Motivated and proactive with genuine interest in tax advisory work.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with and delivering tax advisory projects for SMEs and owner-managed businesses.
• Supporting senior team on tax planning and advisory work across a range of tax areas.
• Reviewing and building upon existing compliance knowledge to inform advisory recommendations.
• Identifying potential tax planning opportunities within client portfolios.
• Attending client meetings with senior team members to identify tax planning opportunities.
• Conducting technical research and preparing clear written advice.
• Collaborating with colleagues across the wider firm to deliver integrated client solutions.

Skills

CTA qualified

Tax compliance

SMEs/OMBs experience

General tax knowledge

Advisory exposure

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Self-starter

Independent working

Team collaboration

Job description

Description

As one of the region’s leading independent chartered accountants and business advisors, Cowgills has the expertise and knowledge to provide you with a full-service offering. Our independence ensures that we can tailor our approach to suit our clients’ individual needs. We have over 200 talented, committed and engaged employees, totally focused on delivering financial guidance and growth strategies to our clients. We are seeking a motivated and ambitious Assistant Tax Manager to join our small but highly skilled tax team. This role will have a predominantly tax advisory focus, supporting a varied portfolio of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and owner-managed businesses (OMBs). The ideal candidate will be within the first two years of qualifying as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and will have developed a strong grounding in tax compliance. Some exposure to tax advisory work would be advantageous but is not essential. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to build their advisory experience and broaden their technical knowledge across general tax matters within a supportive team environment.

Department

Tax Advisory

Location

Stockport

Key Responsibilities

• Assisting with and delivering tax advisory projects for SMEs and owner-managed businesses.
• Supporting senior team members on tax planning and advisory work across a range of tax areas.
• Reviewing and building upon existing compliance knowledge to inform advisory recommendations.
• Identifying potential tax planning opportunities within client portfolios.
• Attending client meetings with senior team members to identify tax planning opportunities.
• Conducting technical research and preparing clear written advice.
• Collaborating with colleagues across the wider firm to deliver integrated client solutions.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• CTA qualified (or within approximately two years post-qualification).
• Strong background in tax compliance, ideally gained in practice.
• Experience working with SMEs and owner-managed businesses.
• Broad general tax knowledge rather than a narrow specialist focus.
• Some exposure to tax advisory work is desirable but not essential.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Keen to develop technical skills and advisory capability.
• Self-starter with the ability to take initiative and manage tasks independently.
• Motivated and proactive, with a genuine interest in tax advisory work.
• Comfortable working within a small, collaborative team environment.

Belong @ Sumer

At Sumer, we know everyone's journey is different. That’s why we’re committed to fairness, removing barriers and giving people the support they need to do their best work. If you need any support during the hiring process, just let us know. Our values represent what matters most to us and guide how we work every day.

• We Shine Together
• We Do the Right Thing
• We Make It Count

We know diverse teams make us stronger. That’s why we’re creating an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs and differences are valued and celebrated.