Job Description
Corporate Tax Manager
Salary: £50,000-£65,000 + Bonus
Location: Manchester City Centre
Lead, Influence, and Shape Your Tax Career
Are you an experienced Corporate Tax Manager or Assistant Manager ready to take full ownership of a client portfolio and lead a talented team?
This is your opportunity to join a Top 40 accountancy practice where you'll manage high-quality corporate tax clients, drive business development, and play a strategic role in practice growth with clear progression to Senior Manager.
Based in a modern Manchester city centre office, you'll work on sophisticated corporate tax matters, lead complex advisory projects, and develop your team whilst building strong client relationships. With hybrid working arrangements, comprehensive benefits, and genuine progression opportunities, this role offers the perfect platform to advance your career to senior leadership.
About Our Client
Our client is a prestigious Top 40 national accountancy practice serving over 100,000 clients across the UK and Ireland. Established in 2019, they've built a reputation for technical excellence, innovation, and delivering tailored advice that makes a tangible difference to SMEs and businesses at every stage of their financial journey.
What sets them apart:
- National resources with local expertise – access to specialist teams and technical support across the UK
- Modern city centre location with excellent transport links (Metrolink, rail, and bus)
- Collaborative, supportive culture that invests in professional development and leadership excellence
- Hybrid working arrangements offering flexibility (typically 2-3 days in office)
- Diverse client base across multiple sectors including manufacturing, property, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and not-for-profit
- Strong focus on innovation with investment in technology and process excellence
The Role: Strategic Leadership and Client Excellence
As Corporate Tax Manager, you'll take full management responsibility for a substantial portfolio of corporate tax clients, lead a team of tax professionals, and work directly with partners on complex tax planning and business development. You'll be a key figure in the practice, contributing to strategic direction and positioning yourself for senior leadership roles.
Your Key Responsibilities:
Client Portfolio Leadership:
- Full ownership of corporate tax client portfolios, acting as trusted senior advisor and primary relationship manager
- Managing complex corporation tax compliance and advisory work for high-quality clients
- Leading sophisticated tax planning projects including group restructuring, mergers & acquisitions tax advice, capital allowances optimisation, R&D tax credits, and international tax structures
- Managing HMRC enquiries, disputes, and negotiations with full technical authority
- Identifying and implementing proactive tax planning strategies to deliver value and strengthen client relationships
- Building strategic client relationships as a key practice representative and technical expert
- Ensuring exceptional client service and retention across your portfolio
Team Leadership & Development:
- Managing and developing a team of assistant managers, seniors, and junior staff (typically 4-6 team members)
- Providing technical leadership, coaching, and mentoring to build team capability
- Reviewing and approving complex work to ensure technical excellence and quality standards
- Managing team capacity, workflow, and resource allocation effectively
- Contributing to recruitment, onboarding, and retention of tax talent
- Creating a high-performing team culture focused on excellence, development, and collaboration
- Conducting performance reviews and development planning for team members
Business Development & Practice Growth:
- Driving new client acquisition through networking, proposals, pitches, and market positioning
- Identifying and winning cross-selling opportunities within existing client relationships and across the practice
- Building your professional network and personal brand in the Manchester market
- Representing the practice at networking events, seminars, conferences, and industry forums
- Contributing to practice marketing initiatives including thought leadership and content creation
- Developing fee proposals and pricing strategies for new opportunities
Technical Excellence & Practice Development:
- Providing technical leadership on complex corporate tax matters across the practice
- Contributing to practice strategy and development including service innovation and market positioning
- Managing practice profitability including budgeting, forecasting, WIP management, and fee realisation
- Staying at the forefront of tax legislation changes and advising clients proactively
- Contributing to technical training and knowledge sharing within the team and wider practice
- Supporting process improvement and innovation initiatives
Strategic Contribution:
- Working directly with partners on strategic matters and practice development
- Contributing to practice leadership meetings and strategic planning
- Representing the practice externally as a technical expert and thought leader
- Building referral relationships with other professional advisors
What You'll Need to Succeed
Essential Qualifications & Experience:
- CTA qualified with strong technical credentials and up-to-date knowledge
- Minimum 6-8 years' experience in corporate tax within a UK accountancy practice
