This is an integral, high-profile role within the business. Reporting to the Head of Tax, the Employment Tax Manager acts as the Group’s subject matter expert on all employment tax matters, with responsibility for successfully managing related compliance and advisory activities.

The primary purpose of the role is to provide group-wide employment tax advice, guidance and oversight to ensure:

· full legal compliance across all employment tax obligations; and

· the identification, implementation and optimisation of commercially appropriate employment tax opportunities.

You will ensure the business remains fully informed of all relevant employment tax requirements and legislative developments. This will involve providing

timely, pragmatic employment tax advice and maintaining regular, proactive engagement with key stakeholders both internally (e.g. HR, Payroll, Procurement/P2P, Finance) and externally (e.g. HMRC, auditors and tax advisers).

What you will be doing as Employment Tax Manager

  • Providing expert advice on all employment tax and employee benefit matters impacting the business.
  • Building strong relationships with senior management, key stakeholders and business partners, delivering relevant employment tax updates while remaining closely aligned to business developments that may give rise to employment tax implications.
  • Identifying and delivering employment tax optimisation initiatives to generate efficiencies and cost savings for both the business and its employees.
  • Updating and maintaining robust employment tax risk management frameworks, processes and controls, including those relating to Senior Accounting Officer (SAO) and CCO obligations.
  • Managing the Group’s Off-Payroll Working (OPW / IR35) programme, ensuring compliance with legislation, confidently assessing and communicating IR35 status determinations, and remaining current with assessment tools (including HMRC’s CEST tool).
  • Taking responsibility for the preparation and submission of the Group’s annual PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA).
  • Overseeing the Group’s compliance with the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).
  • Supporting the employment tax aspects of ad hoc business projects as they arise, such as due diligence exercises and HMRC Business Risk Reviews.
  • Maintaining a strong, professional working relationship with HMRC on all employment tax matters.
  • Representing the business in sector-wide employment tax forums (e.g. Water UK Employment Taxes Group).

Location- Hybrid, Reading Full time - 36 hours a week

What you should bring to the role

Essential

  • A qualified tax professional with extensive post-qualification experience in UK employment taxes.
  • A strong technical background with a proven track record in employment taxes within a large organisation, either in-house or within a professional services firm.
  • Demonstrable experience of successfully managing and delivering complex projects.
  • The ability to work autonomously, exercising sound judgement and escalating matters appropriately.
  • A flexible, collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively within a small professional team and foster positive working relationships.
  • Proven ability to communicate with confidence at all levels, clearly explaining complex tax issues to non-tax stakeholders.
  •  Excellent analytical skills and a high level of attention to detail.
  • ·Hands-on experience managing employment tax compliance relating to PAYE Settlement Agreements (PSAs), Off-Payroll Working (OPW / IR35) and the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a utilities or water organisation and/or a regulated business environment.

What's in it for you?

This is a highly rewarding opportunity, giving you a valuable insight into working for an organisation going through their biggest transformation programme in the last 100 years. Exciting times to be part of this journey.

  • Competitive salary of circa £75,000 - £85,000 per annum depending on your experience.
  • Car Allowance £5,800
  • Private Health Insurance
  • Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays), increasing to 30 with length of service.
  • Generous Pension Scheme, provided through AON.
  • Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
  • Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle-to-Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.