Senior VAT / Indirect Tax Lead

Holland & Barrett

Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days per week in our Nuneaton office (CV10 7RH).

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About the Opportunity

Holland & Barrett is a multi-market business with a growing international presence, selling through stores, online channels, and third-party marketplaces. With that scale comes a highly complex indirect tax environment shaped by multiple jurisdictions, digital VAT developments, omni-channel operations, and ongoing transformation.

We are looking for someone who thrives in complexity and can turn challenge into structure. This is not a role focused on simply maintaining a polished VAT function. Instead, it is an opportunity to take ownership, strengthen processes, improve data quality, and build a robust framework that supports future strategic growth.

If you enjoy creating order, solving problems, and leaving lasting improvements behind you, this role offers the platform to do exactly that.

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What You’ll Be Responsible For

As the senior VAT leader within the business, you will take ownership of indirect tax across Holland & Barrett’s territories and act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading end-to-end VAT compliance across all H&B jurisdictions, ensuring accurate and timely submissions supported by effective controls

• Advising senior stakeholders, including the CFO, Finance Director, and leadership teams, on VAT implications of commercial decisions, expansion plans, and operational change

• Providing technical expertise on:

• Cross-border B2C and B2B transactions

• Distance selling

• Marketplace obligations

• Digital VAT rule changes

• Collaborating with supply chain, finance, commercial, and technology teams to optimise VAT treatment across warehousing, logistics, and distribution models

• Driving VAT input into ERP and finance transformation programmes, ensuring systems are designed to support compliance and reduce manual work over time

• Managing external relationships with tax advisors and authorities, including handling audits, disputes, and formal enquiries

• Monitoring legislative change such as e-invoicing, real-time reporting, and EU VAT reform, then translating these developments into clear business actions

• Assessing VAT rates and product liability across a broad and evolving product portfolio

• Leading and developing one direct report, the VAT Manager

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How Success Will Be Measured

In this role, your impact will be visible through stronger compliance, better processes, and greater business confidence in VAT decision-making.

We’ll know you’re making a difference when:

• VAT returns are submitted accurately and on time in every jurisdiction

• There are no material penalties and no major surprises relating to compliance

• New markets and business model changes can go live smoothly without VAT becoming a barrier

• A robust, audit-ready VAT control framework is established and operating effectively

• Processes, systems, and data quality improve, with reduced reliance on manual intervention

• Senior stakeholders view you as a trusted expert who can explain complex matters in a clear, practical way

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What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a senior indirect tax professional with strong international VAT expertise and the confidence to lead through complexity.

You’ll bring:

• Significant senior-level experience in international VAT and indirect tax

• A background ideally gained within multinational retail, e-commerce, or consumer-facing businesses

• Deep knowledge of UK, EU, and international VAT regimes

• Strong understanding of:

• Cross-border trade

• Marketplace rules

• Omni-channel operations

• Proven experience managing multi-jurisdictional compliance, audits, and tax authority disputes

• The ability to turn complex legislation into clear, practical guidance for non-tax audiences, including CFO and Board-level stakeholders

• Strong business partnering skills, with experience working across finance, supply chain, commercial, and digital functions

• Experience using ERP systems, ideally SAP, and an interest in using technology to improve VAT processes

• The resilience and pragmatism to stabilise and improve a function before moving into longer-term strategic development

• A professional qualification such as CTA, ACA, ACCA, or equivalent

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Why Join Holland & Barrett?

This is an opportunity to shape a critical function in a business that is evolving rapidly across markets and channels. You’ll step into a visible, high-impact role where your expertise will influence strategic decisions, operational improvements, and long-term capability building.

If you want a role where you can create structure, drive transformation, and become a key advisor to senior leadership, this is a position with real scope and importance.

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What You’ll Receive

Our rewards package includes:

• Competitive salary aligned to the impact of the role

• 25 days’ holiday plus 8 bank holidays

• 25% staff discount across our range, plus free online delivery

• Pension contributions to support your future

• Free wellness diagnostic tests

• Access to exclusive discounts on wellness services, gym memberships, and more

• Additional retailer perks, savings, and advice from brands you use every day

• A genuine culture of wellbeing, including mental health support and menopause coaching

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Our Commitment to Inclusion

Holland & Barrett is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diverse perspectives and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every colleague feels respected, listened to, and valued.

We believe that when people feel a true sense of belonging, we build a stronger organisation and make health and wellness a way of life for everyone.

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Important Notice for Recruitment Agencies

Holland & Barrett does not accept unsolicited CVs or resumes from search firms or recruitment agencies. Please do not forward candidate details to our job alias, employees, or any company location unless specifically agreed in relation to a particular vacancy.

Holland & Barrett will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited candidate submissions unless a prior agreement is in place for the specific open position.