Tax Accountant
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
At The Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales (ICAEW), you'll be part of an organisation that's shaping the future of business, finance and the accountancy profession on a global scale. Our bold 2030 Strategy puts members, innovation, sustainability and trust at the heart of everything we do; creating an exciting, forward looking environment where your work has real impact. We invest in our people through our benefits package, continuous development and a supportive, inclusive culture that empowers you to grow and thrive. If you're looking for a role with purpose, influence and opportunity, ICAEW is a place where your future can truly take shape.
We're looking for a Tax Accountant to join our team in Milton Keynes on a permanent basis. This role offers a salary of £55000 - £60000 and a hybrid working pattern.
Job Purpose
To support the Head of Tax with ICAEW, its subsidiaries, associated entities and related entities' tax processes, activities and controls, ensuring compliance in addition to the provision of proactive advice and guidance to internal stakeholders on tax related matters (e.g. new activities; contractual arrangements etc).
Assist the Financial Accounting and Reporting team with all tax-related year-end tasks to support the preparation of the statutory accounts and external audits of ICAEW, its subsidiaries and associates.
What you will be doing;
- Manage tax compliance and advisory across VAT (incl. partial exemption and reverse charge), Corporation Tax, Employment and International Taxes
- Prepare HMRC returns, tax certificates, and support contractor employment status and IR35 processes
- Reconcile tax control accounts and review financial transactions to ensure accurate tax treatment and reporting
- Support tax input into budgeting, forecasting, and cashflow planning, including irrecoverable VAT and other tax impacts
- Assist with financial reporting, including tax provisions, disclosures, audit support, and liaison with auditors and finance teams
Provide stakeholder tax guidance, monitor legislative changes, and drive process improvements, training, and continuous development
What you will need;
- Qualified accountant or chartered tax adviser with strong technical expertise, particularly in VAT and Partial Exemption
- Proactive, self-motivated, and committed, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Strong communicator, able to clearly explain complex tax concepts to non-specialists
- Commercially aware, able to see the bigger picture and assess the implications of decisions
- Advanced skills in MS Excel and strong knowledge of accounting systems (e.g. Microsoft NAV, Business Central, D365 CRM)
- Continuous learner with up-to-date technical knowledge and familiarity with reporting and tax tools (e.g. Power BI, Alteryx, AlphaTax)
What you can expect from us;
We believe doing your best work starts with feeling supported both professionally and personally. That's why we offer a range of benefits designed to give you flexibility, security, and peace of mind:
- A strong pension contribution from us of up to 9%
- Private medical cover with AXA (where eligible), alongside a healthcare cash plan
- Life assurance at 4x your salary
- 24 - 27 days' holiday depending on length of service, plus Christmas closure and the option to buy or sell extra days
- Hybrid working to help you find the right balance
- Everyday savings through gym discounts, travel loans, and retail perks
- Enhanced family leave, including up to 6 months on full pay
- Ongoing wellbeing support, including access to CABA
- A paid day each year to volunteer for a cause that matters to you
It's all part of creating an environment where you can thrive, in work and beyond. For a full overview of our benefits package please see below.
Additional Information
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date should we receive enough suitable applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your VAT Partial Exemption expertise at the top of your CV as ICAEW specifically mentions this technical specialism
📊 Quantify your tax compliance experience: 'Prepared 24 monthly VAT returns with 100% accuracy'
🌐 Emphasise your Microsoft NAV/Business Central experience as ICAEW uses these accounting systems
🎯 Showcase your IR35 knowledge prominently as contractor employment status is a key responsibility
🤝 Demonstrate your ability to explain complex tax concepts to non-specialists through specific examples
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Managed VAT partial exemption calculations for 8 subsidiary companies, ensuring 100% HMRC compliance across £2.4M annual turnover
- •Prepared 156 monthly HMRC returns using Microsoft NAV, achieving zero late filing penalties over 18-month period
- •Led IR35 contractor assessments for 45 engagements, reducing off-payroll working compliance risk by 85%
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Letter preview — tailored to ICAEW
Dear Hiring Manager,
ICAEW's role as Tax Accountant in Milton Keynes represents exactly the technical challenge I seek, combining VAT partial exemption expertise with IR35 compliance across a prestigious professional body's complex subsidiary structure.
My background in tax compliance and advisory, particularly with HMRC returns preparation and Microsoft NAV systems, aligns perfectly with your requirements for supporting the Head of Tax across ICAEW's entities.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you handle a VAT partial exemption calculation for a mixed business?
- ›Explain the IR35 off-payroll working rules and how you'd assess contractor status
- ›What are the key considerations when preparing Corporation Tax computations?
- ›How do you stay current with HMRC legislative changes?
- ›Describe your experience with reverse charge VAT procedures
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you had to explain complex tax concepts to non-finance colleagues
- ›Describe a situation where you identified a tax compliance issue and how you resolved it
- ›Give an example of when you had to work independently on a challenging tax project
- ›How do you prioritise multiple tax deadlines during busy periods?
- ›Tell me about a time you implemented a process improvement in tax operations
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you had to explain complex tax concepts to non-finance colleagues
Describe a situation where you identified a tax compliance issue and how you resolved it