About the Role
This role involves managing a portfolio of international VAT compliance clients, providing expert guidance, and ensuring accurate and timely filings. You will act as a primary senior contact, build client relationships, and support team development.
Responsibilities
- Take ownership of a complex portfolio of international VAT compliance clients, acting as the primary senior contact.
- Build and maintain strong, long-term client relationships, demonstrating a deep understanding of clients’ business models and VAT risk areas.
- Provide proactive VAT compliance guidance to clients, including advising on technical or operational issues impacting filings.
- Liaise directly with overseas agents and tax authorities, managing queries, audits, and escalations as required.
- Review and sign off VAT workings and returns prepared by other team members, ensuring technical accuracy and compliance with local legislation.
- Analyse financial data, invoices, and import/export documentation to identify risks, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Calculate VAT liabilities and refunds for complex filing periods and clearly communicate outcomes to clients.
- Ensure all filings are submitted accurately and on time in line with statutory deadlines and contractual obligations.
- Keep abreast of international VAT developments and assess their impact on client portfolios and team processes.
- Support, mentor, and provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level team members.
- Review work performed by others, providing constructive feedback to support development and maintain quality standards.
- Act as a point of escalation for technical or operational issues within the team.
- Monitor deadlines, scope, and workflow using internal trackers, ensuring accurate and up-to-date reporting for management.
- Contribute to process improvements, standardisation initiatives, and internal projects aimed at enhancing efficiency and service quality.
- Support Client Managers and senior leadership with ad-hoc projects, complex client matters, and strategic initiatives.
- Draft high-quality client communications, including technical explanations and responses to complex queries.
Requirements
- Significant experience in a client-facing VAT compliance role.
- Strong experience of international VAT compliance (UK and EU essential; wider jurisdictions advantageous).
- Proven ability to manage complex client portfolios and competing deadlines.
- Strong technical VAT knowledge with the ability to apply legislation pragmatically.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence dealing with senior client stakeholders and tax authorities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and professional judgement.
- Experience reviewing work prepared by others and supporting team development.
- Competent use of the MS Office suite, with intermediate skills in Excel, Word and Outlook.
- Proficiency in a second European language (desirable).
Skills
- VAT compliance
- Client relationship management
- Technical VAT guidance
- International VAT
- UK VAT
- EU VAT
- Liaising with tax authorities
- Financial data analysis
- Problem-solving
- Communication skills
- MS Office Suite
- Excel
- Word
- Outlook
