Head of Tax

As a senior member of the Group Finance Team, the Head of Tax is responsible for overseeing the Group's tax compliance, tax reporting, tax risk management and tax governance activities across a large and complex hospitality and property-based group. The role provides both strategic oversight and hands-on delivery across corporation tax, VAT, property taxes, CIS and other tax matters, ensuring compliance with all regulatory obligations while supporting tax planning initiatives and wider business projects.
The role is responsible for managing the Group's tax control environment, developing tax policies and processes, supporting transactions and business initiatives, and acting as a key point of contact for HMRC, external advisers and senior stakeholders across the business. The position also includes responsibility for tax reporting within the Group's statutory accounts and oversight of the Tax Team.

This role will be fully office based at the Arora Group Head office in Heathrow Airport area
(5 days a week, Monday - Friday)

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Key Responsibilities

• The role is varied, covering a number of business taxes including corporate tax, property tax, VAT and CIS for a large and complex private group as well as elements of statutory financial reporting.
• Lead the Group's tax compliance obligations across corporation tax, VAT, CIS, withholding taxes, property taxes and any other relevant UK tax regimes, ensuring all filings are submitted accurately and on time.
• Own the end-to-end tax compliance process and maintain oversight of tax obligations across a large and complex group structure.
• Oversee the preparation of tax returns for all group entities, undertaking hands-on preparation for complex, high-risk or material entities.
• Review and challenge tax computations, returns and filings prepared.
• Manage relationships with HMRC, coordinating responses to enquiries, disclosures, compliance reviews and correspondence.
• Oversee the preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual tax provisions and ensure appropriate reconciliation between tax returns, management accounts and statutory accounts.
• Lead the preparation and review of tax disclosures within the Group's statutory financial statements.
• Develop and maintain an effective tax governance and control framework, ensuring appropriate policies, procedures and controls are embedded across the Group.
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• Undertake periodic tax risk reviews and on-site audits to identify areas of exposure, strengthen controls and improve compliance processes. Provide technical tax guidance and training to finance, property, treasury and operational teams across the Group to increase tax awareness across finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives relating to tax processes, systems, controls and reporting.
• Actively contribute to strategic tax planning initiatives including capital allowances, group relief utilisation, loss planning, corporation interest restriction calculations and transaction structuring.
• Monitor tax developments and assess the impact of legislative changes on the Group.
• Support corporate transactions, acquisitions, restructurings, refinancing activities and other strategic projects from a tax perspective.
• Work closely with the Group Finance Director, finance leadership team, Family Office Head of Tax and external advisers on significant tax matters and strategic initiatives.
• Manage, mentor and develop the Tax Accountant, providing technical guidance, reviewing work and supporting professional development.

Skills
& Experience

• Qualified ACA or CTA with strong corporate tax experience (minimum 5 years PQE)
• Extensive experience of managing tax affairs within a large and complex corporate environment
• Strong technical knowledge of corporate tax, VAT, CIS and property taxation
• Experience of tax governance, tax risk management and implementing tax controls
• Good statutory accounting knowledge with experience of tax reporting under FRS 102
• Ability to undertake detailed technical research using tax legislation, HMRC guidance and relevant case law
• Experience supporting tax planning initiatives, transactions and restructuring activities
• Strong stakeholder management experience with an ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders
• Experience liaising directly with HMRC, auditors and external advisers
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  Demonstrable experience leading and developing team members
• Organised and methodical with excellent attention to detail and prioritisation skills.
• Commercially minded with strong analytical and problem-solving capability
• Proactive, self-motivated and capable of operating with minimal supervision
• Experience using Alphatax is desirable but not essential