Tax Assistant Manager

Quintain tax team & function:

The tax team manages for all tax matters affecting the group of companies, and is responsible for all aspects of tax compliance whilst also supporting transactional and structuring aspects within the group. The teams principle objective is to ensure that all tax obligations are met to the highest standards whilst supporting the business to meet its commercial objectives. The team therefore works closely with all other business functions across the group, to ensure that the group's tax affairs are managed appropriately and as efficiently as possible.
The continuing evolution of the business and finance functions will bring a number of new challenges and are undertaking the first phase of improvement of its VAT compliance processes to meet the changing demands of the business.

Job Purpose:
This role will be responsible for implementing the new VAT compliance processes going forward and continuing to oversee their continuing implementation and evolution.
The primary responsibility will be administering the group's VAT tax compliance processes, including preparation of monthly and quarterly VAT returns, and ensuring that the group's VAT administration is kept up to date.
In addition to the above core responsibilities, the candidate should be able to support the wider tax team with the Corporate Tax compliance duties including tax provisioning for statutory accounts purposes.
Working closely with the whole tax team, you will support the whole tax team with group reporting obligations such as Senior Accounting Officer, Tax strategy, and similar initiatives as appropriate, including projects such as asset refinancings and other transactions.

Key Accountabilities:
* Preparation of monthly and Quarterly VAT returns, and review of some VAT returns prepared by other team members.
* Ensuring that accounting for VAT is managed and kept up to date, and monitoring of VAT control accounts, including preparation of data to support accounting entries.
* Ensuring that all VAT compliance obligations are met, including supporting other team members with VAT compliance responsibilities, across return filings, VAT group registrations and de-registrations, option to tax, and managing VAT payments.
* Working with the wider finance functions to ensure the underlying financial data is suitable for the purposes of the VAT compliance processes and identifying potential VAT compliance issues arising from new business activities.
* Support with the preparation of the group's corporation tax computations and returns. Processing and filing of Corporate Tax returns for a portfolio of companies, including preparation of current and deferred tax provisions for those companies.
* Liaising with group's auditors and wider financial reporting teams.
* Assisting the tax team with ensuring the group's compliance with the Senior Accounting Officer requirements, including review and documentation of the group's tax accounting processes.
* General support of wider tax team with ad-hoc transactions and other matters including asset refinancing, acquisition and disposal transactions. You will work closely with all members of the team including the Director of Tax.
* Keeping track of industry and tax developments (through training, specialist newsletters and journals), and briefing colleagues accordingly.
General Accountabilities:
* Undertake additional relevant duties which fall under the general scope of the role, as directed by your Manager, raising any issues with capacity so they can be properly managed.
* Participate in the full year and half year Performance Development Review process as reviewer and reviewee, meeting the standards and timescales required by the Company.
* At all times ensure that your understanding and skill level regarding the Company's IT systems are up to date, as applicable to your role. Undertake IT training as required to ensure full and proper use of the available technology.
* Work within the Company's policies and procedures, governance framework and standards, as detailed in the Company handbook.
* Remain knowledgeable about Group activities, benefiting from all forms of internal communication provided and acting as a positive ambassador for the Company at all times.
* Use materials and resources effectively and efficiently to minimise waste

Qualifications/Experience/Skills:

You will have strong VAT compliance experience covering preparation of VAT returns across multiple VAT registrations preferably within a property business or within a partially exempt business.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills to enable the simplification and analysis of raw data. You will take pride in the ability to improve the presentation of raw data, as well as a willingness to understand and interrogate data taken from the accounting records. The ability to create and utilise pivot tables, look-up formulas and similar functionality is key, and an ability to use and/or learn to use Excel Macros, is desirable.
You are a committed tax compliance professional keen to work as part of a team, with experience of preparing VAT returns and HMRC forms and elections for numerous VAT groups simultaneously.
You have experience gained from working in-house or in practice, preferably within the real estate sector but not essential.
You will be driven and pay attention to detail across processes, systems and people, together with excellent communication skills, and be keen to learn about and fully embed yourself in the business.
A professional accounting and/or tax qualification would be an advantage.