University of Edinburgh
automates VAT
Future-proof compliance and
swift MTD implementation.
Company size
10,000+ employees
Location
Edinburgh, UK
Industry
Higher education
Use cases with ARKK
MTD compliance, VAT automation
Solution
ARKK’s automation platform replaced inefficient legacy systems with a streamlined, digital-first VAT process. The University gained greater accuracy, efficiency, and the ability to future-proof against new tax regulations.
Outcome
With ARKK, the University transformed its VAT process, significantly reducing filing time and improving compliance readiness for future HMRC mandates.
100%
compliance with MTD and future-ready for HMRC mandates
70%
faster VAT filing, reduced from 2 weeks to 3 days
Details
A complex tax landscape requiring modernisation
As one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world, the University of Edinburgh faced challenges with outdated, Excel-heavy tax processes. Manual reconciliations, fragmented data, and inefficient reporting slowed operations, increased compliance risks, and led to missed tax relief opportunities.
The University’s Head of Tax, Alastair McClelland, recognised that an in-house solution would be resource-intensive to develop and maintain, with no guarantee of long-term compliance. Instead, he sought a future-ready automation platform to streamline VAT processes and prepare for future HMRC initiatives such as Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Corporation Tax.
“Because of their size, ARKK were able to be a bit more nimble than other potential suppliers we spoke to. They seemed to be prepared to be more flexible with how we worked and how we were set up.”
– Alastair McClelland, Head of Tax, University of Edinburgh
Filing time reduced from 2 weeks to 3 days
With ARKK’s automation platform, the University reduced its end-to-end VAT filing time from two weeks to just three days. This significant efficiency boost was achieved through a seamless transition to digital record-keeping, ensuring compliance with modern tax requirements.
“The ARKK Automation Platform was flexible enough to adapt to our diverse processes.”
– Magda Sidwa-Ciesnikowska, Tax Compliance Officer, University of Edinburgh
Greater accuracy and efficiency
Beyond saving time, ARKK’s platform improved the accuracy of VAT treatment for goods and services, reducing uncertainty in tax reporting. Automating complex tax tasks freed up staff to focus on high-value activities such as forecasting, training, and identifying future tax relief opportunities.
Future-ready tax compliance
By moving away from outdated manual processes, the University is now equipped to meet evolving HMRC mandates with confidence. ARKK’s automation platform provides a scalable solution, ensuring compliance while enabling the tax team to respond proactively to new regulatory changes.