Tax Associate

About CBTax

CBTax is an award-winning, global R&D tax consultancy firm with offices in Manchester and Northampton in the UK, Dublin serving the Republic of Ireland, and our newest location in New York supporting the US market.

• Title
  :
  Tax Associate
• Salary
  :
  Negotiable
• Location
  :
  Northampton (office-based).
• Reports to
  :
  Associate Director

This is a core role within our Tax team. You'll sit at the critical final stage of the claim process — the point at which the work done by our delivery team is converted into the tax computations and compliance forms that are actually submitted to HMRC. Accuracy matters enormously here; this is a role where attention to detail is the most important skill you can bring.

You'll be preparing tax computations, adjusting them to incorporate R&D tax relief, and identifying opportunities to maximise the benefit for our clients by applying the right reliefs available under the legislation. This role is suitable for a recent graduate in accounting or finance looking to build a career in tax, or for someone already working at an accountancy or R&D firm at associate level who wants to join a rapidly growing international consultancy.

• Tax computations — preparing and adjusting corporation tax computations to incorporate R&D tax relief and maximise the benefit available to the client.
• Compliance submissions — accurately preparing and submitting pre-notification forms and Additional Information Forms (AIFs) to HMRC as part of the claim process.
• Legislation application — identifying when different types of relief can be utilised and applying the correct treatment in line with current R&D legislation.
• Quality control — reviewing your own work (and, with experience, the work of others) to an exceptionally high standard before progressing through the QC process.
• Deadline management — keeping on top of HMRC submission deadlines and managing workload through month-end pressure points.
• Client benefit maximisation — spotting opportunities within a claim where additional reliefs or optimisations can legitimately be applied.

• A degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related discipline.
• Exceptional attention to detail — this is the single most important attribute for this role.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Comfortable working under deadline pressure, particularly at month-end.
• Competent with Microsoft Office (Excel in particular).
• Genuinely interested in building a long-term career in tax, and willing to undertake ATT qualification.
• Based in or within commutable distance of Northampton.

• Prior experience preparing corporation tax computations or tax returns, either in practice or at an R&D consultancy.
• Exposure to HMRC compliance forms (pre-notification, AIF, CT600).
• Experience working in an R&D tax environment specifically.

• A clear progression path from Associate through to Senior Associate and beyond, with real scope to develop into a technical specialist within the team.
• Direct exposure to the full R&D claim lifecycle and HMRC submission process — genuinely valuable technical grounding that is hard to get elsewhere.
• A supportive team environment where your questions and input are welcomed.
• The stability of a specialist firm with the pace and ambition of a business scaling across the UK, Ireland, and the US.

• Commission: build your own portfolio through client referrals and earn commission.
• Pension: 5% employer pension contribution.
• Healthcare: BUPA healthcare to support your health and well-being.
• Tech Scheme:
  Access to the latest technology.
• Flex Benefits:
  Tailor your perks to suit your lifestyle.
• Employee incentives: A range of excellent employee incentives to ensure your efforts are rewarded.
• Recognition:
  Get seen. Get rewarded. Get promoted.