Head of Indirect Tax

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Job reference 335451
Head of Indirect Tax
Competitive salary, plus car allowance, healthcare, 35% annual bonus potential,30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and a company pension scheme with highly competitive contribution rates
Permanent, Full time
Royal Mail Farringdon

Head of Indirect Tax

International Distribution Services (IDS) / Royal Mail
Location: London (185 Farringdon Road) + Hybrid Working
Travel: Frequent visits to Chesterfield
Reports to: Group Tax Director
Team: Lead a team of 4

About the company

International Distribution Services, IDS is a global logistics company, operating the Royal Mail and GLS delivery networks.

Royal Mail is an iconic British brand with over 500 years of history, evolving from a service for the Crown into the UK's leading mail, parcel and logistics operator.

As the nation's designated Universal Service Provider, Royal Mail delivers a 'one-price-goes-anywhere' service for letters and parcels to around 32 million addresses across the UK. It also provides commercial mailing and parcel services for consumers, SMEs, large businesses, retailers and other postal operators.

Parcelforce Worldwide provides time-critical, door-to-door services across the UK and internationally.

GLS is a leading international logistics provider and has grown to become one of the most reliable and high-quality parcel service networks in Europe and North America.

About the role

IDS is seeking an exceptional Head of Indirect Tax to lead all VAT and Customs activities across the UK business and support strategic indirect tax matters for GLS as required. This highly influential leadership role is responsible for the Group's indirect tax reporting, compliance, planning, and advisory agenda-shaping the future of tax policy, risk management, and tax-efficient commercial propositions across a complex and evolving organisation.

You will lead a UK-based team of VAT and Customs specialists, acting as the subject-matter expert and strategic voice on all indirect tax matters.

Key Responsibilities

1. Tax Strategy & Planning

• Develop and deliver a comprehensive indirect tax strategy aligned to Group objectives
• Identify VAT savings, tax efficiencies, and process improvements to enhance financial performance
• Ensure all products and services provided to customers are fully compliant and risk-managed
• Communicate and report strategic issues, opportunities, and risks to senior leadership
• Implement best-practice approaches to indirect tax governance, controls, and operations

2. Collaboration & Advisory

• Act as the Group's senior adviser on VAT, Customs, and indirect tax implications of new initiatives, regulatory changes, transactions, and business operations
• Lead tax due diligence and structuring activities for acquisitions and corporate transactions
• Work closely with senior leaders across Legal, Finance, Commercial, Government Affairs, and other functions
• Play a key leadership role in shaping commercially compelling, tax-efficient propositions across services where VAT and International Trade & Customs are significant differentiators (International, Wholesale, and commercial products)
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external advisers and HMRC

3. HMRC Relationship Ownership

• Lead the Group's relationship with HMRC on all indirect tax matters, ensuring transparent, constructive, and proactive engagement

4. Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor the indirect tax team (4 direct reports)
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on continuous learning, innovation, and accountability

5. Compliance & Controls

• Drive Group-wide awareness of compliance and reporting obligations, ensuring adherence to Senior Accounting Officer provisions
• Implement and maintain robust tax control frameworks across the organisation

6. Tax Technology & Transformation

• Champion tax technology adoption and lead the indirect tax workstream through the SAP S/4HANA upgrade
• Identify opportunities to automate, streamline, and enhance reporting and compliance processes

7. External Advocacy

• Lead lobbying and engagement with tax authorities and EU agencies on VAT matters affecting Royal Mail

8. Adviser Management

• Select, manage, and build strong relationships with the Group's external advisers on all indirect tax matters

9. Risk Management & Audit

• Assess, maintain, and manage tax and customs risks, including ownership of risk registers and emerging threat identification
• Lead management of internal and external audits, disputes, and tax-related investigations
• Ensure accuracy, consistency, and efficiency in all indirect tax reporting and filings through best-practice tools and controls

About You - Experience & Qualifications

• ACA / CTA (or equivalent professional qualification)
• Proven experience at senior-level VAT/indirect tax experience in a complex business or professional environment
• Deep expertise in UK VAT and Customs, with strong analytical and technical capability
• Collaborative and influential leadership style with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders
• Proven ability to deliver change across systems, processes, and teams
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen and the ability to simplify complex tax issues
• Highly self-motivated, resilient, and comfortable navigating ambiguity and complexity

Why Join Us?

IDS and Royal Mail are iconic and trusted brands, and with significant new investment from EP Group, this is an exciting time to join the business.

The role offers the opportunity to operate within a complex and evolving tax landscape, shaped by our unique operating model and regulatory environment. You'll play a pivotal strategic leadership role at the heart of one of the UK's most recognised and operationally complex organisations. This is an opportunity to shape the future of Royal Mail's indirect tax agenda, influence key commercial decisions, drive transformation, and lead a high-calibre specialist team.

Extra Benefits
• Family friendly support - enhanced maternity pay, paternity leave, adoption leave and shared parental leave
• Discounts and offers - there are more than 800 offers to help you save on things like groceries, days out, holidays and your household bills*.
• Supportive and generous company sick pay
• Your Wellbeing - you and your family have 24/7 access to services and tools to help you get the most out of life. From your physical and mental health to financial and social support and advice. It's free, and it's for everyone.
*Available only to perm employees

Next Steps

The next stage of the selection process will be a face to face/virtual interview consisting of competency based and role specific questions. Royal Mail Group is committed to inclusion and representing the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals. As a proud Gold signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we especially encourage applications from the Armed Forces community, including cadet instructors and spouses/partners.

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process. If you require any adjustments to support you during the hiring process, please discuss these with your recruiter when contacted.

We are Forces family friendly and a Gold signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.

For more information on Royal Mail Group and our values please click here: https://www.internationaldistributionsservices.com/en/about-us/

Closing Date: 13th February 2026. Please note, this advert may close early if the appropriate number of applications has been reached.

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