- Proven management experience with track record of successfully leading and developing teams
- Substantial experience managing corporate tax client portfolios independently with full responsibility
- Demonstrated business development success with ability to win new clients and grow relationships
Technical Skills & Expertise:
- Strong technical expertise in complex corporate tax matters including group structures, M&A tax, capital allowances, R&D tax credits, and international tax
- Experience with sophisticated tax planning for owner-managed businesses and corporate groups
- Deep understanding of HMRC procedures, enquiries, disputes, and negotiation strategies
- Proficiency with tax software (CCH, Alphatax, or similar platforms)
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to identify planning opportunities
- Excellent technical accuracy and attention to detail
Leadership & Commercial Skills:
- Excellent leadership and people management skills with ability to motivate and develop teams
- Strong communication and presentation skills (written and verbal) for client interaction and business development
- Proven business development capability with track record of winning new clients
- Commercial acumen with understanding of practice economics, profitability, and pricing
- Strategic thinking with ability to contribute to practice development and innovation
- Strong relationship-building skills with clients, referrers, and professional networks
- Proactive, solutions-focused approach to client service and practice development
What's On Offer: A Comprehensive Rewards Package
Financial Rewards:
- Competitive salary: £50,000-£65,000 (dependent on experience and qualifications)
- Performance-related bonus scheme
- Annual salary reviews with performance-based progression
- Profit share opportunities for exceptional performance
Work-Life Balance:
- Hybrid working arrangements (typically 2-3 days in office, flexibility to suit your needs and client commitments)
- 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
- Additional holiday purchase scheme (buy up to 5 extra days)
- Modern city centre office with excellent transport links
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- Birthday leave – additional day off for your birthday
Career Development:
- Clear progression pathway to Senior Manager and potential Director/Partner track
- Leadership development programmes and executive coaching
- Continued professional development with access to technical training, conferences, and CPD events
- Professional subscriptions paid (CTA membership and relevant professional bodies)
- Mentoring from partners and directors to support your career progression
- Exposure to high-quality work and strategic practice development
- Opportunity to specialise in areas of interest (M&A, international tax, R&D, etc.)
Health & Wellbeing:
- Enhanced pension scheme with employer contributions (up to 8% employer contribution)
- Private medical insurance for you and your family (Bupa or equivalent)
- Life assurance
- Income protection scheme
- Employee assistance programme for wellbeing support (24/7 confidential support)
- Health cash plan for dental, optical, and other healthcare costs
Additional Benefits:
- Social events and team activities throughout the year
- Access to national resources and specialist technical teams across the UK
- Supportive, collaborative culture that values your contribution and expertise
- Modern office facilities with breakout areas, meeting spaces, on-site café, and wellness rooms
- Professional networking opportunities
- Cycle to work scheme and electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
- Gym membership discounts and wellness initiatives
- Refer a friend bonus scheme
Location & Working Arrangements
Transport Links:
- Walking distance from Manchester Piccadilly (5 minutes) and Victoria stations (10 minutes)
- Direct Metrolink access at St Peter's Square (2 minutes walk)
- Excellent bus connections across Greater Manchester (Piccadilly Gardens 3 minutes)
- City centre parking available nearby (NCP and Q-Park)
- Secure cycle storage and shower facilities available
- Close to major motorway networks (M60, M62, M56)
Working Pattern: Hybrid working with typically 2-3 days per week in the office, offering flexibility to balance client meetings, team collaboration, and focused work time. Flexibility to work around client commitments and personal preferences.
Ready to Lead and Make Your Mark?
If you're an experienced Corporate Tax Manager ready to take full ownership of a client portfolio, lead a talented team, and contribute to practice development with a Top 40 practice that offers genuine progression to senior leadership, we'd love to hear from you.
This is more than just a management role—it's your opportunity to join a practice that will invest in your leadership development, support your career progression to Senior Manager and beyond, and provide the platform to build a successful career at the highest levels of the profession.
For a confidential discussion about this exceptional opportunity, please contact:
Jake Harris
Senior Recruitment Consultant
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions
Senior Recruitment Consultant
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is committed to ethical recruitment practices and will only submit your details to our client with your express written consent.