R&D Tax Manager (IT & Software)

Sumer Group; Belfast; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in Belfast seeks an R&D Manager to oversee delivery of R&D tax claims for IT and software clients. You will manage workflows, ensure compliance with R&D criteria, and engage with clients through seminars and workshops. The ideal candidate has an IT or software background and excellent project management skills. Full training in R&D tax relief will be provided, fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension

Training and development opportunities

Diverse and inclusive culture

Social responsibility initiatives

Friendly atmosphere and team events

Qualifications

• Strong ability to articulate technical concepts into clear reports.
• Experience managing projects or workflows in a professional environment.
• Interest in R&D tax relief and innovation incentives.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of IT and software clients for R&D tax claims.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of R&D tax relief claims.
• Conduct technical discussions with clients on software challenges.
• Deliver workshops and educational sessions to clients.
• Support junior team members' training and development.

Skills

IT background

Software development

Project management

Client-facing skills

Technical writing

Job description

Description

We are looking for a technically minded and commercially aware R&D Manager to lead the delivery of R&D tax claims for a portfolio of IT and software-led businesses.

Department: Corporate Tax

Location: Belfast

This role would suit someone from a software engineering, IT, systems, or technical consulting background who enjoys working closely with innovative clients and is looking for a new challenge in a professional services environment.

You will oversee the end-to-end delivery of R&D tax relief claims, manage workflows, and ensure compliance with HMRC’s R&D criteria while maintaining high-quality reporting standards. You will also play a key role in client engagement, delivering educational seminars, improving record-keeping processes, and handling HMRC enquiries.

Prior experience in R&D tax relief is not essential, and full training will be provided.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage your own portfolio of IT and software clients, overseeing engagements from initial scoping through to submission
• Lead the end-to-end R&D delivery of R&D tax relief claims for software and IT clients, ensuring accurate information gathering, technical understanding, and timely delivery
• Organise and manage workflows to ensure deadlines and quality standards are consistently met
• Conduct in-depth technical discussions with clients to understand software development challenges, innovations, and uncertainties
• Work with clients to improve their technical documentation, record keeping, and internal processes
• Deliver educational sessions and workshops to clients, either in person or via Teams
• Review R&D reports to ensure they are technically robust, clearly written, and compliant before final sign-off
• Act as a key point of contact for HMRC enquiries, working alongside senior colleagues where required, and feeding into ongoing enquiries within the team.
• Support the training and development of junior team members
• Contribute to business development by building strong client relationships and identifying new opportunities

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Background in IT, software development, systems engineering, or technical software/IT consulting.
• Strong ability to understand and articulate complex technical software engineering concepts into clear, structured written reports for the layman to understand
• Comfortable in a client‑facing role, with the ability to lead technical discussions with experienced software engineering teams
• Experience managing projects, workflows, or teams in a professional environment
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple engagements and deadlines
• An interest in developing expertise in R&D tax relief and innovation incentives such as Patent Box, Land Remediation, Video Games Relief (prior experience not required, but desirable)

Job Benefits

• We offer competitive salaries and benefits, including pension, benefits hub, and an agile working policy.
• We provide continuous training and development opportunities, as well as mentoring and coaching from senior staff.
• We have a diverse and inclusive culture, where you can work with colleagues from different backgrounds and perspectives.
• We have a strong social responsibility ethos, and we support various charities and community initiatives
• We have a fun and friendly atmosphere, where you can enjoy social events and team building.