VAT Lead

Michael Page Finance; Slough; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 95,000; Part time

Job summary

Michael Page Finance is seeking an UK&I VAT Lead who will support the VAT Manager in delivering robust controls, compliance, and governance across the UK and Ireland.

The role combines technical VAT expertise with finance leadership, focusing on process improvement, reconciliations, and cross-functional business partnering in a FMCG context, based in Slough.

Qualifications

• Professional accounting or tax qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CTA or equivalent).
• Strong experience in finance, accounting, tax, controllership, or governance.
• Proven ability to manage financial controls, reconciliations, and compliance processes.
• Ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead UK&I VAT compliance and related submissions.
• Maintain strong financial controls across VAT processes.
• Partner with internal and external auditors for reviews.
• Drive process improvement and VAT system enhancements.

Skills

ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CTA

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CTA

Tools

SAP

Job description

The UK&I VAT Lead plays a key role within the UK&I Finance organisation, supporting the VAT Manager in delivering a robust control environment, statutory compliance, and financial governance across the UK and Ireland. This role combines technical VAT expertise with broader finance leadership responsibilities, including process improvement, reconciliations, transformation projects, risk management, business partnering, and operational oversight.

This role is within the FMCG industry and is based in Slough.

Financial Control, Governance & Compliance

• Lead the delivery of UK and Ireland VAT compliance obligations, ensuring accurate and timely filing of all VAT returns and related submissions.
• Maintain a strong financial control environment across VAT processes and activities.
• Review and oversee VAT balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring timely investigation and resolution of reconciling items.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end reporting activities relating to VAT and indirect taxes.
• Monitor VAT positions, liabilities, recoveries, and exposures, providing clear insight into emerging risks and opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, external regulations, and statutory requirements.
• Support Senior Accounting Officer requirements and other corporate governance obligations.
• Partner with internal and external auditors to support audits, compliance reviews, and remediation activities.

Business Partnering & Stakeholder Management

• Provide VAT and financial governance support to business stakeholders across multiple functions.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Finance, Commercial, Procurement, Supply Chain, Legal, and Shared Service teams.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure VAT considerations are appropriately incorporated into business decisions and operational activities.
• Support strategic business initiatives by assessing financial, control, and VAT implications.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external advisors, tax authorities, and industry networks where appropriate.

Process Improvement, Transformation & Projects

• Lead and support finance transformation initiatives impacting indirect tax and wider finance operations.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, simplify activities, enhance controls, and reduce operational risk.
• Drive automation and digitalisation initiatives to improve efficiency and reporting capability.
• Act as Finance lead or subject matter expert for VAT-related systems enhancements, implementations, and business change projects.
• Support acquisitions, divestments, restructures, and business integration activities from a VAT and finance perspective.
• Partner with Digital Technologies teams to improve system functionality, reporting accuracy, and process effectiveness.
• Champion continuous improvement and best practice across finance operations.

Risk Management & Technical Oversight

• Identify, assess, and mitigate VAT and indirect tax risks across the business.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments, evaluating potential business impacts.
• Implement appropriate controls and process changes to manage evolving regulatory requirements.
• Support governance reviews and periodic control assessments.
• Maintain robust process documentation and operational procedures.

Leadership & Team Contribution

• Provide coaching, guidance, and technical support to colleagues within the VAT and broader Finance teams.
• Coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders to ensure delivery of priorities and deadlines.
• Support capability building and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Deputise for the UK&I VAT Manager when required.
• Contribute actively to department and Finance function objectives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and customer focus.

Profile

Essential

• Professional accounting or tax qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CTA or equivalent experience).
• Strong experience within finance, accounting, tax, controllership, shared services, or governance environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing financial controls, reconciliations, and compliance processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with high attention to detail.
• Experience leading or supporting finance transformation, systems, or process improvement initiatives.
• Ability to influence and engage stakeholders across multiple functions and levels of the organisation.
• Proven capability to manage competing priorities in a complex business environment.
• Strong communication and business partnering skills.

Preferred

• Experience in indirect tax, VAT, or related compliance disciplines.
• Knowledge of SAP and finance reporting systems.
• Experience operating within a large multinational or shared service environment.
• Exposure to business integrations, acquisitions, or large-scale transformation projects.
• Experience supporting audit, governance, and risk management activities.

Job Offer

• Daily rate equivalent to an annual rate of £90,000.
• Temporary contract offering flexibility with opportunity to network within a global organisation

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment. As an inclusive recruiter we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. If you require any adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process, we'll work with you to ensure you can perform at your best.