Indirect Tax Manager

This role is 4 days in the office

At WH Smith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers, the ones that enable our growth. An excellent opportunity has arisen for an Indirect Tax Manager to join the Group Tax team. This role focuses on indirect tax compliance, internal advisory work across all areas of the business, project management and indirect tax advisory and Tax Authority liaison across the UK and Europe. The role requires ongoing input into systems processes and development from an Indirect Tax perspective and includes the management of two team members. This position reports into the Group Head of Tax.

What you will be doing:

• Leading the indirect tax reporting across the UK and Europe, ensuring reporting and payment deadlines are met. This includes reviewing all indirect tax returns prior to submission to the relevant tax authorities.
• Provide commercial VAT advice and support to Finance, Legal and internal business teams, including support on e-invoicing/e-reporting requirements, improvements to VAT reporting, providing input on new business initiatives, projects and business transactions as required and providing indirect tax training to internal teams.
• Managing the indirect tax team, specifically the tax accountants responsible for in-country compliance obligations.
• Managing the year-end indirect tax audit process for the UK and Europe.
• Supporting wider finance transformation activity by ensuring indirect tax requirements are appropriately considered and implemented into new processes and systems to maintain compliance and improve efficiency.
• Review the VAT input for year-end and half year reporting process. Monitor the indirect tax risks and mitigate by implementing tax-related controls which operate effectively.
• Managing third-party tax audits and queries from tax authorities.
• Keep up to date with legislative changes and case law, communicating any changes or opportunities with other internal teams. Liaising with external advisors to support effective compliance across jurisdictions and identify relevant indirect tax opportunities.
• Engaging with internal supply chain teams to ensure indirect tax is considered in new supply chain initiatives.
• Supporting wider tax governance processes, including completing the IR35 assessments for contractor arrangements, in conjunction with internal stakeholders and external advisors as required.
• Provide strategic advice on customs duties, import VAT, Customs valuation, commodity classification, origin and free trade agreements, and import/export controls to ensure compliance across UK and international supply chains.
• Manage the environmental tax obligations for the business, including Plastic Packaging Tax, CBAM, packaging waste regulations and other emerging environmental tax regimes across relevant jurisdictions.

What we are looking for:

• Qualified in tax or accounting with 6+ years of experience
• Proven experience managing UK and European indirect tax matters. Retail experience would be useful but not essential.
• Good communicator, who is flexible and able to react to new business developments
• A team player who is prepared to challenge processes and actively promote new ideas and alternative approaches to tasks, whilst also supporting project teams and the wider Group Tax team
• Line management experience, as this role has responsibility for two tax accountants.

How we reward our teams:

• Hybrid Working Model from home and in the office
• 4pm Friday Finish
• Flexible Working
• 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Family Friendly Leave
• Company Pension scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
• Competitive Salary and Car Allowance
• Private Medical
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff Discount Card for railway stores (subject to policy)