Senior Direct Tax Manager

About us  At Halfords, our mission is to inspire and support a lifetime of motoring and cycling. As a specialist retailer, we lead the market through customer-driven innovation and a distinct product range. We are dedicated to providing our customers with an integrated, unique, and convenient service experience—from e-bike and electric vehicle servicing to on-demand solutions. Our commitment is to foster customer loyalty by offering compelling reasons to keep coming back to our stores, ensuring a lifetime of motoring and cycling enjoyment. The teams at our Redditch Support Centre work with every other area of our business, putting them at the heart of the action and playing a key role in our success and growth. Everyone brings their individual knowledge and experience to work every day, working as one team to keep things moving smoothly. If you’re willing to get stuck in, you’ll love it here too. So put yourself at the heart of a dynamic, fast-paced working environment where expertise and focus take people far. About the role This is a fantastic opportunity for a talented tax professional with strong corporation tax experience to join the Halfords Tax team in a fast-paced, listed services and retail business. You’ll take full ownership of direct tax compliance, reporting, and advisory across the Group, applying your technical expertise and project management skills to support business decisions and drive operational efficiency. Working closely with colleagues across indirect tax, employment tax, and international trade, this role offers exposure to a wide range of tax matters in a collaborative environment. Ideal for someone with experience in a large corporate environment, this role offers the chance to make a real impact. It suits a self-motivated professional with a positive outlook who thrives on autonomy and takes ownership in a dynamic, fast-moving business. Key responsibilities Take key responsibility for the direct tax relationship with HMRC and other tax authorities, acting as the primary point of contact for direct tax matters. Review and submit UK and overseas corporation tax returns, ensuring timely and accurate compliance across jurisdictions. Oversee tax accounting and related disclosures for both group and entity-level financial reporting. Manage corporate tax audits and take ownership of corporate tax aspects of SAO, BRR+ and CCO governance requirements. Provide clear and timely responses to direct tax queries from HMRC, internal stakeholders, external auditors, and business partners across finance, legal, and operations. Support Halfords’ international activities by advising on BEPS and global tax developments, handling corporate tax registrations and ongoing compliance. Maintain and update transfer pricing documentation, including Country-by-Country Reporting, in line with OECD guidelines and local laws. Deliver corporate tax advice across the business, including support on M&A and transformation projects, managing external advisers and negotiating fees where needed. Develop and implement new tax processes and controls in response to legislative and business changes, including Making Tax Digital and post-Brexit adjustments. Provide line management and mentoring to a team analyst, including support with corporate tax training and professional development. About you Qualified ACA, ACCA, and/or CTA with solid, up-to-date tax experience in a large corporate environment. Strong technical expertise in Corporation Tax, with a good understanding of other tax areas. Proven experience in corporate tax accounting; familiarity with OneSource is a plus. Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex tax issues clearly to senior management and the Board. Self-motivated and confident to constructively challenge and drive improvements. Highly organised with strong project management abilities, capable of managing multiple priorities effectively. Collaborative team player with a positive attitude, building strong relationships across functions. Naturally curious and commercially aware, with a proactive approach to horizon scanning and keeping ahead of tax developments. Reward & benefits A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, car allowance, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, restricted share plans, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave. Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations. We offer hybrid working in our Support Centre, you will be based at our Support Centre 2 days a week with an optional 3 days working from home. You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services. Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords. Not sure you meet all the criteria? We'd encourage you to take the wheel and apply anyway At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We're an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family. At Halfords, we operate a hybrid working policy with 2 days on site at our Support Centre in Redditch, Worcestershire.