Head of Tax

The Opportunity

Shawbrook provides finance to a wide range of customer segments that value the premium experience, flexibility and certainly we deliver. We are a purpose-led organisation, with a focus on delivering long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders.

We have a diversified offering, with our innovative lending propositions tailored to meet specific customer needs in carefully selected markets across SME, Real Estate and Personal. Our products range from complex structured credit facilities for growth-focused businesses to mortgages for professional landlords and property investors, as well as simple loans for consumers delivered digitally. We fuel our lending through customer deposits, which we attract by delivering a premium experience, choice and consistently great value to smart savers.

The business model we have created is unique and difficult to replicate, with our ‘best of both’ approach combining deep human expertise with advanced digital, tech and data capabilities. This combination not only allows us to deliver excellent customer experiences, but to do so efficiently and at scale. We are proud of our innovative and agile culture, which drives consistently high employee engagement scores and makes Shawbrook an attractive destination for the best talent. If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, contribute new ideas and believe anything is possible, you’re our kind of person.

Work with us because you:

• Want to be part of a bank built for the dynamics of the modern world

• Relish a challenge and enjoy a fast-paced, innovative and hardworking culture

• Enjoy finding new and better ways to solve complexity and make things happen

• Want to belong to a diverse culture that stands shoulder to shoulder with minority and underrepresented groups

• Care about society and the environment and want to be part of a business that cares too

• Want to continue to grow professionally and be the best version of yourself

The Role & Responsibilities

As the Head of Tax, you will be responsible for managing the tax affairs of the bank and its subsidiaries (including SPVs), ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations, and providing strategic tax advice to senior management and the board. Your tax expertise will directly influence business decisions and you will be expected to translate complex tax implications into clear business insights that enable informed decision-making at the highest levels of the organisation.

• Develop and implement the tax strategy and policies of the bank, aligned with its business objectives and risk appetite.

• This role also holds responsibility for all aspects of the Group’s tax relationships with HMRC covering corporation tax, VAT, PAYE and annual returns to HMRC.

• Oversee the preparation and submission of tax returns, computations, and payments for the bank and its subsidiaries, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

• Manage the tax compliance and reporting processes, including tax accounting, provisioning, and disclosures.

• Monitor and analyse the impact of tax legislation and regulatory changes on the bank and its activities, and advise on appropriate actions and responses.

• Provide tax advice and support on business transactions, projects, and initiatives, such as mergers and acquisitions, product development, and capital management.

• Manage tax audits, enquiries, and disputes with tax authorities, and negotiate favourable outcomes.

• Manage tax risks and controls, and ensure adherence to the bank's tax governance framework and standards.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement.

• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, such as senior management, the board, auditors, regulators, and advisors.

• Provide impacts of any changes in tax regimes to the business and Finance.

• Seek technology solutions to ensure that Shawbrook is leveraging best practice for tax reporting and management of relationship with HMRC.

The Person

• A qualified tax professional with a recognised tax qualification

• Able to demonstrate a minimum of 10 years of relevant tax experience, gained within the banking sector, or in a leading accounting or tax firm.

• Able to demonstrate a proven track record of leading and managing a tax function or team, and delivering high-quality tax services and solutions.

• Able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of UK and international tax laws and regulations, and their application to the banking or financial services sector.

• Able to demonstrate strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking, with the ability to provide pragmatic and value-added tax advice and support.

• Able to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage with senior stakeholders and external parties.

• Able to demonstrate high degree of integrity, professionalism, and accountability, with a commitment to ethical and responsible tax practices.

Reward

Your Wellbeing - We take your health and well-being very seriously by providing a range of benefits to give you and your family peace of mind. These include:

• Market leading family friendly policies such as access to our Maternity, Adoption and Paternity policies from Day 1 of your employment

• Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness & meditation digital health app

• Free access to Peppy digital health app that offers personalised support through fertility treatment becoming a parent or menopause

• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) - Offering you support on a wide range of subjects including financial concerns, mental wellbeing and more general queries around family, work, housing, and health

• Cycle to work scheme

• Discounts on gym membership

• Contributory pension scheme & death in service

Your Lifestyle - It’s important you strike the right balance between your work and personal life. We provide benefits to support you when at work and when you’re enjoying your leisure time.

• Minimum of 27 days holiday per year

• Option to buy or sell holiday days through our flexi-holiday scheme

• Discounts on gym membership nationwide

• Access to discounts on a range of high street and online brands

• Community support and charitable giving

Your Contribution - We’re focused on rewarding those that go the extra mile in helping us achieve our goals.

• Participation in our annual discretionary bonus scheme designed to reward your contribution to our success

• Proudly Shawbrook recognition scheme focused on recognising our role models and thanking our colleagues for a job well done