Senior VAT & Bookkeeping Specialist (EU & UK Compliance)

Job Overview
We are seeking a highly experienced and detail-oriented Senior VAT & Bookkeeping Specialist to manage and oversee our international tax compliance and financial record-keeping. The ideal candidate will possess an extensive background in preparing, reconciling, and filing complex EU VAT documents, including Input/Output VAT and Intra-community transactions. Strong knowledge of UK VAT regulations is highly advantageous.

As a core requirement, you must have advanced Excel capabilities to manipulate large datasets and a rock-solid foundation in full-cycle bookkeeping.

Key Responsibilities
International VAT Compliance & Filings
EU VAT Management: Prepare, review, and finalize all documentation required for EU VAT filings, ensuring absolute accuracy for Input and Output VAT.

Intra-Community Reporting: Oversee and execute Intra-community declarations, EC Sales Lists (ESL), and Intrastat reporting where applicable.

UK VAT Compliance (Plus): Handle UK VAT returns in accordance with HMRC guidelines and Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements.

Cross-Border Transactions: Analyze and correctly apply VAT rules to cross-border B2B and B2C transactions, ensuring proper tax determination.

Audit Readiness: Act as the primary point of contact for VAT audits, maintaining clean documentation and clear audit trails.

Bookkeeping & Data Reconciliation
Full-Cycle Bookkeeping: Perform daily bookkeeping tasks, ensuring all financial transactions are accurately recorded in the accounting software.

Accounts Reconciliation: Reconcile VAT accounts against the general ledger, bank statements, and sales platforms to identify and resolve discrepancies promptly.

Month-End Closing: Support the month-end and year-end closing processes by preparing accurate journal entries and tax accruals.

Data Management & Excel Modeling
Advanced Data Manipulation: Utilize advanced Microsoft Excel functions to clean, consolidate, and analyze high-volume transactional data from multiple sources.

Reporting: Build and maintain automated Excel templates for VAT forecasting, variance analysis, and internal reporting.

Requirements & Qualifications
Experience: 5+ years of dedicated experience in international VAT compliance (specifically EU VAT) and full-cycle bookkeeping.

Technical Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of EU VAT directives, triangulation, and Intra-community supply/acquisition rules. Experience with UK HMRC/VAT filings is a strong plus.

Excel Mastery (Non-Negotiable): Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel is a must. You must be comfortable using Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, data nesting, and handling large CSV/data exports.

Software Skills: Hands-on experience with major accounting software (e.g., Xero, QuickBooks, SAP, Netsuite) and specialized VAT automation tools is preferred.

Attention to Detail: Exceptional analytical skills with a sharp eye for spotting discrepancies in financial data.

Communication: Fluent in English (written and spoken), with the ability to explain complex tax concepts clearly to internal stakeholders.