Indirect Tax Manager

Whsmith; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Working

4pm Friday Finish

25 Days holiday + Birthday off

Private Medical

Company Pension

Annual Bonus

Car Allowance

Staff Discount Card

Job summary

WH Smith is seeking an experienced Indirect Tax Manager to lead the UK and European indirect tax matters within the Group Tax team. The role focuses on compliance, advisory work, project management and liaison with Tax Authorities across multiple jurisdictions.

You will manage two tax accountants, provide strategic VAT guidance to cross-functional teams, and contribute to finance transformation initiatives while staying updated on legislative changes.

Qualifications

• Qualified in tax or accounting with 6+ years of experience.
• Proven experience managing UK and European indirect tax matters.
• Strong communication skills and flexibility.
• Line management experience for two tax accountants.

Responsibilities

• Lead indirect tax reporting across UK and Europe, meeting deadlines.
• Provide commercial VAT advice and support to Finance, Legal and internal teams.
• Manage the indirect tax team of two tax accountants.
• Oversee year-end indirect tax audits for UK and Europe.
• Support broader finance transformation by integrating indirect tax into new processes and systems.
• Monitor indirect tax risks and implement controls.
• Engage with external advisors and support effective compliance across jurisdictions.
• Assist with customs duties, import VAT, CBAM and related regimes.
• Manage environmental tax obligations (Plastic Packaging Tax, packaging waste) across jurisdictions.

Skills

Indirect tax

VAT guidance

Team leadership

Education

Qualified in tax or accounting

Job description

This role is 4 days in the office

At WH Smith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers, the ones that enable our growth. An excellent opportunity has arisen for an Indirect Tax Manager to join the Group Tax team. This role focuses on indirect tax compliance, internal advisory work across all areas of the business, project management and indirect tax advisory and Tax Authority liaison across the UK and Europe. The role requires ongoing input into systems processes and development from an Indirect Tax perspective and includes the management of two team members. This position reports into the Group Head of Tax.

What you will be doing:

• Leading the indirect tax reporting across the UK and Europe, ensuring reporting and payment deadlines are met. This includes reviewing all indirect tax returns prior to submission to the relevant tax authorities.
• Provide commercial VAT advice and support to Finance, Legal and internal business teams, including support on e-invoicing/e-reporting requirements, improvements to VAT reporting, providing input on new business initiatives, projects and business transactions as required and providing indirect tax training to internal teams.
• Managing the indirect tax team, specifically the tax accountants responsible for in-country compliance obligations.
• Managing the year-end indirect tax audit process for the UK and Europe.
• Supporting wider finance transformation activity by ensuring indirect tax requirements are appropriately considered and implemented into new processes and systems to maintain compliance and improve efficiency.
• Review the VAT input for year-end and half year reporting process. Monitor the indirect tax risks and mitigate by implementing tax-related controls which operate effectively.
• Managing third-party tax audits and queries from tax authorities.
• Keep up to date with legislative changes and case law, communicating any changes or opportunities with other internal teams. Liaising with external advisors to support effective compliance across jurisdictions and identify relevant indirect tax opportunities.
• Engaging with internal supply chain teams to ensure indirect tax is considered in new supply chain initiatives.
• Supporting wider tax governance processes, including completing the IR35 assessments for contractor arrangements, in conjunction with internal stakeholders and external advisors as required.
• Provide strategic advice on customs duties, import VAT, Customs valuation, commodity classification, origin and free trade agreements, and import/export controls to ensure compliance across UK and international supply chains.
• Manage the environmental tax obligations for the business, including Plastic Packaging Tax, CBAM, packaging waste regulations and other emerging environmental tax regimes across relevant jurisdictions.

What we are looking for:

• Qualified in tax or accounting with 6+ years of experience
• Proven experience managing UK and European indirect tax matters. Retail experience would be useful but not essential.
• Good communicator, who is flexible and able to react to new business developments
• A team player who is prepared to challenge processes and actively promote new ideas and alternative approaches to tasks, whilst also supporting project teams and the wider Group Tax team
• Line management experience, as this role has responsibility for two tax accountants.

How we reward our teams:

• Hybrid Working Model from home and in the office
• 4pm Friday Finish
• Flexible Working
• 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Family Friendly Leave
• Company Pension scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
• Competitive Salary and Car Allowance
• Private Medical
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff Discount Card for railway stores (subject to policy)

About us:

Celebrating over 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 5,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

Our business operates from two key locations. Our UK Travel and International office is based in a vibrant area of London, close to Aldgate and Liverpool Street Station, while the other is located at Swindon's International Business Park, just off the M4 with excellent transport links and over 100 on-site parking spaces.

Across both locations, we're an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration, and innovation. We foster an entrepreneurial culture where people are encouraged to take initiative, embrace new challenges, and help shape the future of our business.

At WHSmith we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here.

We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help!