VAT Administrator (Part Qualified) recruitment

MG Investments is Prudential plc's UK based fund management business and is one of Europe's leading active asset managers with more than £200 billion* of funds under management across fixed income, equity, property and multi-asset strategies.

-*as at 31 December 2011

Opportunity

Reporting under MG Finance Tax department, and located with the Property Fund Services team of MG, the role is responsible for the accurate reporting of over £250m of VAT per year relating to £15 billion of property funds managed by Prudential and MG. This role involves oversight of the VAT reporting for approximately £2.5 billion of property owned by Prudential outside of the UK, as well as assisting in compliance for the MG European Property Fund, an open-ended core European property fund with a NAV in excess of €500 million.

Key responsibilities

Reporting into the Real Estate VAT Manager, the applicant will be responsible for VAT accounting and reporting for the property investments managed by MG, and the property investment manager PruPIM.

This will include:-
UK Property Portfolio
- Completing VAT returns for over 30 separately registered property funds, including input to the Prudential Life Fund VAT return and the PruPIM return.
- Ensuring that returns and payments are made by the reporting deadlines, and posting all relevant accounting entries
- Liaising with relevant outsourced service providers to ensure that all relevant information is properly obtained and recorded in order to allow accurate returns to be made.
- Acting as a key contact for PRUPIM (MG's property investment manager) for VAT related matters, and providing advice and support to the business.
- Liaising with Fund, Asset and Property Managers to understand the underlying transactions of the funds.
- Close involvement with Transaction Management team on all property transactions.
- Assisting with HMRC queries/visits/audits.
- Processing and recording VAT election and registration documentation for new properties and funds.
- Preparation of information under the Capital Goods Scheme, and liaison with Transaction Managers to improve the quality of the information reported on sales and recorded on purchases.
- Working with the Group IT Department and the business to develop systems to accurately record and report VAT information, to include setting up and monitoring processes for newly introduced accounting systems
- Meeting information requirements of Group Tax to include maintaining registers that allow clean Senior Accounting Officer sign-off

MG European Property Fund
- Review and oversight of VAT reporting carried out by outsourced service providers on behalf of property investments in Europe
- Liaise with local service providers responsible for SPV VAT accounting to ensure deadlines are met and carrying out spot checks on work done
- Where required, to provide appropriate information for third party providers to complete returns and meet deadlines

Other
- Advising and helping the Real Estate VAT Manager on ad hoc VAT matters which affect the operation of the Property Fund Services team and PruPIM
Understanding and managing the interaction between VAT processes, SDLT reporting and Construction Industry Scheme

What we are looking for

- ACA/ACCA part qualified accountant (or equivalent) - preferred, not essential
- VAT knowledge and experience, preferably within property or other partly exempt business
- Self-motivated with a diligent and detailed approach to completing tasks
- Strong analytical skills. Able to understand, question and challenge a range of financial data
- Confidence to communicate effectively with a range of internal and external parties
- Flexible and proactive approach
- This will be a highly visible role so requires someone with an approachable personality, strong focus and first class communication skills.

MG is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from a diverse background.