Location – Reading, UK
Our client’s National VAT Service Line works closely with colleagues across the firm to provide a joined-up service to a diverse range of clients across a range of sectors, from middle market businesses to large corporate and not-for-profit organisations; combining expertise in accounting, audit and all relevant taxes. They provide the freedom to find the right balance between sector specialism and general advisory, as well as an opportunity to initiate and develop new areas of focus for the VAT team. As a fast-growing team, there are significant opportunities for client and personal development.
The Reading team works collaboratively with other tax service lines to provide VAT advice to a range of large corporate and multinational clients. This includes assisting companies with European supply chain management, including post Brexit structuring to minimise overseas compliance obligations. They work closely with colleagues in Corporate Finance, and have recently advised a number of clients on optimising VAT recovery on deal costs following an acquisition or disposal. Together with the firm’s Foreign Direct Investment team, they advise US and other overseas businesses on start up operations in the UK and Europe, with the aim of fostering a wide reaching and ongoing relationship with those companies as the European business grows.
The role
Working with the Southern and national VAT leadership teams you will be taking a leading role in the strategic development of our client’s VAT offering in the Reading and Thames Valley market. You will have responsibility for managing a local team, growing the firm’s presence in the local market, and ensuring that the delivery of client engagements meets their high standards of quality and service, whilst ensuring that the firm’s targets and strategic objectives are achieved.
Key responsibilities
- Taking an active lead in developing and contributing to the southern region’s VAT strategic vision. Working closely with the National Head of VAT to support the delivery of VAT’s national strategy and the firm’s wider Tax objectives.
- Owning and developing a portfolio of clients.
- Leading on targeted business development and marketing activities to build the firm’s profile and attract new business in the local Southampton and surrounding market.
- Providing an excellent standard of VAT advisory services to a portfolio of clients and taking a lead on complex cases and supporting junior team members, where appropriate.
- Leading on client engagements and presentations, building and maintaining long-lasting stakeholder relationships with client contacts at all levels of seniority across engagements.
- Networking across the firm’s service lines to proactively identify and support referred work.
- Providing mentoring, coaching, and line management support to further support and grow a high-performing VAT team.
Skills and attributes
The ideal candidate will have previous experience of working at Associate Director or Director level within VAT, and have either current or prior advisory experience gained in a practice environment and with corporate clients. You will have previous experience of winning work and ability to unlock fees from an existing client base. In addition, the ideal candidate will be confident in helping to develop junior members of staff within a supportive environment. In particular you must be able to demonstrate that you are:
- Commercially aware of market opportunities and are target driven.
- Strategically minded with the ability to plan and execute delivery requirements.
- An excellent communicator who can effectively influence, negotiate, and share information with stakeholders at all levels.
- Passionate about people and can build, develop and grow a high-performing team.
Benefits to you
Our client works hard to create an environment where people can make a difference – to themselves, their career, their teams, and to the success of the firm and its clients. They support all their people to work flexibly, to manage their family and other responsibilities alongside their work commitments; they believe this is key to achieving an inspiring and fulfilling working environment.
Diversity and Inclusion
Inclusion and diversity are central to our client’s values. The firm has an authentic focus on intentional inclusion, enabling their people to feel they can bring their whole self to work and ensuring everyone feels supported, respected and confident to make a valuable contribution.
Our client wants 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. The firm’s clients come from all walks of life. Our client aims to achieve that same diversity of background, experience and perspective in their own teams, so that they can genuinely understand their client’s needs. Diverse teams bring a broader range of ideas and insights to work. That’s why the firm is working together to ensure their principles and processes support a firm culture that embraces difference and strengthens inclusion.
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