Head of Tax & Customs

Randstad UK; Port Talbot; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days holidays per annum

Annual Pay Review

Bonus Scheme

Private Healthcare Scheme

Leading defined contribution pension scheme

Job summary

Tata Steel UK is seeking an experienced Head of Taxation & Customs to lead the UK tax function. This senior leadership role involves optimizing the tax position and ensuring compliance with tax legislation, reporting directly to the Group Finance Director.

The successful candidate will oversee a team of 10, managing both direct and indirect tax responsibilities while ensuring tax impacts are integrated into major business decisions. The position offers competitive salary, excellent benefits, and hybrid working opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience driving tax strategy and compliance.
• Ability to manage a team of tax specialists.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach a team of tax specialists.
• Ensure compliance across corporation tax and VAT.
• Drive tax input for major business transformations.

Skills

Extensive experience in tax

Strong technical expertise in indirect and direct tax

Strong leadership experience

Excellent communication skills

Visionary approach to tax technology

Education

Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) or Chartered Tax Adviser qualification

Job description

Location: Port Talbot (SA13) HYBRID WORKING

Salary: Senior Leader role offering a competitive salary along with company car/allowance, attractive pension scheme and other benefits

We believe that our strength is not just in our steel but the diversity of our workforce. Our people make the difference.

At Tata Steel UK, our strength lies not only in the steel we make, but in the people who shape our journey. As we transform for a sustainable future, our Finance team play a pivotal role in driving change, strengthening governance, and ensuring we remain resilient in an ever-evolving world.

The role

We’re looking for an experienced Head of Taxation & Customs to lead our UK tax function at a pivotal time for the business and the industry. Reporting directly to the Group Finance Director, this is Senior leadership role where you will shape tax strategy, optimise cash performance, and ensure full compliance across a complex and evolving landscape. You will manage a team of 10 with 4 direct reports.

Both Tata Steel UK and its Finance function are undergoing an exciting period of change with a multi-billion investment in a new Electric Arc Furnace at Port Talbot to enable Tata Steel UK’s transition to being a low-CO2 steel producer. The Head of Taxation & Customs will be responsible for ensuring all tax aspects of this business transformation are handled appropriately as well as managing key Tax change projects, including automation and process optimisation, of customs and VAT activities.

The purpose of the role is to optimise the tax position of Tata Steel UK and to comply with statutory tax legislation requirements for direct and indirect taxation. You will lead the UK Tax team to provide coordinated direct and indirect tax advice in line with commercial objectives to ensure that in all major business decisions tax consequences have been fully taken into account.

What you’ll do

Lead & Develop

• Lead, coach, and inspire a team of tax specialists, ensuring high-quality delivery of all tax activities
• Build a future-ready tax function aligned with business objectives and evolving regulatory demands
• Take full accountability for all internal and external tax outputs
• Define and implement the UK tax strategy while actively managing the Group’s tax risk profile
• Maintain strong relationships with HMRC, ensuring transparency and a low-risk status
• Lead governance frameworks including SAO and tax risk management processes

Own Compliance & Reporting

• Oversee all UK tax filings, payments, and forecasting across:
• Corporation Tax
• VAT & Customs
• Ensure accuracy, compliance, and efficiency across all processes
• Partner with senior stakeholders to ensure tax considerations are embedded in key business decisions
• Advise on complex UK and international transactions, including:
• Cross-border structuring & compliance
• Transfer pricing & OECD/BEPS requirements
• M&A, restructuring, and expansion activities
• Identify opportunities to improve cash flow and tax efficiency
• Maximise benefits from tax credits (e.g. RDEC) and available tax attributes
• Reduce reliance on external advisors through strong in-house capability

Lead Transformation

• Drive tax input into major business transformation initiatives
• Oversee implementation of digital tax systems and compliance with Making Tax Digital requirements
• Support the business in navigating evolving customs complexities

What you’ll need

• Extensive experience in tax, with strong technical expertise and a broad understanding of both indirect and direct tax
• Deep understanding of UK tax legislation and international tax frameworks
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic tax outcomes through expert stakeholder engagement
• Visionary approach to tax technology and digital transformation
• Strong leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams
• Agility in navigating complex regulatory shifts
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) or Chartered Tax Adviser qualification
• Professional membership at an appropriate level

What we can offer you

Tata Steel UK offers their employees significant benefits packages. For this role, you will benefit from:

• A market competitive salary
• 35 days holidays per annum
• Annual Pay Review
• Bonus Scheme – subject to business performance
• Private Healthcare Scheme (family cover)
• One of the UK’s leading defined contribution pension schemes (10% employer contribution / 6% employee contribution)

We also have an extensive list of lifestyle benefits including free onsite parking at all of our sites, an employee assistance programme as well as Employee discount scheme for companies including Vodafone, Jaguar Land Rour and also various local services.