Job Title: Employment Tax Senior Manager

Salary: Circa 67k

Location: Reading (Hybrid)

Reports to: Director of Tax / Head of Employment Tax

Department: Tax / Finance

Role Overview

The Employment Tax Senior Manager will lead the company’s employment tax function, providing strategic guidance and technical expertise on payroll, benefits, and incentive-related tax matters. The role involves managing compliance, advising on complex employment tax issues, and partnering with internal stakeholders and external advisors to optimise tax efficiency while ensuring full regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Employment Tax Compliance:

• Oversee the accurate and timely preparation of employment tax filings, including payroll taxes, social security contributions, and other employee-related taxes.
• Ensure compliance with local, national, and international employment tax legislation.
• Review payroll processes to ensure correct withholding, reporting, and remittance of employment taxes.

Advisory & Strategic Planning:

• Provide proactive guidance on employment tax implications of remuneration policies, benefits, equity plans, and incentive schemes.
• Advise on compensation and benefits strategies, including expatriate and international assignments, to optimise tax efficiency.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings from an employment tax perspective.

Process & Controls:

• Develop and maintain robust internal controls over employment tax processes.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements, automation, and system enhancements in payroll and tax reporting.
• Monitor legislative changes and assess their impact on the company’s employment tax obligations.

Stakeholder Management:

• Act as the subject matter expert on employment tax matters for HR, Finance, Legal, and senior leadership teams.
• Liaise with external advisors, regulators, and auditors on employment tax matters and audits.
• Provide clear and actionable advice to non-financial stakeholders on complex tax issues.

Team Leadership:

• Mentor, develop, and manage a team of employment tax professionals, fostering technical expertise and professional growth.
• Assign responsibilities, review work, and ensure consistent application of best practices across the team.
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Key Skills & Experience

• Qualified accountant or tax professional (ACA / ACCA / CTA or equivalent).
• Extensive experience in employment tax within a corporate or advisory environment.
• Strong knowledge of payroll, social security, benefits taxation, and equity-based compensation.
• Experience managing employment tax compliance for multi-jurisdictional entities is highly desirable.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.