VAT Consultant

Job Purpose and Scope

Critically evaluate legacy assumptions and, where necessary recommend appropriate rectification and deal with HMRC correspondence.

Responsible for the VAT compliance of the UK group. This would involve:

• being the “go to” person for all VAT compliance and VAT processing of transactions in the finance ERP system (Oracle R12)
• preparing the main VAT Group return (in excess of 55 entities), including annual partial exemption special method and capital goods scheme calculations
• Assist in tax analysis and reporting of benefits and expenses  
• helping in the development and training of non-VAT members of the tax team
• continuously looking for ways to optimise the tax position of the group
• being involved in ad-hoc Europe and group wide projects

Accountabilities:

• Be responsible for all VAT compliance and day to day transactional related VAT issues
• Preparation of all VAT compliance including corresponding with HMRC on any enquiries
• Identify, calculate and monitor UK VAT compliance risks
• Ensure VAT in business units’ cash flow forecasting is credible
• Mitigation of VAT leakage in the Group
• Raising the profile to the tax team both internally and externally

Key Tasks and Activities

• Having a proficient understanding of finance systems and how transactions can impact the VAT ledgers
• Ability to identify and escalate VAT issues and seeing through to resolution
• Critically analyse previous positions taken in VAT returns and suggest potential improvements  
• Dealing with HMRC and other statutory bodies on VAT matters
• Having a good practical and technical understanding of TOGC, options to tax, partial exemption, mixed use supplies and construction related transactions
• Responsible for preparing the Partial Exemption and Capital Goods Scheme calculations
• Review and document the VAT compliance processes to meet SAO requirements
• Assess process and continuously improve processes and lead on making appropriate suggestions and business case for changes, seeing through approved changes to implementation
• Dealing with day to day queries from the business and finance teams in relation to processing of transactions
• Assisting in testing of system upgrades
• Provide training to non-VAT trained colleagues at head office and on site
• Being the “go-to” person for all VAT day to day issues.
• Assist in analysis of benefits and preparation of their UK tax reporting

Tax Compliance

• Prepare monthly and quarterly VAT returns
• Deal with HMRC VAT audits and queries
• Preparation and submission of any voluntary VAT disclosures
• Manage payments on time
• Keep VAT status of Group entities and option to tax election status up to date

Internal

• Be proactive in bringing ideas for continuous improvement to the team
• Share knowledge and new technical issues with the team
• Develop good working relationships with the business and finance teams

Competencies / Behaviours

Technical skills

• Competent in interpreting UK VAT legislation and practice to analyse VAT implications of transactions and apply the results to prepare / review VAT returns and reporting requirements and be able to identify wider business implications.
• Ability to articulate complex tax issues to senior management on paper and verbally.
• Familiarity with accounting systems and comfortable manipulating large volumes of data in excel.
• Knowledge of CIS &/or employee taxes an advantage but not a requirement.

Problem solving and analysis

• Identifies key issues in complex data or situations and is able to stand back and see the wider implications.
• Considers a variety of alternatives when making recommendations and proactively addresses problems.

Planning and Organising

• Establishes priorities and sets up mechanisms for checking progress.
• Focuses on timely implementation of tasks and isn’t reluctant to commit to action
• Ability to collaborate with wide selection of colleagues and drive VAT projects

Essential criteria

• Property sector experience
• CTA qualification preferred, but alternative experience considered
• Excellent technical skills in relation to all property and construction VAT
• Ability to project manage and take ownership of tasks
• Intermediate excel skills
• Experience of communicating (orally and in writing) to a technical and non-technical audience
• A proactive attitude
• Ability to work to tight deadlines