Find More Than 10K+
United Kingdom Jobs

UCL’s Finance division, headed by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), is part of the University’s Professional Services function and is divided into three separate directorates: Finance Services, Financial Planning & Analysis and Finance Business Partnering. The CFO reports directly to the President & Provost and is the member of the senior executive management team responsible for the management of UCL's financial performance and strategy, as well as for the provision of financial services and advice across the institution

The role of the Deputy Head of Tax is to provide senior, specialist support to the Head of Tax in delivering effective tax operations across the institution and to formally deputise for them where required. The role will focus on internal stakeholder engagement, the provision of expert tax support for significant institutional projects, and the design and delivery of new tax structures and processes. It will also support on aspects of policy development and tax governance. In carrying out the role, the post holder will be expected to promote a culture of high performance, strong stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement.

The role requires technical excellence, expertise in managing a broad range of UK taxes and the ability to operate across policy and day-to-day operational process. The post-holder will be committed to the principle of service excellence and be able to engage and collaborate with multiple stakeholders across the institution as well as key external partners.

Main areas of responsibility are to:

• Provide specialist in-house advice and support on significant tax matters including capital projects, employment status, institutional partnerships and cross-border activity.

• Support the Head of Tax in developing and maintaining the University’s tax strategy, tax policy and tax risk assessment, ensuring appropriate mitigations are in place.

• Lead on development of UCL’s IR35 employment status framework.

• Lead on the optimisation of UCL’s partial exemption special method, encompassing both structural changes and expression within the finance system.

• Design and deliver other new tax structures where required and optimise existing tax structures in line with identified opportunity.

• Support UCL’s continuing compliance across VAT, corporate and employment taxes through the design of a robust and effective framework of monitoring, assessment and reporting.

• Liaise with the University’s tax advisors: ensuring an efficient and effective partnership that demonstrates continuing value for money.

• Day to day management of UCL’s relationship with HMRC and other relevant overseas tax authorities.

• Support the efficient operation of devolved tax accounting activities through delivery of technical training and guidance to the wider Finance community.

• Support Financial Planning & Analysis in delivery of a comprehensive, timely and relevant internal reporting service, through transparent management and forecasting of UCL’s tax affairs.

• Support the Director of Finance Services in maintaining effective business as usual operations through delivery of a continuous programme of service enhancement.

• Identify and address opportunities to improve the effectiveness of UCL’s tax management and reporting systems, liaising as appropriate with UCL’s tax advisors, internal auditors and HMRC.

• Contribute to divisional planning through the provision of professional challenge, support and advice - balancing client needs, operational priorities and University financial requirements.

• Provide ad hoc analysis and analytical review as required by University senior management and other stakeholders.

Criteria for this position as follows:

Fully qualified tax professional with significant post qualification experience
Capable and credible finance professional, comfortable with operating and influencing at senior management level
Technical expertise across UK VAT (incl. partial exemption), corporate taxes and employment tax as relevant to an organisation of similar size and complexity
Track record of operating an effective tax function within higher education or other sectors with translatable experience
Experience in the design and operation of effective financial controls and processes
Evidence of appreciation of the dynamics of higher education and an empathy with academic endeavour
Familiarity with the financial reporting, regulatory and tax environment for UK higher education

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.