Senior Tax and Accounting Specialist Job Description Template

The Senior Tax and Accounting Specialist role is suited to experienced finance professionals who apply technical tax knowledge alongside comprehensive accounting expertise. Candidates should be comfortable managing complex compliance tasks, advising on tax positions and supporting month end and year end reporting. This role is appropriate for professionals seeking a senior individual contributor or team lead position within tax and finance functions.

Senior Tax and Accounting Specialist Job Profile

The Senior Tax and Accounting Specialist is responsible for ensuring accurate tax compliance and high quality accounting records across assigned entities. The role combines technical tax preparation and review with accounting reconciliations, provision calculation and liaison with external advisers and auditors.

The postholder will provide practical tax advice, support statutory filings and contribute to process improvements to mitigate tax risk. The role requires strong analytical capability, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing deadlines within a structured control environment.

Senior Tax and Accounting Specialist Job Description

The Senior Tax and Accounting Specialist leads end to end delivery of tax compliance tasks, including preparation and review of corporate tax returns, VAT and other indirect tax filings, and tax provisions for financial statements. The role requires interpretation of tax legislation and application of accounting standards to ensure correct tax treatment and disclosure.

Daily responsibilities include preparing journal entries and reconciliations, calculating deferred tax balances, supporting month end close activities and resolving technical queries from internal stakeholders. The specialist will coordinate with external auditors and tax advisers to support audits and filings and will help implement recommendations arising from those reviews.

The role operates in a fast paced finance environment and expects proactive identification of process and control improvements. The postholder will manage multiple priorities, provide guidance to junior staff and ensure accurate, timely delivery of tax and accounting outputs in accordance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.

Senior Tax and Accounting Specialist: Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare and review corporate tax computations and statutory tax filings for multiple entities.
• Compile and review VAT and other indirect tax returns ensuring correct treatment and timely submission.
• Calculate current and deferred tax balances and prepare tax provision workings for financial statements.
• Prepare journal entries and reconciliations related to tax and accounting adjustments.
• Support month end and year end close activities, including preparation of tax related disclosures.
• Provide technical tax advice to business stakeholders on transactions and operational issues.
• Liaise with external tax advisers and auditors to co‑ordinate audits, tax reviews and statutory filings.
• Review and improve tax and accounting processes to strengthen controls and increase efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with local tax laws and accounting standards across assigned jurisdictions.
• Respond to tax queries from internal teams and support commercial decision making with accurate analysis.
• Maintain complete and organised tax documentation, schedules and working papers.
• Mentor and review work of junior accountants and provide guidance on technical matters.
• Monitor changes in tax legislation and assess impact on company tax positions and reporting.
• Support tax audits, enquiries and correspondence with tax authorities as required.

Senior Tax and Accounting Specialist: Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Accounting, Finance or related discipline or equivalent professional qualification.
• Relevant professional accreditation desirable such as ACA, ACCA, CTA or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years post‑qualification experience in tax and accounting roles within a corporate or professional services environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of corporate tax, VAT and accounting standards relevant to the reporting jurisdiction.
• Proven experience preparing tax returns, tax provisions and supporting financial statement disclosures.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and prioritise tasks in a controlled environment.
• Good communication skills with ability to explain technical matters to non technical stakeholders.
• Experience liaising with external auditors, tax authorities and external advisers.
• Practical understanding of internal controls and compliance processes within finance functions.
• Demonstrated problem solving and process improvement capability.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality and professional conduct.
• Proactive approach to continuous development and keeping up to date with tax law changes.