TAX ACCOUNTANT

Line Manager: Tax Director – London

Function: Tax

Location: Strand

Job Purpose:

Our Client operates in 13 European locations as a provider of payment protection (PPI) and Mortgage insurance for  Europe 's top financial institutions. The companies Tax in Europe is structured as a Center of Excellence to service both of these businesses. The compliance and planning needs with respect to these growing businesses are numerous and requires coordinating a broad array of tax laws and specializations across UK, local and US jurisdictions. This position is necessary to fulfill two roles: first, to function as the day-to-day resource for Mortgage compliance and planning needs, being primarily located at The Strand; and second, to help coordinate the companies European tax compliance requirements, primarily with respect to the growing operations of PPI and Mortgage outside the UK . This position reports directly into the European Tax Director, who in turn reports to the CFOs for PPI and Mortgage as well as the Tax Director.

Key Responsibilities:

Skills & Experience:

Key Qualities (use Competency model if provided):

* Prepare (or oversee as appropriate) UK tax return filing obligations for Mortgage (and potentially certain PPI) entities, ensuring that compliance deadlines are met

* Help coordinate analysis and implementation of a tax compliance control system across the European platform, working closely with the European Tax team, local Finance managers and external advisors as necessary

* Manage tax provision requirements for Mortgage operations including US GAAP, UK statutory and FSA return, working closely with Finance managers and GW European and US tax teams

* Proactively assist in activity relating to the Mortgage Business Development team including discussions and analysis with external local tax advisors as necessary

* Prepare responses to Mortgage Inland Revenue inquiries, coordinating with outside advisors as necessary

* Identify opportunities for process improvement, US GAAP and cash tax rate optimization, better capital management, and appropriate leverage of external resources

This list is not exhaustive, additional reasonable duties may be required from time to time.

Essential:

* Qualified Accountant, Chartered ACA, CIMA or ACCA
* Experience with UK corporate income tax, preferably in the context of an insurance company operation

* Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, other Office applications

* Practical experience with Inland Revenue inquiries and procedures

* Minimum 4-5 years UK tax and accounting experience

* Ability to travel as necessary

Desired :

* Familiarity with UK and EU VAT and IPT

* Knowledge of US taxation of non-US operations of multi-national corporations a plus

* Experience with tax under US GAAP

* Insurance industry expertise

* Multilingual

* Strong interpersonal skills; effective written and verbal communication proficiency

* Able to work independently without significant day-to-day direct supervision

* Works well under pressure to meet deadlines, while anticipating need for additional resources at appropriate time

* Team oriented

* Positive attitude

* Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize

* Proactive in identifying opportunities