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.
Role purpose
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 of this role is ensuring the 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.
What you’ll be doing:
- VAT Compliance: Manage end-to-end data extraction, reconciliation, and preparation of quarterly VAT returns. Responsibilities include posting monthly VAT corrections, maintaining control account reconciliations, managing Making Tax Digital (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 thorough, robust User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to the IT project team and lead "hypercare" support from the pilot phase through to full rollout to guarantee fully 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 Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) returns, advise on payroll taxes and benefits-in-kind (BIK), support the Import Team, and provide agile, ad-hoc VAT advice across the wider business.
- 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. Ensure tax paid, owed, and deferred tax balances align with HMRC liabilities and financial records, proactively investigating any variances.
- Project Support: Provide proactive tax advisory support for other business change and IT projects—from initial requirements gathering through to User Acceptance Testing (UAT)—ensuring tax-compliant delivery.
What we’re looking for:
- Professional qualification: CTA, ACA, ACCA, or equivalent
- 3+ years of experience managing VAT and compliance within 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 in style
- Well organised with the ability to prioritise work
- Proactive and hard working
- Strong problem solving skills
- Proficiency in MS Office with good Excel/Google Sheets skills
- Demonstrable knowledge & understanding of the VAT legislative environment
- Demonstrable VAT knowledge within a fast-paced retail sector.
- Practical experience working 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 the corporation tax legislative environment.
- Familiarity with UK Customs regulations and compliance requirements.
- Proactive, flexible, and able to operate in a fast paced environment
- Capable of providing drive and bringing passion to the role
What can we offer you?
- You’ll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us. We also have an early careers network to support you if you’re in your first few years of your career.
- We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that includes:
- Competitive bonus
- Save-as-you-earn scheme
- Private Medical and Life Assurance
- Enhanced contributory pension scheme
- Colleague discount
Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme
Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we’re proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support.
By giving you the support you need to do well at work, and the flexibility to make life work for you. We are giving you a career that doesn’t put your life on hold. Where you can be yourself, do your best work, and make a positive difference every day.
About Us:
Wickes is a multi-channel retailer operating in the home improvement market. With 50 years in industry, Wickes now generates revenue in excess of £1.6bn across 230 stores delivered by 8,000+ colleagues. But it is our culture that is considered our best kept secret; it’s a collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive environment where people feel part of a winning team. All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we’ll make you feel right at home.
