Entry level jobs for the Animal sector

VAT Specialist | Interim (4 weeks) | London / Hybrid | £350 - 400 per day (Umbrella)

For a well-loved animal charity, we are looking for a skilled, Charity VAT Specialist for a short-term role to manage the VAT calculations and ensure the charity is compliant across all charity activities, with a focus on VAT recovery, submissions, and maximizing available reliefs. This position will suit someone immediately available, and with a strong practical knowledge of charity VAT requirements, and able to provide support during a busy period.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

VAT Compliance and Calculations:

• Oversee VAT calculations across various charity-related activities, ensuring VAT treatments are applied correctly.
• Calculate and ensure correct VAT recovery on relevant charity purchases, including those related to exempt and non-business activities.
• Prepare and submit accurate VAT returns, ensuring all charity-related income, expenses, and purchases are properly accounted for in accordance with UK VAT legislation.
• Complete the VAT treatment of specific charitable activities, including complex transactions like grants, donations, and fundraising events.

VAT Reporting and Documentation:

• Maintain precise records of VAT transactions and ensure that all VAT documentation is accurate and compliant with audit standards.
• Generate VAT reports for senior management to review, detailing VAT obligations, recoveries, and any potential areas of concern or opportunity for improvement.

VAT Filing:

• Ensure timely submission of VAT returns to HMRC, meeting required deadlines and maintaining full compliance with tax regulations.
• Reconcile VAT control accounts to ensure VAT submissions are accurate and complete

VAT Audits and HMRC Liaison:

• Assist with any VAT audits or investigations and provide the necessary supporting documentation.
• Respond promptly to any queries or concerns raised by HMRC regarding VAT compliance.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven Charity VAT expertise, including reliefs, exemptions, and VAT recovery processes
• Strong hands-on experience with VAT returns and compliance for charities or not-for-profit organisations.
• Detailed knowledge of VAT rules affecting charitable activities, i.e., fundraising, donations, grants.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage complex VAT transactions accurately.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently within tight deadlines.
• A professional qualification in VAT, accounting, or tax (e.g., ATT, CTA, ACA, ACCA).
• Experience working in a temporary or project-based role, with the ability to hit the ground running.
• Prior experience dealing with VAT audits or HMRC queries.

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As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.

Location: Godalming, UK (Hybrid – minimum 2 days in the office)

Salary: £38,000 to £42,000 per annum(Depending upon skills and experience)

About Us:  

Compassion in World Farming International is a leading global animal welfare organisation dedicated to ending factory farming. We were founded in 1967 by Peter Roberts, a British farmer alarmed by the rise of factory farming. We have achieved bans on some of the most inhumane practices including barren battery cages, veal crates, and sow gestation crates in the UK and Europe. Our corporate engagement work has led to commitments that benefit over 3 billion animals with better lives every year.  

Our approach involves campaigning, advocacy, and engagement with policymakers at national, intergovernmental, and corporate levels, building a movement of individuals concerned about animal welfare and the health and sustainability of our food. We are driven by a passion for animal welfare and global food system change, believing in a future where animals are treated with compassion and respect, and where sustainable farming practices prevail for a healthy planet.  

Our international headquarters are in Godalming, Surrey, UK, with team members in 14 countries on four Continents, including the US, Italy, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Czechia, China, and a specialist policy office in Brussels.   

About the Role:

As our European Food Business Manager, you will be instrumental in driving corporate change to improve farm animal welfare and promote a more sustainable food system across Europe and the UK.

In this solutions-focused role, you will work closely with leading food businesses, including retailers, producers, and food service companies, to encourage them to adopt higher welfare standards and reduce their reliance on animal-sourced products. By using your expertise in relationship management and corporate engagement, you will help secure public commitments to eliminating cages, improving broiler and fish welfare, and setting measurable targets for meat and dairy reduction.

A key part of your role will be supporting businesses in implementing their commitments, using Compassion’s industry-leading tools and resources to facilitate change. You will also contribute to public benchmarking and corporate reporting efforts, ensuring transparency and accountability within the sector. You will also represent Compassion in industry forums, working groups, and conferences, collaborating with stakeholders to find practical solutions to the challenges of transitioning away from intensive farming.

About You:

To succeed in this role, you will need to be a skilled relationship manager with experience in corporate engagement, sales, marketing, or supply chain management. You’ll need to have a strategic mindset, with the ability to influence key decision-makers in the food industry and drive meaningful change for farm animal welfare and sustainability.

With strong negotiation and communication skills, you will be able tod build and maintain effective partnerships with major food businesses, persuading them to adopt higher welfare standards and meat reduction targets. Ideally, you’ll have experience working in the food, agriculture, or sustainability sectors, with a solid understanding of corporate responsibility, supply chains, and sustainability trends. Knowledge of farm animal welfare and food system transformation would be highly beneficial.

You’ll need to be a self-starter, who is able to manage multiple projects and priorities with ease, and thrive both independently and as part of a collaborative team. You'll have a proficiency in CRM systems (such as Salesforce), strong analytical skills, and the ability to interpret data to drive strategy will be advantageous.

Why Should You Apply:

If you’re passionate about creating a more humane and sustainable food system and have the skills to influence major food businesses, this is a unique opportunity to drive real change.

Join our team and make a lasting impact, while being part of a workplace that values and supports you every step of the way:   

- Enjoy an enhanced annual leave of 25 days per year, along with bank holidays.      

- Our comprehensive benefits package includes core offerings like Health Cash Back Plan     

- MHFA support – 24/7 GP access and Employee Assistance Programme     

- Free onsite parking,     

- Optional savings schemes like the Cycle Benefit scheme.      

- Embrace a fulfilling career that prioritises your well-being, while also enjoying excellent development opportunities     

- Hybrid working model (dependant on role and location)      

- A defined contribution pension scheme     

- Enhanced discretionary company sick pay     

- Premium Subscription to Calm App     
Learn more about working with Compassion, by taking a look at our Candidate Pack HERE. 

 To Apply:       

If you are passionate about animal welfare and have the skills and experience to excel in this role, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a cover letter, outlining how you meet the Person Specification detailed in the job description. Please note that we reserve the right to commence interviews on a rolling programme, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.      

 Application Information:     

Cut-off date:  23rd April 2025 

1st Stage (Teams) Interviews:  Week commencing the  28th April 2025 (TBC)

2nd Stage (Face to Face at HQ) Interviews:  Week commencing 5th May 2025 (TBC) 

No agencies please.     

In order to comply with legal requirements, as part of our selection procedure we ask all potential employees to prove their eligibility to work in the UK.       

Compassion in World Farming is absolutely committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background.  We value diversity and live experience and acknowledge the underrepresentation of people from certain backgrounds, both within our organisation and across the sector.  We welcome applications from underrepresented groups, whether these be of ethnicity, gender, identity, religion, physical ability, sexual orientation or other.     

You may also have experience in the following: Engagement Manager, Partnership Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Food Supply, Supply planner, Key Account Manager, Account Manager, Sales Manager, Account Management, Business Development Manager, Business Development Executive, Account Executive, Client Relationship Management, Relationship Management, Partnership Manager etc

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