Senior Indirect Tax Manager, Urban Outfitters Europe
8 Month FTC
Lifestyle retailer
Be an early applicant
Lifestyle retailer
201-500 employees
Be an early applicant
201-500 employees
Company mission
To bring together nostalgia for the past with an enthusiasm to shape the future.
Role
Who you are
- A relevant tax qualification (CTA/ACA/ACCA etc) or suitable experience in a similar role
- Significant European VAT compliance experience, including reviewing and approving VAT returns
- Strong understanding of UK and EU VAT principles applicable in a retail business and the ability to communicate these concepts to non-VAT stakeholders
- Experience managing a team, with effective delegation skills
- The ability to adapt to business and regulatory changes as they arise, making key VAT decisions for the business
- The ability to effectively analyse and manipulate data in Microsoft Excel using Excel Formulae and Pivot Tables. More advanced Excel skills such as creating and using Power Query and Macros would also be extremely helpful in this role
- A drive to proactively build relationships with stakeholders within the business and work as a partner with multiple different teams within URBN
- Effective management and engagement with third parties, including service providers and tax authorities
What the job involves
- While all three of our brands in Europe are accountable for their own buying, merchandising and selling, many of our functions sit within our Shared Services division. Within this group sits Finance, IT, Logistics, Property, Construction, Facilities Management, Real Estate, HR & Talent Acquisition
- This role as leader of the indirect tax team is part of our Shared Services Finance function located in our European Head Office in London
- This team is currently responsible for the whole URBN group’s UK and EU VAT compliance and files indirect tax returns in other jurisdictions, including Norway and Australia
- We are passionate about all things tax and work together with the rest of the finance team as well as the tax team based in the US to make our processes as efficient as possible while producing compliant, high-quality outputs
- We are looking for a Senior Manager of Indirect Tax on an 8-month fixed term contract as maternity leave cover from April 2026
- You’ll be an integral part of our indirect tax team, with responsibilities including:
- Reviewing and approving VAT returns and other indirect tax filings for the UK and Europe (including Intrastat returns, EC Sales Lists etc)
- Supporting the team with UK and European VAT compliance tasks as required, working with third parties in some instances
- Managing the other members of the indirect tax team to ensure work is distributed effectively, supporting with technical questions and coaching/ development of the group
- Responding to ad-hoc VAT queries from the finance team
- Responding to the wider business to advise on the VAT implications of new business initiatives where required
- Providing information to the compliance team as requested for annual audits of group companies
- Responding to ad-hoc queries and/or audits from tax authorities, with the support of service providers where needed
- Completing balance sheet reconciliations
- Attending cross-departmental meetings (for example AP and property) to share information and raise queries
Salary benchmarks
Our take
Urban Outfitters started out in the 1970s as a quirky little boutique in Philadelphia with a love for creativity and self-expression. More than 50 years later, it's grown into a globally recognised brand, but it hasn't forgotten where it came from.
It's known for its knack of catching (and keeping) attention with its unique mix of clothing, homeware, and vintage treasures. It connects with a community of over 10M shoppers and is always staying ahead of the trends.
While the brand might feel like an old favourite, it's far from slowing down. It shared record earnings in Q2 2025, with $143.9M in profit and strong growth across all its brands (including its sister companies Anthropologie, Free People, FP Movement, and Nuuly). New stores are opening and digital sales are booming, so its fair to say the brand has truly proven itself to be a powerhouse in the retail space.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Company benefits
- Employee discount: Shop your fave brands for less
- Pension: Like to think ahead? We've got you
- Private medical insurance: Your health is important to us
- Birthday break: Take some time to celebrate you
- Career development: Grow at UO
- Volunteering time: Give back to your community
Company HQ
Spitalfields, London, UK
Leadership
Emma Wisden
(Managing Director)Emma has been the Managing Director of Urban Outfitters Europe since 2015. Prior to that, she spent 15 years at Topshop as a Fashion Director.
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