More than you expected

Grant Thornton UK LLP is part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 73,000 people in over 150 countries. We're a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. All around the world we bring a different experience to our clients. A better experience. One that delivers the expertise they need in a way that goes beyond. Personal, proactive, and agile. That's Grant Thornton.

Job Description:

NEW GROUND WON’T BREAK ITSELF.

Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals. The Innovation Tax team work closely with a wide range of companies across a variety of sectors to assist them in delivering both robust and maximised Innovation Tax relief claims. In everything we do our aim is to deliver value add ideas and insights that unlock sustainable growth for our clients.
 

Your role as an Manager in the Innovation Tax team will bring you into close contact with finance professionals and engineers in a wide variety of technical fields within industries including construction, food and beverage, mechanical and electrical engineering, retail, software development, automotive, telecommunications and aerospace to name just a few. Many of these will give you a clear, up-close view of how modern technology is rapidly advancing, whilst others that appear more standard on the surface may possess hidden innovation. As part of your role, you will apply your problem-solving skills to help our clients identify these areas of innovation.  
 

We’re happy to talk flexible working and consider reduced hours and job shares, we’ll support you to balance your work and life.

A look into the role

If you enjoy working on a wide-reaching range of projects that will help businesses flourish, you’ll fit right in. Previous knowledge and experience of the application of the R&D tax relief schemes is essential. A knowledge of Patent Box would be considered a bonus. 
 

Here are some things you can expect from the Innovation Tax Manager role:

• Understanding: You will liaise with technical leads, engineers and financial personnel at our clients and will help them to understand if, and to what degree, their project work qualifies as R&D.
• Documenting: You will translate the details of client projects, enabling the writing of comprehensive technical narratives that accurately describe the technical aspects of the R&D, whilst also being easy to understand by someone not in the field.
• Managing: You will manage and take ownership of your own portfolio of clients. Through building meaningful relationships with your clients and getting to know their business, you will assist them in optimising their R&D claims ensuring compliance with tax legislation, and ensuring they receive a quality service.
• Analysing: You will prepare and/or review complex cost analysis data from clients, utilising tools such as Excel, Alteryx, and Power BI to determine which costs can be included within a client’s R&D claim and which cannot.
• Market focus: You will support with business development opportunities, as well as delivering exceptional service to your existing clients.
• Mentoring: You will teach and guide more junior colleagues in the business, supporting them to develop their own skills whilst also enabling you to grow toward more senior roles in the business. 

Knowing you’re right for us

Joining us as a Manager, you’ll need to have expertise in the following areas:

• Current experience in the innovation taxes space
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills, including the ability to teach technical specialists the definition of R&D and help them understand where their work may qualify.
• Exceptional listening skills, to understand the challenges being faced in attempting to solve the problems being encountered, and to identify those that would qualify as R&D.
• The ability to translate complex technical work into descriptions understandable to non-technical field specialists.
• Strong project management skills and proactiveness, ability to prioritise and plan work to meet deadlines.

• Ability to identify areas of risk, carry out an effective review and know when to refer upwards.
• Confidence and ability to manage your own portfolio, including filing deadlines, monitoring budgets, WIP and invoicing.
• Willingness and ability to work as part of a team.
• Good knowledge of Word and Excel.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to delegate, review and offer constructive feedback to junior colleagues who assist you in your work.

Knowing we’re right for you

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone.  Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.
 

Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

Beyond the job 

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.
 

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.

We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas, and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people, and themselves. It’s how it should be.

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