Group Head of Tax

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Generous pension

Discounts and rewards

Staff networks

Learning and mentoring

Family-friendly policies

Job summary

The University of Sheffield seeks a senior Tax Leader to drive tax strategy and oversee the specialist team across VAT, employment taxes and global mobility. You will work with colleagues across Finance to provide expert tax support for payroll, expenses, spin-out activities and external advisers.

You will lead a high-performing team, monitor tax changes, and contribute to cross‑department projects within a SAP replacement program. This is a pivotal role within the Department of Finance.

Qualifications

• Tax professional with substantial professional experience in direct or indirect tax across global mobility.
• Excellent and current knowledge of tax policies, legislation and systems.
• Strong communication skills with senior management influence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the tax strategy, worldwide tax affairs and compliance risks for the University and group operations.
• Proactively manage the relationship with HMRC.
• Lead, develop and motivate VAT and employment taxes teams to deliver the tax strategy and ensure timely statutory filings.
• Lead the SAP upgrade project tax input and advise on tax implications.

Skills

Tax strategy

Team leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Chartered Accountancy or CTA tax qualification

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced tax professional to lead our tax strategy and specialist team. With a turnover of around £900m and £1bn of net assets the post provides a highly varied and challenging opportunity for an excellent collaborator and technically strong individual to flourish.

The post will lead a dynamic and passionate team of seven tax and other specialists, incorporating VAT and Business Taxes, Off Payroll Working and related Employment taxes, and Global Mobility. The role also has a substantially wider remit, working across all University activities to include technical tax support for the University’s Payroll & expenses team; subsidiary companies’ business activities; spin‑out company corporate structures and support to founders; and advising generally on tax aspects of University contractual arrangements. They will work closely with the Travel and Insurance team regarding overseas business travel policy and processes.

You will contribute and influence across all areas of University’s activity, working in partnership with colleagues to provide professional support across diverse teams, providing an excellent service. This is an exciting time to join the Department of Finance, as it commences a transformative SAP system replacement project. As part of the Department of Finance team reporting to the Associate Director of Financial Services and Governance, the post-holder will have a key role in ensuring success and motivating others to achieve the University and Department’s Vision.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the tax strategy, worldwide tax affairs and compliance risks for the University and its group operations
• Proactively manage the working relationship with HMRC.
• Lead, develop and motivate the specialist VAT and employment taxes teams to deliver the tax strategy and to provide consistently excellent customer service across the University. Manage team resources to meet all statutory filing requirements.
• Review and improve systems and processes to ensure the University remains fully compliant with tax legislation in an efficient manner.
• Develop and educate both finance and the wider University staff, providing support, training and guidance to departments to improve tax awareness throughout the University,
• Monitor changes in tax legislation, assess and advise on their impact on the University, actively maintaining up to date knowledge;
• Manage the relationships with, and oversee the budget for professional advisors, ensuring compliance with University Procurement policy;
• Advise on capital and commercial projects to ensure tax risks are managed, leading on the resolution of complex tax issues and where necessary managing the input from external tax advisers. Review and comment on commercial agreements and University spin‑out structures for tax matters;
• Provide technical tax support across the University on new or changing policies, legislation, initiatives or processes.
• Responsible for the University's exposure to corporate and employment tax risks resulting from its activities and staff overseas.
• Manage, develop and support the full team to enable them to carry out the day to day tasks required of their roles and participate in wider finance initiatives.
• Participate actively in British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG) National and Regional Tax meetings
• Lead the tax input into the SAP upgrade project, ensuring VAT and other tax implications are raised and considered throughout the project
• Play an active role as a member of the Finance leadership team including contributing to cross departmental projects and priorities.
• Any other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential Or Desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Tax professional with substantial professional and vocational experience in direct or indirect tax, a good working knowledge across all taxes (including Global Mobility) supported by an Chartered Accountancy or CTA tax qualification, or equivalent experience gained in a complex environment.

• Excellent and current knowledge of relevant systems, policies and legislation. Compliance and audit experience would be an advantage.
• Strong and effective communication skills, both written and verbal, able to communicate and present complex tax concepts clearly and simply to staff at all levels. Experience of working with and influencing senior management.
• Excellent Customer Service Skills, With Experience Of Responding Efficiently and effectively to queries and an enquiring approach that supports the ongoing improvement of existing processes and operations.
• Rigorous analytical approach balancing attention to detail and strategic thinking whilst combining technical knowledge with pragmatic commercial Judgement. Commercial ‘in‑house’ experience is an advantage.
• Excellent management, leadership, planning and organisational skills.
• Experience of building, developing and managing a team, motivating high performance in others and aligning the day‑to‑day work and goals of the team with the organisation’s strategic vision.
• Experience of developing and maintaining a network of contacts, both within an organisation and externally.
• Higher education or charity sector experience.

Desirable

Further Information

Grade

9

Salary

£62,994 - £82,134 depending upon experience

Work arrangement

Full‑time, but reduced hours above 0.7 FTE would be considered

Duration

Permanent

Line manager

Associate Director of Financial Services and Governance

Direct reports

Business Tax Manager, Employment Taxes Manager

Right to work in the UK

If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.

For informal enquiries about this job contact Karen Noice, Associate Director of Financial Services and Governance: on [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on Friday 13th November 2026. This will consist of a panel interview and presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 2 November 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail] .

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 01/11/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.