At Smart, our mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented Tax and Payroll Assistant to join our team. This role requires an inquisitive mindset and a proactive approach to ensure accuracy and compliance across all payroll and tax-related processes. The successful candidate will be comfortable challenging at all levels of the business, ensuring best practices are followed while continuously seeking improvements in efficiency and accuracy.

Reporting to the Senior Tax Manager and supporting the Payroll Manager, the Tax and Payroll Assistant will be based in London with the ability to work from home on a hybrid basis.

Key Responsibilities:

Tax

The Tax and Payroll Assistant will work closely with the Senior Tax manager to fulfil the following responsibilities:

• Maintain a global tax compliance schedule to ensure timely filing of all tax returns and regulatory requirements

• Prepare quarterly UK VAT returns for review by the Senior Tax Manager

• Maintain good working relationships with external tax advisors to ensure compliance with local and global tax obligations

• Support with the preparation of the UK Group’s R&D Tax claim

• Oversee tax controls to mitigate risks and enhance compliance

• Monitor tax filing deadlines and coordinate necessary actions to avoid penalties

• Support the preparation and submission of corporate tax returns and other required tax filings

• Assist in gathering and organising documentation for tax and statutory audits

• Manage the tax mailbox, responding to enquiries and escalating issues as needed

• Collaborate with finance and accounting teams to improve tax processes and reporting accuracy

• Stay updated on tax legislation, ensuring the company remains compliant

• Challenge existing processes and suggest innovative improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy

Payroll

The Tax and Payroll Assistant will support the Payroll Manager with the following duties:

• Assist with end-to-end operation of 4 UK and several overseas payrolls, at all levels of input, with assistance from the payroll manager

• Dealing with incoming queries from internal and external parties

• Liaising with external payroll bureau for payroll inputs, outputs and queries

• Assisting with implementation of new payroll system

• Providing input to PAYE Settlement Agreement and payrolling benefits

• Working with HR team to co-ordinate sickness absences accurately on the payroll and any late changes required for payrolls

• Assist with administration of Smart’s own pension portal and advise colleagues with pension queries

• Assisting with HMRC reconciliations and liaising with HMRC as appropriate

• Providing assistance with audits as required

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The skills, experience, and aptitudes we are looking for are listed below but please don’t be discouraged from applying if you don’t meet every single one of these criteria – having a ‘can do’ attitude is sometimes more important than being able to tick every box:

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
  
• Proactive and inquisitive approach, with a continuous improvement mindset
  
• Willing to challenge processes and decisions at all levels of the business to drive efficiency and compliance
  
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data
  
• Excellent communication skills to interact effectively with colleagues and external stakeholders.
  
• Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced environment
  
• Awareness/understanding of key Tax and Payroll principles
  
• Tax and/or payroll experience (desirable)
  
• Finance/ Accounting or Analytical Degree (desirable)
  
• Currently studying or willing to study AAT, ACCA or CIMA (desirable)
  
• Experience of Microsoft suite of products including Excel and experience of G-Suite an advantage
  
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work to tight deadlines
  
• Proactive with a willingness to learn and a 'can do' attitude
  
• Proficiency in Netsuite or accounting software (desirable)
  

This role is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to develop their expertise in payroll and tax while making a tangible impact within the business. If you are eager to challenge the status quo and drive improvements, we encourage you to apply.

WHO WE ARE

We work in partnerships with governments and financial institutions in the UK and internationally. Our cloud-native digital platform is revolutionising how people around the world think about, and save for, their retirement.

At heart, we’re a financial technology business. What we do is all about innovation, and using the power of digital change to put the customer first. Our Engineers will tell you that working at Smart gives you the opportunity to play your part in developing world-class technological solutions, working with – and learning from – like-minded people.

You’ll also find that, across our business, our colleagues love Smart’s culture, and how what we do means better financial outcomes for savers. That feels worthwhile, and it means that what we do, collectively, goes way beyond the nine to five of a typical working day.

Don’t just take our word for it – you can see what our colleagues say about working at Smart on LinkedIn Life and Glassdoor.

BENEFITS

At Smart, one of the eight principles we work to is “We want happy and good people in our team”. We created a list of benefits that helps us achieve this goal:

• 25 days’ holiday per year, increasing with length of service.
• £500 annual training budget to spend on your professional development
• Extensive private healthcare, including dental, eyecare and EAP
• Enhanced sick leave (three months’ pay per year)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity (maternity – 6 months fully paid/paternity – 3 weeks fully paid)
• Death in service insurance cover
• Fully-paid five-week sabbatical after five years of employment
• In office wellbeing, such as manicures, massages and barbers. 

Smart employees also enjoy a 50% discount on orders from our sister company Arena Flowers, Britain's most ethical florist. They offer unique hand-tied bouquets, luxury flowers, letterbox flowers, plants and gifts to spend on friends and loved ones or even for yourself.

We think Smart is an awesome place to work. If it sounds like somewhere you’d like to work, too, and if you’re ready to play your part in our continued success in the future, then naturally we’d love to meet you.