VAT Manager

VAT Manager (VAT Advisory, Accountancy Practice)

We are hiring a VAT Manager to join our expanding VAT advisory team within a leading UK accountancy practice.

This VAT Manager role is a practice-based VAT advisory position, focused on delivering high-quality advisory services to a diverse portfolio of UK and international clients.

You will support the VAT Partner and wider VAT team in delivering and growing our firmwide VAT advisory offering, while also managing client relationships and contributing to the development of junior team members.

This role could be based from Bristol, Birmingham or Exeter.

This role covers a broad mix of sectors including:

• Mid-market and large corporate clients

• Education, public sector organisations, charities, and not-for-profit bodies

• International businesses with cross-border VAT issues

This is a VAT advisory-focused role with exposure to complex technical areas including:

• Land and Property transactions and Construction VAT

• Cross-border VAT

• M&A and Transactions VAT

• Partial exemption and business/non-business apportionment

• HMRC enquiries and disputes

Your responsibilities will include:

• Delivering VAT advisory services to UK and international clients across multiple sectors

• Advising on VAT implications of supply chains, structuring, and transactions

• Supporting education, charity, and not-for-profit clients with VAT recovery and partial exemption methods

• Advising on VAT issues in land and property transactions, working with external advisers such as solicitors

• Managing client relationships, expectations, and ongoing advisory work

• Monitoring budgets and agree fees with clients

• Supervising and reviewing work produced by junior team members

• Contributing to internal and external VAT technical updates (e.g. blogs and market insights)

• Supporting business development within sector groups such as Education, Housing, Food & drink and Charities

What we are looking for

To be considered for this VAT Manager role, you will have:

• Experience in VAT advisory within an accountancy practice or HMRC environment

• Strong experience managing a portfolio of VAT clients across multiple sectors

• Experience supervising or managing junior team members

• Strong technical knowledge of UK VAT legislation and advisory work

• Ideally CTA qualified

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels

• A proactive approach and desire to contribute to the growth of the VAT team

Why join us

We are an award-winning certified Great Place to Work® provider of Audit, Accountancy, Tax and Advisory services in the South West and West Midlands. With a turnover of £48m, we saw growth of almost 15% over the last 12 months. We are also currently ranked fifth in the Accountancy Age Mid-Tier Power Index and are the largest provider of audit services to multi-academy trusts in the academy sector. 

From owner-managed businesses, SMEs, and large businesses; to entrepreneurs and private individuals; we offer full services across a diverse range of sectors. 

With 9 offices, over 50 partners, and over 500 people, we have the capability and capacity to meet our clients’ needs. From owner-managed businesses to large businesses we have the full-service expertise to advise our clients.  

We are also a member of Kreston Global, a global network of independent accounting firms in more than 100 countries. 

We also offer a multifaceted benefits package, which includes:

• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays

• Extra time off at Christmas - in addition to your annual leave entitlement, we close between Christmas and New Year

• Hybrid and flexible working 

• A contributory pension scheme 

• Life assurance 

• Critical illness cover

• Simply Health cashback plan including access to 24/7 online GP service and counselling services 

• Perkbox discounts and rewards platform with over 4,000 perks and discounts 

• Social events with active social committees that plan internal and external events  

• Numerous opportunities for development  

Please contact Grace Harris; Recruitment Advisor if you would like to discuss this opportunity further. 

We welcome applicants seeking flexible working arrangements, including part‑time working or working from home, to support responsibilities such as caring commitments, further study, or interests outside of work. 

We are committed to welcoming new people into an inclusive working environment, where everyone has equal opportunity to reach their full potential.  We support a culture where people are valued and treated with respect, and where differences are understood and celebrated.  

The more varied our workforce, the broader the expertise within our business. The broader our expertise, the greater our chances of innovation and success. That's why we're committed to equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion at every level. 

As part of our recruitment process and commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant working environment, we conduct background checks on all successful applicants. These checks will include verification of references, confirmation of right to work in the UK, and, where applicable, a standard or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Further details will be provided during the recruitment process. 

For agencies: Please note that we do not accept unsolicited CVs. Submissions will only be reviewed where a role has been briefed by our Talent Acquisition team.