Alternatively, Grant Thornton

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative.

With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

Job Description:

In recent years, there has been a domestic and global trend of governments shifting emphasis from direct to indirect taxation. Globally, while corporation tax rates have generally decreased, VAT rates have risen.

What's more, businesses now face complex VAT systems, case law, guidance and legislation. Companies need to comply with thorny VAT rules when entering new markets, stretching out globally or joining international supply chains. Meanwhile, liabilities, errors and assessments can also attract interest and penalties.

Our clients vary in size and structure and range from FTSE 100 global groups to fast growing entrepreneurial owner managed businesses.  We also work with clients across most sectors including consumer businesses, pharmaceutical, health care, financial services, insurance, not-for-profit, education, land and property.

A look into the role

As an Associate Director in our Indirect Tax team you will:

• Be responsible for the scoping, delivery and billing of client work. Delivering high quality technical advice, working with a diverse range of clients
• Ensure that junior staff are guided in researching and producing work that meets the firm’s commitment to quality, whilst also supporting the Directors and Partners.
• Provide technically accurate advice on a range of Indirect Tax matters, supporting your decisions with appropriate knowledge of legislation, case law, and technical analysis.
• Be adept at business writing, able to tailor your style depending on the recipient. You will understand complicated technical issues and be able to explain them to stakeholders who may have limited tax knowledge.
• Produce technical work which requires minimal review and conveys key points to clients and stakeholders.
• Review the work of other members of the team.
• Be compliant with the firm’s risk management processes for clients starting from initial take on to completion of assignments.
• Take responsibility for financial hygiene including billing, gross margin, utilisation, WIP management.

Knowing you’re right for us

Joining us as an Indirect Tax Associate Director the minimum criteria you’ll need is experience of VAT / Indirect Taxes, perhaps from an advisory or in-house environment. You’d probably also hold a relevant tax qualification (CTA / ATT). It would be great if you had some of the following skills, but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box, we’ll help you develop along the way.

• Experience of managing a large and varied portfolio of indirect / VAT tax clients.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills required because you will be working with a number of different colleagues at any given time on work for a great many different clients and targets.
• Excellent inter-personal skills and be able to demonstrate that you are able to forge long standing business relationships.
• Comfortable when working as part of a mixed discipline team to take the lead and drive forward a project to its conclusion.
• Experience of advising on complex technical indirect tax matters across a range of VAT areas and sectors.

Knowing we’re right for you

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone.  Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

Beyond the job 

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.  We currently operate a hybrid working model with two days in the office but there is flexibility around this.

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society.

It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.