VAT Manager

Interim VAT Manager
- Hertfordshire (hybrid working) - £500‑700 per day based on experience (Inside IR35) - 3–6 Months
- Immediate start

A large, private equity-backed organisation undergoing a period of significant transformation and growth. The business operates in a dynamic environment, with a strong focus on enhancing performance, strengthening financial controls, and driving long‑term value creation. This is an exciting time to join as the organisation continues to evolve its processes, systems, and commercial strategy.

The VAT Manager supports the Tax team and offers an excellent opportunity for an individual seeking a challenging role within finance with strong career development potential. The position is responsible for leading VAT across the organisation, providing specialist guidance and ensuring that internal policies, procedures and accounting practices support accurate VAT treatment. This includes ensuring the correct recognition of input and output VAT and performing appropriate analysis and investigation to identify and resolve issues in a timely manner.

The role oversees the accuracy and timely submission of VAT returns, ensuring that the correct amounts are paid to or recovered from the relevant tax authority. The VAT Manager is also responsible for calculating VAT provisions and managing partial exemption methodologies and associated residual VAT calculations. In addition, the role contributes VAT insights to budget and cashflow forecasting on an ad hoc basis.

• Prepare and/or review periodic VAT returns, including all supporting reports and reconciliations, liaising with external advisers and senior stakeholders as required.
• Provide VAT leadership across the organisation, educating stakeholders on key VAT matters and ensuring consistent application of VAT principles.
• Maintain and continuously improve VAT process documentation.
• Oversee and manage any applicable margin schemes, ensuring accurate calculation, reporting, and understanding across the business. Perform regular reviews of VAT‑related balance sheet accounts.
• Act as the key point of contact for external auditors on VAT matters during planning and year‑end audits.
• Deliver clear and insightful VAT reporting to management, explaining key movements and risks.
• Maintain strong financial controls and enhance systems and processes to improve VAT compliance and efficiency.
• Collaborate with finance, IT, and operational teams to ensure best practice in VAT treatment and accounting.
• Contribute to organisational accounting policies to ensure VAT implications are clearly addressed.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with tax authorities and external advisers, responding to queries as required.
• Promote a strong understanding of VAT across the business through guidance and support.
• Assist with broader tax‑related activities on an ad hoc basis.