VAT manager

TN United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a VAT Manager to join their vibrant team. This pivotal role requires a blend of technical expertise and client management skills, where you will provide VAT advisory services across various sectors, including property and not-for-profit. You will be responsible for managing client relationships, advising on complex VAT issues, and supporting compliance efforts. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills to convey intricate VAT concepts to non-experts and have the ability to work independently on projects. Join a dynamic environment where your contributions will directly impact client success and drive the growth of the VAT advisory practice.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing VAT relationships across various sectors is crucial.
• Strong technical VAT knowledge and experience with HMRC interactions are essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide VAT advisory services while supporting compliance teams as needed.
• Manage internal and external clients to meet deadlines and budgets.
• Take ownership of smaller projects and work directly with clients.

Skills

Client Management

VAT Advisory

International VAT Services

Property VAT Issues

HMRC Interaction

Project Management

Technical VAT Knowledge

Education

Relevant VAT Qualification

Job description

About the role:
Our VAT team is looking for a Manager with consultancy experience to join their exciting and growing department. This is a key role within the department, where you will be highly client-focused and required to deal professionally with them. As such, excellent technical skills are crucial; equally crucial will be your ability to impart complex VAT technical information to non-experts. You should be flexible and a self-starter, able to turn your hand to a range of different situations and issues, as necessary.

MKS advises on a full range of clients, so you should have general VAT knowledge and experience with sound skills to provide advice on the more complex areas of VAT. This would incorporate VAT reliefs, partial exemption and VAT recovery methods, international and cross-border transactions involving goods and services, corporate finance related matters, etc.

Key responsibilities:

1. The role is advisory focused, albeit on occasion there may be the need to support the compliance team from time to time. While we do not complete VAT returns, we support the team that does.
2. You may also be required to review VAT returns and deal with ad hoc queries for compliance specialists prior to submission to HMRC.
3. Help manage both internal and external clients to ensure that for each client required deadlines are met and the work is carried out within budget.
4. The VAT advisory business covers a wide range of issues and sectors, with property and NFP (not for profit) being the largest parts of the work.
5. An understanding of a variety of VAT issues is desirable. Also, a commercial and practical approach is extremely important.
6. Candidates with experience in NFP or property would be particularly desirable.
7. The role will involve working closely with the VAT Team and three Directors across a range of advisory and consultancy projects.
8. Candidates will be responsible for taking "ownership" of some smaller projects and dealing directly with clients, so the ability and confidence to work with limited supervision is important.
9. A significant amount of the work undertaken by the team arises from internal questions and referrals. Therefore, the ability to work with other parts of the firm and to manage internal clients is also important.
10. Flexibility and an ability to project manage will be key.
11. Your procedures will be useful while also seeking out answers to technical points from the legislation and suggesting basic tax planning ideas where these are relevant to your client work.
12. Experience of dealing with HMRC and an understanding of departmental operating.
13. Good technical skills are essential, and an ability to understand risk, and to appreciate when to call on the services of more senior members of the team.

Skills & expertise:

1. Managing client and internal VAT relationships across various industries.
2. Advising on international services particularly where one or both parties have establishments in more than one country.
3. Dealing with a range of property issues, for both commercial and NFP clients.
4. Review of contracts, and advice on appropriate VAT wording and structures.
5. Dealing with HMRC on a wide range of issues, from relatively routine matters such as VAT registrations to more complex issues including inspections, disputes, and penalties.
6. Assisting the more senior members of the team as required on larger and more complex VAT advisory projects.
7. Working on devising partial exemption special methods and business non-business apportionments for clients.
8. Providing follow-up advice on issues identified during assurance visits.
9. VAT reviews/health checks.
10. Dealing with VAT inspections on a range of businesses, and providing support to clients as required.
11. Dealing with reconsiderations of HMRC decisions.
12. Preparing marketing material on varying VAT initiatives such as the VAT package and House of Lords/ECJ cases of interest, as they arise.
13. Assist with the preparation and presentation of proposals to new clients.
14. Attending bi-weekly meetings and drafting material for weekly VAT updates.
15. Attending client gatherings and seminars where possible to build client relationships and ensure good attendance and turnout at KS seminars.
16. Attend seminars and events to help build relationships with clients and prospective clients and promote the Firm.