Indirect Tax Controversy Director

London / UK | Senior Leadership Opportunity

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Indirect Tax / VAT Controversy professional to join a fast-growing, conflict-free tax advisory business and play a key role in building its next phase of growth.

The business has been purpose-built to provide high-quality, independent tax advice to large and multinational businesses, combining senior-level expertise, entrepreneurial thinking and technology-enabled delivery.

With a clear focus on quality rather than bureaucracy, this is an environment where experienced tax professionals can have genuine influence - both with clients and within the business.

The Opportunity

As an Indirect Tax Controversy Director, you will take a leading role across some of the most complex VAT and indirect tax disputes and contentious matters affecting major UK and international businesses.

You will work directly with senior stakeholders, including CFOs, Group Tax Directors and Heads of Tax, providing clear, commercially focused advice on complex indirect tax issues.

The role offers significant scope to develop major client relationships, build your market profile and help shape the growth of the wider Indirect Tax Controversy practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead significant indirect tax controversy engagements for large and multinational businesses.
• Act as a senior technical authority on complex VAT and indirect tax matters, providing clear and commercially focused advice.
• Advise clients on HMRC VAT enquiries and investigations, customs matters, indirect tax disputes, tribunal litigation, alternative dispute resolution and settlement negotiations.
• Review and resolve the most complex technical issues, acting as a key technical reference point for the wider team.
• Develop and maintain senior-level relationships with CFOs, Tax Directors, Heads of Tax and other key stakeholders.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, helping to build and grow the Indirect Tax Controversy offering.
• Lead pitches and contribute to winning new client mandates.
• Take responsibility for portfolio management, including resource planning, utilisation and recovery.
• Collaborate with international colleagues on complex cross-border indirect tax matters and projects.
• Coach and develop Senior Managers and wider team members, supporting succession planning and future leadership.
• Embrace technology, AI and digital tools to improve the way indirect tax controversy work is delivered.
• Contribute to the strategic development of the wider business, with the potential to take leadership responsibility for a service line, sector or region.

What We're Looking For

We are interested in hearing from experienced Indirect Tax, VAT Controversy or Tax Disputes professionals who combine strong technical expertise with commercial awareness and the confidence to operate at senior client level.

You will ideally have:

• CTA, ACA, ACCA, CA or another relevant professional qualification - or equivalent experience.
• Extensive experience in indirect tax controversy, VAT disputes, HMRC enquiries and investigations, or VAT compliance, gained within professional services or industry.
• Deep technical knowledge of UK VAT, HMRC enquiry and investigation processes, dispute resolution and indirect tax legislation.
• A proven track record of resolving complex and high-value indirect tax matters.
• The ability to translate complicated technical issues into clear, practical and commercially relevant advice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence presenting to senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing significant client relationships and contributing to business development.
• Experience leading and developing Senior Managers and wider teams.
• The credibility and presence to operate effectively with senior clients and internal stakeholders.
• A collaborative and entrepreneurial approach, with the ambition to help build something rather than simply operate within an existing structure.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a modern, high-growth tax advisory business where experienced professionals can have a genuine impact.

You'll benefit from:

• A conflict-free, pure advisory environment with no audit restrictions.
• The opportunity to help build and shape a growing Indirect Tax Controversy practice.
• Direct exposure to senior leadership and some of the UK's most complex VAT and indirect tax matters.
• A genuinely collaborative culture with less hierarchy and bureaucracy.
• Significant autonomy and the opportunity to develop your own client relationships and market profile.
• Exposure to major UK and international businesses.
• A technology-led approach, including the use of AI and digital tools to enhance client delivery.
• The opportunity to shape your own career and potentially take on broader leadership responsibility as the business grows.

Interested?

If you're an experienced Indirect Tax, VAT Controversy or Tax Disputes professional looking for an opportunity where your technical expertise, client relationships and commercial ideas can genuinely make a difference, this could be an exciting next step.

For a confidential discussion about the role and the wider opportunity, please apply and get in touch.

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As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.