Tax Manager

Location: Leicestershire (Hybrid)

Start: ASAP

Sector: Manufacturing / Industrial / Engineering

Overview

A leading manufacturing organisation in Leicestershire is seeking an experienced Interim VAT Specialist to provide technical support, ensure robust VAT compliance, and lead key VAT-related projects during a period of operational and systems change. This is a hands‑on role requiring strong technical expertise, manufacturing sector experience, and the ability to work independently.

Key Responsibilities

VAT Compliance & Reporting

• Manage the end‑to‑end preparation, review, and submission of VAT returns.
• Ensure accurate VAT accounting and reconciliations across multiple sites or cost centres.
• Maintain documentation, controls, and audit trails suitable for a manufacturing environment.

Technical VAT Advisory

• Advise on VAT treatment relating to:
  • Complex supply chains
  • Imports/exports
  • Raw material purchases and component flows
  • Zero‑rating, reliefs, and exemptions
• Support commercial and operational teams on the VAT implications of new products, pricing, contracts, and supply models.

Risk Management & HMRC

• Act as the main point of contact for any HMRC queries or audits.
• Identify areas of VAT leakage, risk, or process gaps and implement immediate corrective actions.

Project Support

• Support ERP/system changes ensuring the VAT setup is correct (e.g., SAP/Oracle/Dynamics).
• Lead VAT elements of any transformation, process improvement, or supply‑chain redesign work.
• Implement efficiencies to strengthen controls and reduce manual intervention.

Candidate Profile

Experience

• Strong background in VAT/Indirect Tax, ideally within manufacturing, industrials, engineering, FMCG, or supply-chain heavy environments .
• Experience delivering improvements in complex operational businesses.
• Confident managing high‑volume or multi-entity VAT returns.
• Comfortable working autonomously in an interim environment.

Skills

• Strong technical VAT knowledge and ability to apply it commercially.
• Excellent stakeholder communication-able to simplify complex VAT concepts for non-finance teams.
• Strong systems capability; experience with major ERPs is desirable.
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable working at pace.

Contract Details

• Duration: 6-9 months
• Daily rate: £350
• Working model: Remote (ocassional trsvel to Leicestershire)