Tax Manager - Interim

Are you an immediately available VAT specialist looking to make an impact at a leading national retailer? We are seeking a Tax Manager to provide critical interim support for our finance team, ensuring robust compliance and operations across our VAT and wider tax remit. This role will be a FTC for 6 months.

The Tax Manager supports the Head of Tax in overseeing all direct and indirect tax compliance and operations for Wickes Group Plc. The principal focus is ensuring accurate, timely reporting of indirect tax compliance while serving as a trusted internal advisor across the group. The remit covers operational aspects of both direct and indirect taxes (including VAT, CIS, and Corporation Tax) and providing robust technical support on cross‑functional business queries.

• VAT Compliance: manage end‑to‑end data extraction, reconciliation, and preparation of quarterly VAT returns, including posting monthly VAT corrections, maintaining control account reconciliations, managing MTD compliance, and filing via Alpha VAT returns.
• Systems Transformation (New Till System): act as the dedicated tax lead for the implementation of the new till system, deliver robust UAT, and lead hyper‑care support from pilot to full rollout to guarantee tax‑compliant delivery.
• Corporation Tax Quarterly Instalments Payments: prepare quarterly corporation tax forecasts, execute timely instalment payments, and maintain balance sheet and Government Gateway account reconciliations.
• Tax Accounting & Provisioning: partner with the Head of Tax to prepare comprehensive, audit‑ready tax notes and supporting working papers for annual and half‑year statutory accounts.
• Operational & Non‑Corporate Tax Compliance: oversee compliance for non‑corporate taxes, review CIS returns, advise on payroll taxes and benefits‑in‑kind, support the Import Team, and provide agile ad‑hoc VAT advice.
• HMRC Relationship Management: support the Head of Tax in managing HMRC Business Risk Reviews, enquiries, and audits.
• General Ledger Reconciliations: own month‑end and year‑end reconciliations for all tax accounts in the general ledger, ensuring tax balances align with HMRC liabilities and financial records.
• Project Support: provide proactive tax advisory support for other business change and IT projects, from requirements gathering through UAT, ensuring tax‑compliant delivery.

• Professional qualification: CTA, ACA, ACCA, or equivalent.
• 3+ years of experience managing VAT and compliance in a large listed business environment.
• Commercial mindset with strong technical VAT knowledge.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills and collaborative style.
• Well‑organised with ability to prioritise work.
• Proactive, hard‑working, with strong problem‑solving skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office, Excel/Google Sheets.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the VAT legislative environment and fast‑paced retail sector.
• Practical experience with corporate tax and compliance workflows.
• Proficiency in understanding and analysing financial statements.
• Experience with Alpha VAT.
• Working knowledge of current financial accounting standards.
• Solid understanding of corporation tax legislative environment.
• Familiarity with UK Customs regulations and compliance requirements.
• Adaptability to a fast‑paced environment, bringing passion to the role.

• Learning and development support with opportunities for career growth.
• Competitive bonus.
• Save‑as‑you‑earn scheme.
• Private medical and life assurance.
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme.
• Colleague discount platform with savings at multiple retailers, gym membership savings, cycle‑to‑work scheme.
• Well‑being strategy including Employee Assistance Programme, financial education and loans, parental, menopause and fertility support.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from disabled people and are committed to providing an accessible recruitment process and workplace for everyone. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments, please let us know.