Lead Tax Manager

Position: Lead Tax Manager (Contract)
Lead Tax Manager
Contract Length: 6 months + potential extensions

Location:

Hybrid - can be based anywhere in the UK, with 40-60% attendance at a local office (York, Cambridge, Manchester, Carlisle)
IR35:
Inside
Pay Rate to Candidate: £600 / day umbrella

A Tax Manager is required to join a public organisation on a contract role. The Lead Tax Manager will provide senior-level tax expertise and act as the lead specialist for IR35, taxable benefits, and corporation tax, while supporting VAT compliance as part of the wider Compliance & Financial Accounting Team. The role spans operational tax work, process improvement, advisory activity, and stakeholder engagement, including interactions with HMRC and the Government Tax Centre of Excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Lead IR35 compliance, setting and maintaining robust processes and guidance.
Oversee data capture and review for PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA) returns.
Ensure full compliance and governance for all taxable benefits.
Manage the corporation tax function for Natural England, including accurate and timely re-turns.
Maintain tax policies, guidance notes, and training materials across the organisation.
Act as senior tax adviser on complex, ambiguous or high risk tax queries.
Work collaboratively with the wider tax team across VAT, benefits, IR35, and corp tax.
Engage externally with HMRC and the Tax Centre of Excellence as required.
Represent tax interests in finance system changes and upgrades.
Build strong working relationships with stakeholders and communicate clearly with senior leaders.

Essential Skills / Experience

Strong technical tax expertise, especially IR35, Taxable benefits, Corporation tax
CTA, CCAB or ATT qualified or demonstrable equivalent experience.
Ability to interpret and apply tax legislation.
Strong stakeholder management and relationship building skills.
Clear communicator able to simplify complex technical issues.
Experience supporting or leading dispersed teams.
Excellent organisational and project delivery skills.
Strong analytical/problem solving capability.
Comfortable working in a changing, multi body public sector environment.

Desirable

Public Sector or Central Government experience.

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