R&D (Research & Development) Tax Assistant / Senior

PKF FRANCIS CLARK; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading accountancy firm in Bristol is seeking an Assistant/Senior for their Innovation Tax Relief team. In this role, you will engage with clients regarding their R&D tax relief claims, manage reports, and enjoy flexible hybrid working options. Ideal candidates will have tax compliance experience and strong communication skills. The firm offers clear career pathways, study support for qualifications, and a supportive culture. This position provides a fantastic opportunity for career development in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Pension

Group life assurance

Health cash plan

Cycle to work scheme

Extra holiday purchase options

Counselling and family support

Volunteering day per year

Qualifications

• Experience preparing R&D tax relief claims in accountancy or advisory firm.
• Strong attention to detail and quality service delivery.
• Good self-organization and task prioritization.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities for R&D tax relief with clients.
• Prepare reports detailing qualifying R&D activities.
• Assist in responding to HMRC enquiries.
• Manage a portfolio of clients and report to managers.

Skills

Tax compliance experience

Excellent communication skills

Attention to detail

Project management skills

Education

ATT / CTA qualification (or part qualified)

Science or technology background

Job description

Overview

In a nutshell

We are seeking an Assistant/Senior to join our Innovation Tax Relief team to support clients with their Research and Development (R&D) tax relief claims. This role offers the chance to work with a diverse range of innovative clients across various industry sectors.

Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working options and engage with a varied client portfolio. We provide a clear career pathway for your professional growth, along with continuous learning opportunities and a collaborative environment. Full study support for ATT/CTA qualifications is available.

This is an exciting opportunity for growth and development in a supportive team. If you are passionate about innovation and eager to make a difference, we would love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Working directly with clients to identify opportunities for R&D tax relief
• Preparing reports that detail qualifying R&D activity and quantifying relevant expenditure to ensure robust R&D claim submissions
• Assisting in the preparation of HMRC enquiry responses
• Proactively assisting in the management of a portfolio of clients, while reporting to Managers and above

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a tax compliance role with experience preparing R&D tax relief claims, either within an accountancy firm or specialist R&D tax advisory firm
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and motivated to provide the highest quality deliverables and service to clients
• Good project management and self-organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks
• Ideally, ATT / CTA qualified or part qualified, and looking to study towards completion of the CTA qualification
• A science or technology background would be desirable, but not essential

Why work at PKF Francis Clark

As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisors in South West England, joining PKF Francis Clark brings opportunities to develop your career in a direction that interests you.

Having celebrated our centenary in 2019, we’re a team of nearly 1,000 people, based across our offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro.

Our culture is flexible and supportive, enabling you to be the best you can be. We work hard to ensure you can be yourself, develop and be part of a forward-thinking team that makes brilliant things happen. But don’t just take our word for it.

PKF Francis Clark is certified as a Great Place to Work. In 2024, we climbed nine places to 24 out of 105 large organisations on the list of the UK’s Best Workplaces.

We’re also ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women (33 out of 90 large organisations), Best Workplaces for Development (30 out of 100) and Best Workplace for Wellbeing (44 out of 100).

Workplace culture experts Great Place to Work also highlighted PKF Francis Clark as a top achiever among the UK’s Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services.

And in recognition of our outstanding training programmes for graduates, school leavers and career changers, we’ve been ranked among England’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for two years running.

Whilst we’re proudly independent, PKF Francis Clark is a member of the PKF Global family of firms – together we’re the 12th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK. Being part of a global community of business advisors in 150 countries provides opportunities to expand your horizons by connecting with PKF colleagues around the world.

Your core benefits

Financial benefits:

• Pension
• Group life assurance - up to four times your core salary
• Group income protection
• Health cash plan to help cover the costs of everyday healthcare

Health & Wellbeing benefits:

• Option to buy 5 extra days holiday*
• Counselling and support for you and your immediate family
• Virtual GP for you and your immediate family
• Cycle to work*

Other benefits:

• Medicash Extras providing you with shopping and gym discounts
• Gifts for career and family milestones
• One volunteering day per year to support local organisations
• Emergency funding from the Francis Clark Charitable Foundation

Please note

* These benefits are provided via a salary exchange and are subject to employee’s post exchange hourly rate remaining above the national minimum wage.