VAT Consultant - Compliance

Ascendion; Reading; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascendion is seeking a VAT Compliance Consultant to join its in-house Indirect Tax team in Reading, UK. You will manage the end-to-end VAT compliance cycle across EMEA and APAC, coordinating with internal finance teams and external tax advisors to ensure timely and accurate reporting.

The role requires 3–5 years of VAT experience, a relevant bachelor’s degree, and a VAT/indirect tax qualification (CTA/ATT or regional equivalent).

Qualifications

• 3–5 years hands-on VAT/compliance experience.
• In-house tax/finance environment preferred; mix with Big 4 is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in finance or related field; VAT qualification required.

Responsibilities

• Manage VAT compliance across multiple jurisdictions (EMEA/APAC).
• Coordinate with finance teams and external advisors on VAT returns and listings.
• Approve filings and coordinate tax payments in line with governance.
• Flag data anomalies and assist with system/transaction issue resolution.
• Support VAT audits and prepare documentation for external advisors.
• Identify and support automation opportunities in compliance processes.

Skills

VAT compliance

In-house experience

SAP/ERP

Regulatory reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Taxation

CTA/ATT or regional indirect tax qualification

Tools

SAP

Job description

About the Role:

• We are seeking a VAT Compliance Consultant to join our in-house Indirect Tax team. In this role, you will support managing our indirect tax obligations across multiple EMEA and APAC jurisdictions. You will work with our internal finance teams and external tax advisors, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Regional Compliance Activity: Manage the end-to-end VAT compliance cycle across multiple EMEA and APAC countries, overseeing the preparation and submission of VAT returns, sales and purchase listings, Intrastat, and other supplementary indirect tax filings.
• Coordination: Liaise with the in-house finance teams and external tax service providers. Responsibilities include sharing source reports, reviewing draft returns, and reviewing General Ledger (GL) account reconciliations.
• Filing & Payment Approvals: Ensure all internal governance steps are followed by obtaining the appropriate levels of approval for VAT filings and coordinating timely tax payments.
• Exception Management & Issue Resolution: Handle VAT exception reporting (with support from the VAT Manager). Proactively flag data anomalies and support the business in resolving system or transactional issues.
• Audit Defense: Support the wider VAT team with indirect tax audits and inquiries for your allocated jurisdictions by gathering data and preparing documentation for sharing with external advisors.
• Process Improvement & Automation: Identify opportunities for automation within the compliance process and support implementation.

Requirements & Qualifications:

• Experience: 3 to 5 years of hands‑on experience working in a VAT compliance environment.
• In‑House Experience: Previous experience working in an in‑house tax or finance environment is highly preferred (a mix of Big 4/Top Tier practice and in‑house experience is also advantageous).
• Education: A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Taxation, Business, or a related field.
• Professional Qualification: A recognized VAT or indirect tax qualification (e.g., CTA, ATT, or regional equivalent) is required.
• Technical Skills: Strong understanding of VAT/GST mechanisms. Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP) is a plus.