R&D Tax Associate

Role: R&D Tax Associate

Reporting to:
Head of Tax

Salary: £35,000 to £50,000 depending on experience and qualifications

Location:

Remote - Working from Home (UK based)

The UK tech sector is growing rapidly and becoming an increasingly important part of the economy. At Onside, we’ve built a genuinely differentiated way to support tech‑led businesses, combining premium client service with modern systems, automation and commercial thinking.

We believe the strongest professional services firms of the future will be technology‑led by design, with automation and data removing low‑value work so people can focus on judgement, relationships and impact. Onside is being built deliberately around that belief. We are not just users of technology; we are, in part, a technology company ourselves, backed by Multiplier, a San Francisco‑based, AI‑native professional services company designed to transform our industry.

As an R&D Tax Associate, you’ll work with innovative, high‑growth companies to identify, prepare and deliver high‑quality R&D Tax Relief claims. You’ll manage a portfolio of R&D clients end‑to‑end, engaging directly with founders, technical teams and finance stakeholders to understand their activities, translate complex technical narratives into robust tax submissions, and ensure claims are accurate, well‑supported and commercially sound.

While R&D tax relief is the core focus of the role, you’ll also gain exposure to a broader range of advisory and compliance work over time, including EIS/SEIS, share schemes and wider tax matters. You’ll contribute to improving how we deliver R&D services, helping to refine processes, workflows and systems, and acting as a trusted point of support for R&D‑related queries across the wider firm.

This role suits people who enjoy problem‑solving, client interaction and applying judgement in a fast‑moving, tech‑led environment.

You must be confident managing priorities, delivering work independently and collaborating effectively in a remote environment, including throughout the initial training and induction period.

This role requires substantial experience of long‑term homeworking within a UK tax or accounting practice. Remote working experience gained solely during Covid‑19 restrictions will not be considered. Applicants from formal hybrid arrangements may be considered, provided homeworking was a long‑term, contracted arrangement involving typically two to three days per week working from home.

• Managing a portfolio of R&D tax relief claims end‑to‑end, planning and prioritising work, coordinating inputs, and keeping clients informed so work progresses smoothly.
• Leading client calls with founders, finance leads and technical teams to understand the work undertaken, explain the process, and gather the right evidence in a structured way.
• Producing clear, well‑structured technical narratives and robust cost analysis that meet Onside quality standards and HMRC expectations.
• Preparing and submitting compliant R&D claims, including drafting R&D reports, completing R&D Additional Information Forms, preparing corporation tax computations and returns with the relevant R&D inputs, and handling HMRC correspondence.
• Advising on share incentives and employee equity matters, including company valuation reports, EMI notifications, and ERS returns.
• Supporting fast‑growth funding and investment schemes, including EIS/SEIS compliance and associated reporting.
• Acting as a go‑to for wider tax advice that comes up for founders and growing businesses (for example corporation tax, VAT, PAYE/NIC, capital gains tax, SDLT, and transfer pricing where relevant).
• Building scalable ways of working, helping to improve templates, guidance notes, workflows and internal knowledge to ensure we can deliver consistently high quality as we grow.
• Carrying out technical research and drafting clear written advice, including remuneration planning and other owner‑managed business topics.

• Studying towards ATT or CTA (minimum ATT), with strong exam results and a plan to progress to CTA; or, ACCA (or equivalent) qualified and willing to pursue relevant tax qualifications (ATT/CTA).
• 3+…