VAT (Indirect Tax) Senior Manager

PKF FRANCIS CLARK; Exeter; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading accountancy firm in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior VAT Manager to lead high-impact advisory projects and oversee complex client portfolios. The role requires strategic thinking and strong leadership capabilities, with a focus on mentoring team members and driving business development initiatives. Ideal candidates will be CTA/ACA/ACCA qualified with significant experience in VAT advisory. This position offers a blend of challenge and impact in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Pension

Health cash plan

Volunteering day

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in a senior VAT advisory role.
• Proven track record in managing complex portfolios.
• Exceptional communication skills for influencing at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a portfolio of high-value clients across VAT and indirect tax.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams on complex assignments.
• Identify and lead on VAT and customs planning initiatives.

Skills

Leadership capabilities

Stakeholder management skills

Proficiency in tax technology platforms

Commercial acumen

Education

CTA and/or ACA/ACCA qualified

Tools

Tax technology platforms

Job description

In a nutshell

Looking to step into a more strategic VAT leadership role? Join our dynamic and inclusive team as a Senior VAT Manager, where you will lead high‑impact advisory projects, shape client strategy and drive business development. You will oversee complex portfolios, mentor future leaders and act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders. With access to advanced leadership development pathways and the opportunity to influence firm‑wide initiatives including ESG and innovation, this role offers the perfect blend of challenge, autonomy and impact in a collaborative and values‑driven environment.

Please note - we are not accepting CVs from recruitment agencies for this role.

What you’ll be doing day to day

• Oversee a portfolio of high‑value and technically complex clients across VAT, indirect tax, and/or customs, ensuring strategic delivery of advisory and compliance services
• Lead multi‑disciplinary teams on complex assignments, integrating input from legal, finance, and international tax specialists
• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance on all client deliverables, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance with regulatory standards
• Act as a senior escalation point for client issues, offering expert guidance and liaising with Directors/Partners on resolution strategies
• Identify and lead on VAT and/or customs planning initiatives, presenting recommendations to senior leadership and clients
• Drive adherence to risk management protocols and internal compliance frameworks
• Develop and manage budgets, pricing strategies, and profitability targets across client engagements
• Build and maintain senior client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and strategic partner
• Lead business development efforts, including proposal development, networking, and thought leadership
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a high‑performance culture through coaching, feedback, and structured development plans
• Champion ESG and CSR initiatives, embedding sustainability and community engagement into team practices
• Promote a culture of inclusion, fairness, and ethical conduct across all stakeholder interactions

About you

• CTA and/or ACA/ACCA qualified, with significant post‑qualification experience in a senior VAT advisory role
• Proven track record in managing complex portfolios and delivering strategic tax solutions
• Deep technical expertise in VAT and/or customs, with strong commercial acumen
• Advanced proficiency in tax technology platforms and data analytics tools
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels
• Strategic thinker with a proactive, solutions‑focused mindset
• Strong leadership capabilities, with experience in managing and developing high‑performing teams
• Committed to continuous improvement, innovation, and professional development

Why work at PKF Francis Clark

As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisers in South West England, PKF Francis Clark offers a breadth of opportunities to develop your career in the way that’s right for you.

Established in 1919, we’ve grown to a team of nearly 1,000 people, based across our offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro. This means we’re big enough to do challenging work for exciting clients, but small enough to maintain our friendly and supportive culture.

We work hard to ensure you can belong, be yourself and be brilliant as part of a forward‑thinking team. This includes a flexible approach to hybrid working. And our focus on wellbeing and learning and development has been recognised nationally.

For the past three years, PKF Francis Clark has been certified as a Great Place to Work and ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces. In 2025, we climbed four places to 20 out of 100 large organisations on this prestigious list.

We’re also in the UK’s top 10 Best Workplaces for Women (6 out of 100 large organisations), as well as being ranked among the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing (35 out of 100), Best Workplaces for Development (24 out of 100) and Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services.

All these lists are compiled by workplace culture experts Great Place to Work. Our rankings are a direct result of feedback from our people in a confidential, independent annual survey.

The success rates of our trainees mean we’re also ranked 33rd in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025.

While we’re proudly independent, we collaborate with colleagues around the world to enable our clients to succeed. 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 this international network provides opportunities to connect with like‑minded accountants and business advisers in 150 countries.

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
• Electric vehicle lease scheme*

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.