Vat Assistant School Leaver

As one of the world’s largest networks of audit, tax and consulting firms, RSM delivers big ideas and premium service to help middle-market businesses thrive. We are a fast-growing firm with big ambitions - we have a clear goal to become the premium adviser to the middle market, globally. This vision touches everything we do, motivating and inspiring us to become better every day. If you are looking for a firm where you can build a future and make an impact, then RSM is the place for you.
**Display job title - VAT Assistant School Leaver**

**VAT - Get the career you want at RSM**

Our VAT school leaver apprenticeship programme will give you all the skills and support you need to unlock a future that’s packed with opportunities and new experiences. You’ll enjoy a fast-tracked business career that recognises your potential and rewards your ambition.

When you join our team, you’ll enjoy a powerful combination of on-the-job learning and structured training - not to mention an impressive client list to work with. You’ll discover a culture that nurtures individuality and an environment where everyone is supported to reach their potential. With us, you’ll always be moving forward.

**What does our VAT team do?**

VAT is a transaction tax that’s added to things that are bought and sold. Today, some form of consumption tax operates in 170 countries around the world (up from less than 10 in the 1960s) in the OECD's words this increase is 'the most important development in taxation over the last half century'.

A career as a VAT specialist is about getting to know your clients, their businesses and the industries they operate in. You’ll then work with them to make sure VAT doesn’t become an obstacle to their long-term goals. On a day-to-day basis, our team helps organisations and individuals comply with the shifting requirements of the tax authorities in the UK and around the world and pay the right amount of VAT often leveraging the latest software tools or working with businesses as they design their products so they avoid hefty fines and damage to their reputations. We also help shape business strategies so organisations can offer products and services that are competitively priced.

**What can you expect?**

RSM’s school leaver apprenticeship in VAT will give you a solid foundation in a broad range of tax issues. With us, you’ll have a buddy assigned ahead of joining to assist you with technical and work-related queries, so you’ll feel supported. You’ll be involved in VAT compliance and advisory work from day one - anything from liaising with clients or HMRC, researching case law, talking with our overseas offices to understanding our client's finance data as part of the VAT return preparation process. The breadth of services we offer and the range of clients we help means you’ll have plenty of opportunity to follow the career path you want. With our support, you’ll have the space to grow professionally so you can confidently take on ever-more complicated tasks.

When you join this team, you’ll work towards your professional qualifications through the Tax Pathway route, which consists of the ATT (The Association of Taxation Technicians) and the CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser) professional qualifications. We are committed to ensuring that the route through to qualification is the best for you as an individual and maximises your potential. Alongside your technical training, you will attend internal developmental training courses to ensure you have the professional and personal skills to become a trusted tax advisor.

As you come towards the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll have a deeper understanding of employer solutions tax. This will be reflected in the complexity of your client portfolio and your responsibilities, including mentoring more junior members of the team.

**What we look for**

Tax is a technically demanding discipline, so we look for school leaver apprentices who are always up for a challenge and are quick to grasp new ideas. You’ll often need to explain complex technical information during client meetings and in written reports, so we’re looking for students with excellent verbal and written communication skills. We also look for team players who enjoy interacting with others and are curious about how businesses work. You don’t have to be a maths genius, but you will need to be comfortable with numbers. At RSM, you’ll be helping a big range of clients - from wealthy individuals to major multinationals - so it’s important that you’re adaptable.

If that sounds like you, we know you’ll enjoy being part of our team.

**Flexible working**

At RSM we work hard to create an environment where our people can make a difference - to themselves, their career, their teams, and to the success of our firm and clients. We support all our people to work flexibly, to manage their family and other responsibilities alongside their work commitments; we believe this is key