Private Client Tax Manager / Senior Manager

Mercer & Hole | St Albans

Join a highly regarded private client tax team at Mercer & Hole, where technical excellence meets a genuinely personal approach. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced tax professional to take ownership of a diverse portfolio, work closely with partners, and play a key role in both client delivery and team development.

Based in our St Albans office, this role is ideally suited to someone who enjoys building trusted client relationships, managing complex compliance matters, and contributing to advisory projects across a varied and often international private client base.

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The Opportunity

In this role, you will manage the annual compliance work for your own portfolio of private clients while supporting partners on a broad range of tax planning and advisory matters. You will also help develop junior team members through training and supervision, making this a well-rounded position with both technical and people responsibilities.

Our client portfolio is made up primarily of high-net-worth individuals, sole traders, and partnerships. While many clients are UK resident, the work also includes matters involving non-residence, non-domicile issues, cross-border tax planning, and UK and non-UK trusts.

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What You’ll Be Doing

Client Portfolio Management

• Take ownership of annual tax compliance work for your own client portfolio

• Manage client affairs directly alongside partners

• Ensure all work is delivered to a high standard, on time, and in line with HMRC deadlines

• Provide consistently excellent client care across both routine and complex assignments

Tax Compliance

• Handle a broad range of income tax, National Insurance, and capital gains tax matters

• Review PAYE coding notices where relevant

• Review Self-Assessment tax returns prepared by team members before client approval and electronic submission

• Oversee the gathering of information needed to prepare tax returns, coordinating with:

• clients

• third-party professionals

• internal stakeholders

Advisory & Planning Support

• Assist partners with the delivery of private client advisory work

• Support the preparation of reports covering areas such as:

• Inheritance tax planning

• Residence and domicile

• UK trusts

• Business structure planning

• Contribute to planning for individuals arriving in or leaving the UK

Client Communication & Meetings

• Liaise with clients on both routine and ad hoc matters via:

• email

• telephone

• face-to-face meetings

• Discuss issues relating to:

• inheritance tax

• income tax

• capital gains tax

• Prepare for and attend both existing client meetings and new business meetings

• Help scope follow-up work, set budgets, and ensure assignments are completed efficiently and within budget

HMRC Enquiries & Disclosures

• Correspond with HMRC in relation to:

• s9A enquiries

• disclosures under the Digital Disclosure Facility

• Support the preparation of accurate and timely responses and submissions

Team & Operational Responsibilities

• Supervise and help train junior staff

• Deal promptly with routine post and tax correspondence relating to your clients

• Monitor your own time budgets, chargeability, and quarterly client billing

• Make reserves where appropriate and keep partners informed of any billing concerns

• Attend and contribute to internal departmental management meetings

• Participate in networking and business development events

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About the Client Base

You will work with a sophisticated and interesting portfolio of private clients, including:

• High-net-worth individuals

• Sole traders

• Partnerships

• Beneficiaries of UK and non-UK trusts

• Clients with international tax considerations

• Individuals requiring planning around UK arrival or departure

This variety offers exposure to both compliance and advisory work in a genuinely stimulating private client environment.

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What We’re Looking For

Qualifications & Experience

• CTA qualified as a minimum

• At least 5 years’ private client tax experience

• Strong background in private client compliance

• Experience supporting or contributing to advisory work

Skills & Attributes

• Strong client-facing experience with the confidence to speak with and meet clients regularly

• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills

• Ability to work independently and show initiative

• Proven ability to manage deadlines and maintain exceptional standards of service

• Good working knowledge of:

• Word

• Excel

• Experience with tax and document management systems, including:

• CCH packages

• SharePoint

• Strong people management and staff development skills

• Sound commercial awareness

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Why Join Mercer & Hole?

Mercer & Hole has been independent since 1905 and has grown into a respected top 40 accountancy firm. We are also proud to be recognised as a top 20 UK firm for both private client tax and financial planning.

Led by 24 partners and supported by more than 240 staff across four UK locations, we combine deep technical expertise with a collaborative, people-first culture. Many of our partners trained in the Big 4, bringing first-class technical standards while preserving the warmth and accessibility of an independent firm.

What sets us apart

• A strong reputation for personal, high-quality client service

• A collaborative culture with a genuine family feel

• Exposure to a varied and international client base

• Opportunities to work on both compliance and advisory projects

• A firm-wide commitment to making complex issues clear, practical, and understandable

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Our Reach and Expertise

We advise a wide range of businesses and individuals, from start-ups and SMEs to larger and listed businesses, across numerous sectors. Our services include:

• Audit and accounting

  (Audit services are not provided to listed entities.)

• Tax compliance and advisory

• Business and strategic advice

• VAT, including partial exemption issues

• Virtual Finance, including:

• bookkeeping

• management accounting

• financial modelling

• payroll

• Financial process and controls reviews

• Regulatory returns

• Valuation services

• Merger and acquisition support

• Financial due diligence

• Private client services

• Exit strategy planning

• Raising finance

We also have a strong international presence as founding members of The International Accounting Group and TAG Law, connecting us with over 16,000 professionals worldwide.

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Our Values

We are committed to attracting and retaining people who share the values that define Mercer & Hole:

Together

• The firm with the family feel

• Show gratitude

• Be humble and confident

• Bring energy and enjoyment to your work

Resilient

• Stay open-minded and adaptable

• Embrace change

• Assume positive intent

• Approach challenges with positivity

Understanding

• Treat every individual with respect

• Value honesty, integrity, empathy, and kindness

• Ensure people feel heard

Supportive

• Encourage each other to grow

• Support what matters to colleagues and clients

• Help others achieve their potential

Thrive!

• Aim high

• Innovate

• Deliver exceptional work

• Strive to be the best for our clients and each other

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A Career with Impact

This is more than a compliance role. It is a chance to become part of a firm that is deeply invested in its people, its clients, and the quality of its work. If you are looking for a position where you can combine technical expertise, client relationship management, and team leadership in a supportive and respected environment, Mercer & Hole could be the right next step.

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Apply to Join Us

If you are an experienced private client tax professional ready to take the next step in your career, we would love to hear from you.