Head of Tax

Location: Sunderland - Hybrid site/work from home

Department: Finance

Function: Tax

Salary & Benefits: Highly competitive base salary and a premium benefits package offered.

Overview

Nissan was the UK’s eighth best-selling automotive brand in 2025, and the UK-designed, engineered and manufactured Qashqai and Juke were among the top five selling models. Nissan also operates the UK’s largest car factory at its Sunderland site through Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd (NMUK), which employs approximately 6,000 people and has produced over 11.5 million vehicles since opening in 1986. Additional UK functions include an R&D facility at Cranfield and a Design Centre in Paddington, alongside UK distribution and marketing operations through Nissan Motor (GB) Limited (NMGB), headquartered in Maple Cross and employing around 170 people. Together, the UK activities generate an £8bn annual turnover.

The UK Head of Tax leads a focused team with end-to-end accountability for tax across Nissan’s UK operations, alongside branch activities in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. As Nissan’s senior tax authority for all UK entities, the role provides strategic guidance and leadership in line with Nissan’s global tax framework and UK tax strategy, while also contributing to the broader regional AMIEO tax function.

A professionally rewarding and challenging position, it represents a significant North East-based opportunity for a suitably qualified and experienced tax professional who may be either a direct or indirect tax specialist, or a generalist. The successful candidate will likely have chartered status and have extensive relevant experience.

Key Responsibilities

VAT and Indirect Taxes

• Oversee VAT compliance and statistical reporting for all Nissan UK operations, plus compliance for NMUK’s five EU VAT registrations, including manufacturing, vehicle distribution, aftersales parts and cross-border movements.
• Provide specialist guidance on the full scope of VAT-related issues, including complex cross-border supply chains, the applicability of VAT accounting schemes, land and property, valuation issues and electronic services.
• Drive improvements in indirect tax compliance processes and VAT evidence management, including management of multi-jurisdictional self-billing.

Corporation Tax

• Lead preparation, review, and submission of UK corporation tax returns for NMUK, NMGB and related UK entities.
• Manage group tax accounting and reporting, including deferred tax calculations and tax disclosures for statutory reporting.
• Advise on the tax impacts of capital investments, R&D activities, energy efficiency initiatives and plant transformation programmes.
• Ensure compliance with OECD transfer pricing principles, including documentation and intercompany arrangements between UK manufacturing, design, distribution and EU/export sales channels.
• Work closely with Nissan Global HQ and the regional team on long-term tax strategies involving Advance Pricing Agreements and support MAPs for the resolution of cross-border tax disputes involving double taxation.

Employment Taxes

• Oversee PAYE, National Insurance, benefits-in-kind, PSA, P11D, STBV reporting, employee mobility and inbound/outbound secondee arrangements.
• Provide expert input on workforce-related tax matters as Nissan navigates evolving manufacturing demands, reskilling initiatives and workforce planning.

Tax Authorities and Other Operational Matters

• Serve as the primary contact for HMRC on all UK tax matters, maintaining an open, transparent relationship in line with Nissan’s governance commitments and conservative attitude to tax planning.
• Manage HMRC enquiries, audits, disclosures, and clearances spanning corporation tax, VAT and employment tax.
• Oversee interactions with EU tax authorities, including, where necessary, coordinating external advisors to ensure compliance with local requirements.
• Promote best‑practice tax governance, embedding strong internal controls, the SAO (Senior Accounting Officer) regime and J‑SOX tax compliance structures across all UK entities.
• Advise senior leadership on all relevant tax changes affecting UK activities.
• Monitor UK and EU tax developments, such as MDR/DAC6, Pillar 2, carbon border adjustment mechanisms and changes to EV-related trade legislation and assess their impact on Nissan’s UK manufacturing and European distribution operations.
• Provide forward‑looking tax advice on major strategic initiatives including plant upgrades, EV investments, new product launches, supply‑chain redesign, and commercial restructuring.
• Partner with Finance, Procurement, HR, Legal, and Operations to ensure consistent tax‑compliant decision‑making.
• Manage relationships with Nissan’s wider AMIEO and global tax teams to ensure alignment across jurisdictions.
• Maintain constructive relationships with external tax advisors and ensure efficient use of specialist support.

Skills, Experience, and Qualifications

• Professional qualification (CTA, ACA or equivalent).
• Extensive experience across UK corporate tax, VAT and employment taxes.
• Experience managing cross-border EU tax matters and complex supply chains.
• Proven leadership of tax teams and stakeholder management at executive level.
• Strong technical grounding in tax accounting and compliance frameworks such as SAO and J‑SOX.
• Strong background supporting large-scale automotive or other manufacturing and distribution operations.
• In-house experience would be highly useful but is not essential.
• Experience with customs duties, environmental taxes, and EV‑related incentives.
• Experience supporting major capital investment projects, R&D activity and industrial transformation.

Personal Attributes

• Highly collaborative, proactive and organised, with excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrates integrity, discretion and alignment with Nissan’s global Code of Conduct.
• Strategic thinker and professionally curious, with the ability to identify issues and operate cross-functionally and hands‑on when needed.
• Strong communicator who can translate complex tax issues into commercial insights and concise, user-appropriate advice.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including women, ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and those from socially or economically disadvantaged communities. We value the unique perspectives and experiences everyone brings and believe diversity strengthens our workplace.

Accessibility and Adjustments

If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process—such as accessible interview formats, extra time, assistive technologies, or workplace adaptations, please let us know. We will work with you to ensure you can participate fully and comfortably. All recruitment materials and assessments can be provided in accessible formats.

Supporting Candidates Facing Economic Disadvantage

We understand that economic circumstances can create barriers to applying for roles. If costs such as travel, technological access, or other practical constraints may prevent you from taking part in our recruitment process, please contact us. Wherever possible, we will offer support — such as virtual interview options, reimbursement of essential travel costs, or alternative assessment arrangements.

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