Indirect Tax Analyst

Overview

About the role:

Our Finance team provides the vital insight and governance that allows our brands, John Lewis and Waitrose, to thrive. As an Indirect Tax Analyst, you will own the integrity and accuracy of VAT reporting, ensuring we meet legal obligations while supporting the wider tax team. This is a proactive role that goes beyond simple reporting, acting as a trusted advisor to the business and providing relevant tax guidance on new initiatives.

We are seeking a collaborative Partner with a solid understanding of VAT accounting and a drive for continuous improvement. The role offers a blended working approach with the option to work from home or the office, and regular collaborative attendance at our head office locations in Pimlico (London) or Bracknell.

Location:

Pimlico or Bracknell (Hybrid). Salary:
Up to £48,000. Contract type:
Permanent.

Pay details:
Any time worked between 22:00 – 06:00 attracts a Night Premium at £4.75 per hour. Applies to existing Partners enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

• Legal Compliance: Prepare quarterly VAT returns, ensuring information is accurate, consolidated, and submitted on time.
• Financial Integrity: Manage month-end VAT accounting reconciliations and advise Operational Finance teams on required journals.
• Risk Management: Operate key controls relating to VAT as required by the Tax Internal Control Framework (ICF) and maintain up-to-date documentation.
• Strategic Advisory: Provide stakeholders with timely, value-added insight on new business initiatives, ensuring VAT requirements are known and understood.
• Continuous Improvement: Proactively seek incremental improvements to processes, systems, and policies based on feedback and best practice.
• Collaborative Teamwork: Coordinate work across the function, meet deadlines, and uphold high service levels.
• Relationship Management: Influence and manage relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders to enable successful delivery of tax projects.

• Essential Skills/Experience
  • Tax accounting background with proven VAT return and accounting experience.
  • Data proficiency: confident in Excel and Google Sheets, able to handle large datasets accurately.
  • Stakeholder engagement: effective communication of tax requirements to non-specialist audiences.
  • Proactive mindset: pursuit of improvements in the quality and efficiency of reporting and systems.
  • Self-motivation: ability to work on your own initiative while supporting the team.
• Desirable Skills/Experience
  • Experience with Plastic Packaging Tax and GST (Channel Islands) returns.
  • Tax or accounting qualification or evidence of recent, high-level VAT training.
  • Industry knowledge of VAT legislation affecting the retail sector.

We’re the largest employee-owned business in the UK and partner-led. We offer flexible working arrangements, possible compressed hours, job sharing, or shorter hour contracts where possible. Pre-employment vetting may apply (e.g., DBS checks) where required. DBS checks and financial probity checks may be conducted by third-party bodies. Closing date:
July 15, 2026.

Location:

Bracknell Campus, Doncastle Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YA
. We’re committed to work-life balance and a supportive, purpose-led environment.