The posting
Job Description
Tax Manager
Function: Finance Location: Hybrid, Peterborough or London
Curious about what’s next? So are we. Join Compare the Market and help to make financial decision making a breeze for millions.
At Compare the Market, we’re a purpose-driven business powered by tech and AI. We’re building high-performing, results-driven teams with the skills, mindset, and ambition to deliver outcomes at pace. Every role here plays a part in driving our mission forward, and we create an environment where you can bring your authentic self, grow a truly characterful career, and see the direct impact of your work on the lives of our customers.
We’ve carved a meerkat-shaped niche and we’re looking for ambitious, curious thinkers who thrive in a fast-moving, high-impact environment. If you love accountability, embrace challenge, and want to make a real difference, you’ll fit right in.
We’d love you to be part of our journey. Reporting to the Tax Senior Manager, the Tax Manager works alongside experienced tax specialists in the CtM Finance team. The hand-on role focuses on supporting the delivery of the UK Group’s tax reporting and compliance obligations accurately and on time, while providing high-quality tax advice and practical solutions across the business. Key responsibilities include supporting the preparation of the VAT return and partial exemption calculations, VAT accounting, reconciliations and forecasting and helping the Group with Making Tax Digital requirements. The role also supports day-to-day tax queries, including the tax treatment of new products, contracts and transactions. In addition, the Tax Manager actively contributes to UK Corporation Tax compliance, including return preparation, tax accounting, and completion of R&D claims. The Tax Manager also contributes to the Group's tax risk and controls framework and to maintaining the Group’s open, transparent relationship with HMRC.
Some of the great things you’ll be doing:
- Prepare the Group's UK VAT returns, including partial exemption calculations and adjustments, using the Group's tax technology and Making Tax Digital (MTD) processes for review by the Tax Senior Manager.
- Review tax-sensitive arrangements and provide tax advisory support across the Group, particularly by assisting with the analysis of the VAT and wider tax treatment of new products, contracts and transactions.
- Support the Group’s wider tax compliance obligations by working with the tax team on UK Corporation Tax returns and claims, including RDEC and transfer pricing, and on other filings such as PSA, Country-by-Country reporting and Stamp Duty.
- Complete month-end and year-end tax accounting, forecasting and monthly reconciliations of VAT, Corporation Tax and RDEC balance-sheet and control accounts.
- Analyse tax-sensitive management information and produce tax papers, technical notes and HMRC disclosures.
- Take ownership of defined tax projects, claims and compliance workstreams, coordinating inputs, maintaining supporting evidence and delivering outputs to agreed deadlines.
- Maintain tax process notes, risk registers and control evidence, and support the Group’s tax governance framework through Senior Accounting Officer (SAO) certification, key risk indicator (KRI) reporting, First Line of Defence (FLOD) reviews and Corporate Criminal Offence (CCO) compliance.
- Support the year-end tax audit and liaison with external auditors and advisors.
- Help the team maintain an open, transparent relationship with HMRC — handling queries and business updates and supporting enquiries and disputes with other tax colleagues.
- Monitor changes in tax legislation and case law, assess their risks and opportunities for the Group, and help prepare relevant tax submissions.
- Play a key role in the Tax function’s ongoing digital transformation in a fast-paced and evolving environment. Champion the use of AI, automation and data tools to improve the speed, accuracy and control of tax processes, supporting CtM’s strategic priority to deliver faster through AI while maintaining appropriate human oversight of AI-assisted outputs.
- Support the Tax Graduate's development, offering coaching and technical guidance where appropriate.
What we’d like to see from you:
- A recognised professional tax qualification, such as ATT or CTA, together with post-qualification experience gained in an in-house tax function or a large accounting firm.
- Strong technical grounding in VAT, with the ability to provide practical VAT advice and explain complex issues clearly to non-specialists at all levels.
- Experience of corporation tax compliance, tax accounting/reconciliations and tax risk & controls.
- Confidence adopting AI, automation and data-analytics tools, with an understanding of appropriate governance.
- Ability to collaborate with and advise the business on relevant tax issues to effectively support a range of internal stakeholders in a complex organisation.
- Organisational skills with the ability to manage deadlines and competing priorities
- Experience of VAT partial exemption issues in financial services, e-commerce or insurance.
- Experience of preparing UK R&D tax credit claims.
- Experience of Transfer Pricing and international tax issues.
- Experience supporting HMRC enquiries, audits or disputes.
- Experience using Alphatax, or similar Corporation Tax and VAT compliance software.
- Familiarity with employment taxes (PSA, PAYE, NIC, ERS).
- Experience contributing to tax process improvement or digital transformation initiatives, from identifying opportunities through to implementing and embedding change.
Why Compare the Market?
We’re a business built for pace and performance. Here, you’ll be encouraged to think differently, act boldly, and deliver brilliantly in a culture that values results and rewards progress.
We believe diverse teams make better decisions, and we’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels empowered to grow, contribute, and thrive.
If you’re ready to stretch yourself, raise the bar, and grow with a team that’s serious about performance, innovation, and purpose, we’d love to hear from you.
