Location: UK - Hatfield | Job-ID: 219032 | Contract type: Standard | Business Unit: Finance & Accounting
Tax Accountant (VAT Focus)
Location: Hatfield / Hybrid
Department: Group Tax
Reports To: Tax Manager
Life on the team
Computacenter is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Tax Accountant to join its Group Tax function. The role will have a strong focus on UK and international VAT compliance, VAT advisory support, tax accounting, and process improvement activities.
Working closely with finance, accounting, logistics, procurement, and external advisers, the Tax Accountant will play a key role in ensuring tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions while supporting business growth and maintaining a strong control environment.
The successful candidate will combine technical tax knowledge with strong analytical skills and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving VAT risks and opportunities.
What you'll do
VAT Compliance & Reporting (Primary Focus)
- Prepare and review UK VAT returns in accordance with Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements.
- Support the preparation, review, and submission of foreign VAT returns across multiple jurisdictions.
- Manage VAT reconciliations and ensure VAT accounts are accurately reflected in the general ledger.
- Investigate VAT exceptions, anomalies, and data integrity issues identified through compliance reviews.
- Review import and export transactions to ensure correct VAT treatment.
- Support VAT reclaim processes, including foreign VAT recovery opportunities.
- Maintain VAT compliance trackers and ensure statutory deadlines are met.
- Liaise with external advisers and tax authorities regarding VAT compliance matters.
- Assist with VAT audits, enquiries, and information requests.
- Identify VAT risks and recommend practical solutions to improve compliance.
VAT Advisory & Business Support
- Provide day-to-day VAT guidance to finance and operational teams.
- Review contracts, new business models, and transactions from a VAT perspective.
- Support the implementation of VAT requirements within SAP and other business systems.
- Assist with cross-border supply chain projects and indirect tax planning initiatives.
- Support business teams in understanding VAT impacts of customer and supplier transactions.
Tax Accounting
- Perform balance sheet reconciliations for VAT and other tax accounts.
- Ensure tax provisions and accruals are accurate and appropriately supported.
- Assist with month-end and year-end tax accounting processes.
- Support external and internal audit requirements by maintaining robust documentation and audit trails.
Wider Tax Responsibilities
- Support Corporation Tax compliance activities as required.
- Assist with withholding tax compliance and exemption certificate management.
- Maintain tax registers, trackers, and compliance documentation.
Process Improvement & Technology
- Identify opportunities to automate manual tax processes.
- Support enhancements to tax technology solutions, including SAP, Meridian, and compliance tools.
- Participate in tax transformation and digitisation projects.
- Develop and maintain process documentation to ensure audit readiness and knowledge retention.
- Promote best practice in tax controls and governance across the organisation.
What you'll need
Essential
- Experience in VAT compliance and reporting.
- Good understanding of UK VAT legislation and practical application.
- Experience with international VAT compliance.
- Understanding of import/export VAT and customs processes.
- Experience working with ERP systems (SAP preferred).
- Strong analytical and reconciliation skills.
- Advanced Excel skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and organisational ability.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
Desirable
- Experience working in a multinational organisation.
- Professional tax or accounting qualification (ATT, CTA, ACA, ACCA or equivalent), or working towards qualification.
Key Competencies
- Ownership and accountability
- Commercial awareness
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving and analytical thinking
- Stakeholder management
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Commitment to quality and compliance
Development Opportunities
This role provides exposure to:
- UK and international VAT compliance and advisory work.
- Cross-border indirect tax projects.
- Tax technology and automation initiatives.
- Direct interaction with external advisors and tax authorities.
- Career progression towards Senior Tax Accountant, VAT Manager
Ideal Candidate Profile
A technically capable tax professional who enjoys solving VAT issues, improving processes, and working in an international environment. The individual will demonstrate strong ownership, attention to detail, and a desire to develop into a recognised VAT specialist within Computacenter.
About us
We are a leading independent technology and services provider, trusted by large corporate and public sector organisations. We are a responsible business that believes in winning together for our people and our planet. We help our customers to source, transform and manage their technology infrastructure to deliver digital transformation, enabling people and their business.
We’re a place where you can belong
With over 21,000 people across 22 countries, we are proud of our inclusive culture - where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and truly belong.
You’ll see this reflected in our recruitment process too. We aim to provide fair access to opportunities and an inclusive, barrier‑free experience. All that matters to us is that you share our vision and values, and bring the skills and experience we need.
As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme. If you opt in and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you’ll be guaranteed an interview, and we’re happy to support any reasonable adjustments. Please let us know when you apply.
If you share our values and want to make a meaningful impact in a supportive, forward-thinking environment - we’d love to hear from you!