Tax Manager - Housing

Legal & General is a leading UK financial services group and major global investor. We’ve been safeguarding people’s financial futures since 1836, aiming to build a better society for the long term by investing our customers’ money in things that make life better for everyone and create value for our shareholders.

Our Group Functions provide the services that all areas of the business need. This requires a talented and diverse team behind the scenes, who enable everyone at L&G to do what they do best. 

Joining us means helping to improve the lives of our customers and contributing to the success of the business every day.

We’re recruiting for a Tax Manager who will be responsible for provision of tax advice to the Private Markets and Institutional Retirement business in relation to Housing products, including (but not necessarily limited to) Affordable Housing and Build to Rent. You will be the Group SME in relation to Affordable Housing, covering corporation tax (including RPDT), Value Added Tax, Stamp Duty Land Tax and any other relevant tax matters.

What you'll be doing:

• Providing practical tax support to the Housing team on business matters, to include property acquisitions and disposals, corporate structuring and fund structuring.
• Working with internal colleagues across teams and divisions and external advisors to structure transactions appropriately.
• Reviewing external advisors’ reports and advice and identify and mitigate risk. Ensuring that relevant colleagues or external advisors are lined up to submit any post acquisition tax elections / returns on time (e.g. VAT registrations and option to tax, capital allowance election, SDLT / LBTT / LTT returns, CIS returns, etc.)
• Preparing and collating documentation to support board decisions and tax filing positions relating to property transactions.
• Acting as Business Partner to the Affordable Housing and Suburban Build to Rent teams, being the main tax contact dealing with day-to-day BAU matters. Identify and escalate issues to the Head of Private Markets as appropriate.
• Ensuring that appropriate risk management controls / procedures are in place to manage tax risk on an ongoing basis. Drafting and managing disclosures to HMRC when required.
• Ongoing tax oversight of relevant Housing vehicles, including preparation of Corporation Tax returns, oversight and management of compliance with direct tax (including, where relevant, RPDT), withholding tax, VAT, FATCA/CRS, construction industry scheme and ATED. 
• Collaborating with other members of the property tax team to share knowledge and cover busy periods or time away from the office. Providing support on other legacy Housing matters within the Corporate Investments Unit, if and when required.
• Liaising with key finance and business contacts to build networks to ensure smooth management and communication of tax issues. Communicating tax issues clearly to non-tax specialists and keep business teams updated with key tax developments that are of relevance to them.

Who we're looking for:

• Qualified Accountant desirable, otherwise with sufficient experience of financial accounting to maintain up-to-date professional knowledge.
• Member or fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation desirable, otherwise with sufficient tax experience to maintain up-to-date professional knowledge.
• Knowledge of key tax and accounting issues relating to the development and holding of Affordable Housing (Affordable Rent and Shared Ownership).
• Understanding of UK and non-UK property fund structures commonly used, including partnerships, property unit trusts, REITs, PAIFs, ACSs.
• Good understanding of tax implications, risks and efficiencies relevant to property fund set ups, including tax transparency vs opaque for direct tax and CGT, non-resident landlord requirements and withholding tax on rents, sovereign immunity, CFC and section 13 TCGA 1992 issues.
• Good understanding of the mechanics and accounting of commercial and residential property transactions.
• Ability to manage the production of both internal financial reporting documentation.
• Communicate technical issues in a clear, simple manner to a wide audience.
• Ability to review for trends, anticipate problems/omissions and consider potential ways to mitigate them.
• Builds and develops strong relationships with staff, peers and other contacts within the business and externally

Whatever your role, we reward performance and behaviour with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Here are some of the benefits we offer: 

• The opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan and valuable share schemes  
• Generous pension contribution  
• Life assurance   
• Private medical insurance (permanent employees only) 
• At least 25 days holiday, plus public holidays, 26 days after 2 years’ service. There’s also the option to buy and sell holiday 
• Competitive family leave 
• Participate in our electric car scheme, which offers employees the option to hire a brand-new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice 
• There are the many discounts we offer – both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online   
• In 2023, some of our workspaces were redesigned. Our offices are great spaces to connect and collaborate and have your wellbeing at the heart

Legal & General is a leading financial services group and major global investor, named Britain’s Most Admired Company in 2023, for the second year running. Rated top in our sector and top for inspirational leadership, we have a strong heritage and an exciting future.

We aim to build a better society for the long term by investing our customers’ money in things that make life better for everyone.

If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel.

We strive to be open, mindful and inclusive, so are always willing to discussing flexible working arrangements and reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs.

If you’re open to find out more, we'd love to hear from you.