VAT Manager / Senior Manager

Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Proactive learning and development

Community engagement and support initiatives

Job summary

A leading accounting firm in Scotland is seeking a VAT Manager/Senior Manager to join their Indirect Tax team. This role involves delivering complex VAT advisory projects and managing disputes while supporting a diverse client portfolio. The ideal candidate should have strong knowledge of UK VAT legislation and communication skills. This position allows for flexible working within the Central Belt, either in Glasgow or Edinburgh, and offers opportunities for professional growth and leadership within a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a VAT advisory role within a practice environment.
• Experience handling correspondence with HMRC and tribunal representation.
• Relevant experience in a practice environment or a similar role is essential.

Responsibilities

• Leading the delivery of complex VAT advisory projects.
• Managing and resolving VAT disputes.
• Developing strong relationships with clients and providing proactive solutions.

Skills

Strong understanding of UK VAT legislation and case law

Excellent communication skills

Experience handling VAT disputes

Ability to work alone as well as in a team

Previous experience in business development

Education

Qualified CTA and/or ACA/ACCA or equivalent experience

Job description

VAT Manager / Senior Manager

We are looking to hire a VAT Manager/Senior Manager into our growing Indirect Tax team. This is a new opportunity for a commercially minded VAT specialist to take on a key advisory role, working with a diverse portfolio of clients across a wide range of sectors.

This role will support our VAT Partner and Director in the provision of complex technical advice and dispute resolution work.

We are flexible on location within the Central Belt (Glasgow or Edinburgh).

Responsibilities

• Leading the delivery of complex, high-quality VAT advisory projects, including land and property, international transactions, partial exemption, financial services and diligence work
• Working closely with other departments (e.g. Corporate Tax, Audit) on multidisciplinary matters
• Managing and resolve VAT disputes whilst supporting clients through alternative dispute resolution or litigation to provide guidance and advice to resolve complex issues, including potentially becoming involved in litigation work.
• Developing and maintaining strong and trusted relationships with clients to a high level, providing proactive and commercially focused solutions
• Confidently attracting and supporting business development activities including (but not limited to) networking to grow the firm’s VAT client portfolio, including networking events

About You

• Qualified CTA and/or ACA/ACCA or equivalent experience is desirable but not essential
• Proven experience in a VAT advisory role within a practice environment
• Strong understanding of UK VAT legislation and case law
• Experience handling VAT disputes, including correspondence with HMRC and tribunal representation.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to positively impact and influence others
• Previous experience or involvement in a business development environment
• Relevant experience in a practice environment or a similar role is essential
• Ability to work alone as well as in a team and be a self starter
• A leader of your work and your professional learning

Legal: Candidates must have the right to work in the UK permanently and without any restrictions. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Why JC?

With 11 offices across Scotland and beyond, we’re one of the country’s leading firms of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers. Working at Johnston Carmichael means working in a team of over 1000 sharp minds - each of which is valued and heard. We support our people to ensure they can grow their own way through proactive learning and development.

At Johnston Carmichael we want what’s best for our clients, our people, and our communities. You’ll be joining a team that’s engaged with its local communities and committed to supporting them. Over the last decade, we’ve raised over £450,000 for charitable causes across Scotland and we’re also Gold Sponsors of the Kiltwalk. You can read more about our culture and the values that define us here.

We have a People and Culture Forum that generates ideas for positive change and has several subgroups including LGBTQIA+ and Gender Equality which seek to educate and encourage everyone in our firm to be themselves in order to do their best work.

If you value enabling leadership, quality, integrity, and a workplace that prioritises giving back as much as you put in, then Johnston Carmichael is the firm for you.

Why VAT?

Our vision remains a constant - to be the firm of choice in all our markets. How we get there is what changes year on year.

The role of a tax adviser is transforming, and we need to keep up with this fast pace of change; both technology and legislation are ever evolving, and us with them.

VAT is one of the most dynamic and complex areas of tax, offering exposure to a wide variety of industries and client issues. Working in VAT provides a unique opportunity to combine technical precision with commercial insight and legal research, making a real impact on clients' business decisions. With constant legislative change and evolving case law, it’s an intellectually stimulating field that keeps you learning and developing throughout your career. Whether advising on international structuring, resolving disputes with HMRC, or navigating compliance challenges, VAT professionals are at the forefront of problem‑solving and strategic thinking.

You’ll be joining one of Scotland’s most comprehensive tax practices, spanning an extensive range of corporate, personal and specialist tax services. Winners of the 2019 Tolley’s Taxation Award for Best Tax Practice in a Regional Firm, our team doesn’t merely crunch numbers – you’ll build close relationships with our clients, truly getting under the skin of their businesses and providing advice and guidance that offers real value.

And, with 14 key industry sectors, there’s no shortage of variety when it comes to our client base. We’re also an independent member firm of Moore Global Network Limited, a global accounting and advisory network of over 30,000 advisers across more than 110 countries, so you’ll have the opportunity to work with businesses all over the globe.

Join us

We look forward to hearing from you. If you’re ready to write your success story with us, apply today.

We are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request. We also welcome applications from individuals who have had time away from paid employment.

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Accounting/Auditing

Industries: Accounting