About the role
Our Finance team provides the vital insight and governance that allows our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose, to thrive. As an Indirect Tax Analyst, you will take ownership of the integrity and accuracy of our VAT reporting, ensuring we meet our legal obligations while supporting the wider tax team. This is a proactive role that goes beyond simple reporting. You will act as a trusted advisor to the business, providing relevant tax guidance on new initiatives and ensuring that VAT implications are understood from the outset. We are looking for a collaborative Partner who possesses a solid understanding of VAT accounting and a natural drive for continuous improvement. If you enjoy consolidating processes, enhancing controls, and working within a supportive, purpose-led environment, this is an excellent opportunity to develop your tax career.
Salary: Up to £48,000
Contract type: Permanent
Working pattern: We support a blended working approach. This role offers the flexibility to work from home or the office, with a requirement for regular collaborative attendance at our head office locations in Pimlico (London) or Bracknell.
Location: Pimlico or Bracknell (Hybrid)
Key Responsibilities
* Legal Compliance: Preparing quarterly VAT returns, ensuring all information is accurate, consolidated, and submitted on time.
* Financial Integrity: Managing month-end VAT accounting reconciliations and advising our Operational Finance teams on required journals.
* Risk Management: Operating key controls in relation to VAT as required by the Tax Internal Control Framework (ICF) and maintaining up-to-date documentation.
* Strategic Advisory: Providing stakeholders with timely, value-added insight regarding new business initiatives, ensuring VAT requirements are known and understood.
* Continuous Improvement: Proactively seeking incremental improvements to our processes, systems, and policies based on feedback and industry best practice.
* Collaborative Teamwork: Working across the function to coordinate work, meet deadlines, and drive a culture of shared purpose and high service levels.
* Relationship Management: Influencing and managing relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders to enable the successful delivery of tax projects.
Essential Skills/Experience You'll Need
* Tax Accounting Background: A proven track record in VAT return and accounting roles, including significant experience with tax accounting processes.
* Data Proficiency: You are a confident user of Excel and Google Sheets, capable of handling large datasets with accuracy.
* Stakeholder Engagement: Confident in working effectively with business partners and translating tax requirements for non-specialist audiences.
* Proactive Mindset: Evidence of seeking improvements in the quality and efficiency of reporting and systems.
* Self-Motivation: The ability to work on your own initiative while remaining a strong, supportive team player.
Desirable Skills/Experience You May Have
* Specialist Reporting: Experience with the preparation or submission of Plastic Packaging Tax and GST (Channel Islands) returns.
* Professional Development: A tax or accounting qualification or evidence of recent, high-level technical VAT training.
* Industry Knowledge: A current understanding of the key VAT legislation affecting the retail industry.
#J-18808-Ljbffr