VAT Technology Associate Director

RSM UK; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days holiday

Hybrid working

Healthcare & wellbeing

Job summary

RSM UK is seeking an Associate Director to lead VAT Technology implementations, working with clients’ VAT, finance, ERP and IT teams to deliver practical automation solutions. The role covers integration, configuration, workflow development and testing, not just tax engines, with opportunities to grow the team.

You will coach junior members, manage workstreams and client communications, and ensure go‑live and hypercare with thorough documentation and a strong client‑service focus.

Qualifications

• Evidence of hands-on delivery of tax engine implementations and automation.
• Experience with data or process automation in VAT contexts.
• Ability to lead workstreams and manage client relations.
• Strong documentation and testing discipline.

Responsibilities

• Map products and transaction data to tax engine logic with VAT specialists.
• Configure tax rules, document decisions and test calculations.
• Test ERP integrations and data flows between ERP and engine.
• Participate in ERP SIT, unit testing and UAT support.
• Plan and manage implementation work, dependencies and risks.
• Support cutover, go-live and hypercare activities.
• Design VAT automation processes using Alteryx and related tools.
• Work with VAT, tax and consulting teams and coach juniors.

Skills

Hands-on implementation

ERP integration testing

Project leadership

Client-facing delivery

Tools

ONESOURCE

Vertex O Series

Avalara AvaTax

Alteryx

Power Query

Power Automate

SQL

Python

Job description

As one of the world's largest networks of audit, tax and consulting firms, RSM delivers big ideas and premium service to help middle‑market businesses thrive. We are a fast‑growing firm with big ambitions - we have a clear goal to become the premium adviser to the middle market, globally. This vision touches everything we do, motivating and inspiring us to become better every day. If you are looking for a firm where you can build a future and make an impact, then RSM is the place for you.

Make an Impact at RSM UK

Our VAT Technology specialists work closely with colleagues across the firm to provide a joined‑up service to a diverse range of clients, from middle market businesses to large corporations. Within VAT Technology, we help clients improve how their systems determine VAT, how they manage VAT data, and how they automate VAT processes, either using tools they already own or through the implementation of new solutions.

As an Associate Director in our VAT Technology team, you will deliver tax engine implementations alongside broader VAT data and process automation projects using Alteryx or other appropriate technologies. You will work with clients’ VAT, finance, ERP and IT teams to understand their processes and build practical solutions. This is a hands‑on role spanning integration, configuration, workflow development and testing, rather than a position confined to tax engines. There will be a significant opportunity to grow and shape the team through further recruitment, team management and training. As the team grows, you will be involved in developing junior team members.

You’ll make an impact by

• Mapping products, services and transaction data to tax engine logic, working with VAT specialists to resolve questions about the intended treatment.
• Configuring tax rules and settings yourself, document decisions and test calculations against agreed scenarios.
• Testing ERP integrations and connectors, including data sent to the engine and tax results returned to the ERP and working with the clients’ ERP resources and vendors’ professional services teams, as needed.
• Participating in ERP system integration testing (SIT), carry out unit testing and support user acceptance testing (UAT) and defect resolution.
• Planning and managing implementation work, dependencies, risks and client communications while remaining directly involved in technical delivery.
• Supporting cutover, go‑live and hypercare, investigate issues and hand over a solution the client can operate.
• Designing, building and testing VAT process automation using Alteryx or other appropriate technologies, including data preparation, reconciliations, validation checks and reporting workflows.
• Working with clients to identify manual VAT processes suitable for automation, select tools that fit their needs, and document workflows and controls so the solutions can be maintained.
• Working with colleagues across VAT, tax and consulting, and coach junior team members as capacity develops.

What we are looking for

Are you someone who thrives on variety, loves learning new things, and enjoys connecting with people? If you can spot inefficiencies in everyday life and are passionate about making improvements, this role is perfect for you!

We value diverse experiences and perspectives. Here’s what we’re looking for in our ideal candidate:

We value different routes into tax technology. The core requirement is evidenced, hands‑on delivery of the technical aspects of tax engine implementations, not just project management or requirements gathering. Alongside this, we are looking for practical experience of data or process automation and an interest in applying those skills to a wider range of VAT challenges. You do not need to be an expert in every tool, but you should be comfortable working beyond a single product.

• Substantial hands‑on implementation experience with Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE, Vertex O Series or Avalara AvaTax tax engines, including direct experience for engine integration, configuration and testing.
• Experience across product mapping, integration testing, ERP SIT, unit testing, UAT support, go‑live and hypercare.
• Functional experience using an ERP or finance system and understanding how transactions are entered, processed and posted.
• Ability to lead a workstream or project, work with client finance and IT teams, and deliver with limited junior support.
• Clear documentation, sound judgement when investigating defects and a strong client‑service focus.

Desirable

• Certification in one or more of Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE, Vertex O Series or Avalara AvaTax tax engine products; hands‑on indirect tax compliance solution implementation experience.
• Hands‑on experience building data or process automation using Alteryx or other technologies, such as Power Query, Power Automate, SQL or Python.

What we can offer you

• 27 days holiday (excluding applicable bank holidays; option to purchase additional days, subject to policy).
• Hybrid working
• Lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits, including financial wellbeing tools, an electric car scheme and access to a virtual GP.
• Individual healthcare cover, subject to scheme terms.
• Access to a suite of 300+ on-demand courses developed by our in-house talent development team.
• The opportunity to combine tax engine implementation with broader VAT automation work, develop skills across technologies and help shape new services rather than follow a narrowly defined product specialism.

Diversity and Inclusion at RSM

At RSM, we want to create a strong sense of belonging so that people of all identities, backgrounds, and cultures feel they can bring their true self to work. Our clients come from all walks of life. We aim to achieve that same diversity of background, experience and perspective in our own teams, so that we can genuinely understand our client’s needs. Diverse teams bring a broader range of ideas and insights to work. That’s why we’re working together to ensure our firm’s principles and processes support a firm culture that embraces difference and strengthens inclusion.

At RSM we work hard to create an environment where our people can make a difference - to themselves, their career, their teams, and to the success of our firm and clients. We support all our people to work flexibly, to manage their family and other responsibilities alongside their work commitments; we believe this is key to achieving an inspiring and fulfilling working environment.