Group Tax Lead

Location: Hammersmith

The Group Tax Lead owns the Harrods Group tax agenda, combining technical leadership with a clear mandate to strengthen how tax is governed, delivered and embedded across the business. Leading a team of three, the successful candidate will be a self-starter who understands what good looks like, sets high standards, and translates those standards into practical, sustainable ways of working.

About the Role

This is a broad in-house leadership role spanning UK and international tax matters. It requires someone who is equally comfortable exercising technical judgement, delivering year-end requirements, managing HMRC and adviser relationships, leading and developing a team, strengthening governance and processes, and partnering with stakeholders across a complex retail group.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the Group tax framework and calendar, ensuring statutory obligations, payments, filings and key internal deliverables are completed accurately and on time.
• Establish and maintain robust, proportionate tax governance, controls and documentation, including Senior Accounting Officer, Corporate Criminal Offence, Tax Strategy and Business Risk Review requirements.
• Identify emerging tax risks and legislative changes, assess their implications for Harrods and ensure appropriate actions are implemented.
• Own the relationship with HMRC, building an open and credible dialogue while leading responses to enquiries, reviews and other tax authority interactions.

About You

You will be ACA and/or CTA qualified (or hold an equivalent professional qualification), with substantial post-qualification experience commensurate with the breadth and seniority of this role. You will have broad UK tax experience gained within a complex group environment, ideally combining in-house experience with a strong grounding in a major professional services or tax advisory firm.

You will bring a strong technical foundation in UK corporation tax and tax accounting, together with sufficient breadth across indirect tax, governance and international tax matters to lead the overall Group agenda and identify when specialist input is required.

You will also have

• Proven experience of owning tax reporting, compliance and audit deliverables, while operating effectively with senior finance stakeholders, auditors, tax authorities and external advisers.
• Experience leading and developing teams, with the confidence to review roles, responsibilities and team structures when the operating model needs to evolve.
• A track record of improving tax processes, controls and ways of working, including reducing unnecessary manual effort and increasing internal capability.
• Strong commercial judgement and the confidence to constructively challenge established approaches, external adviser recommendations and associated spend.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex tax matters to both finance and non-finance audiences.
• An independent, organised and proactive approach, with the ability to balance strategic priorities and technical detail, manage multiple deadlines and take ownership without requiring direction.

About Us

Harrods is one of the world's leading luxury department stores, and we continue to be a destination for top designers and the most sought-after brands from around the globe. Our shared mission is to make every visit to our iconic Knightsbridge store one of the world's most inspiring shopping experiences.

Our Promise to You

Help us make the impossible possible for our customers, and we'll do something remarkable for you. Alongside a welcoming environment that inspires you to do your best work, we offer abundant opportunities and support to build an exceptional career across the many specialisms within our business.

Uniquely You

While our job adverts outline the ideal qualities, skills and experience for a role, we believe strongly in the potential for growth and value the unique strengths each individual brings. If you can demonstrate most of the skills and experience needed to succeed in this role, we'd love to hear from you.

At Harrods, we believe the personality and authenticity of our people set us apart. We celebrate and welcome applications from all cultures, backgrounds, tastes and experiences, and we're proud of a culture where people from all walks of life can grow and thrive. What makes you unique is what makes us exceptional.

If you'd like to learn more about life at Harrods, search #TogetherHarrods on LinkedIn or follow us on Instagram @togetherharrods.

Additional Information

Time Type

Permanent

Department

Finance Management (Karin Gibson)