Richard Sterling is an Indirect Tax Specialist and E-commerce Finance Lead with 11 years of dedicated experience managing complex cross-border transactions. Holding the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) qualification, he provides unparalleled expertise in resolving Post-Brexit customs challenges and multi-currency Amazon payout reconciliations. In his current capacity as Head of VAT at a specialist digital accounting practice, he helps high-volume retailers automate their output tax calculations and recover thousands in input VAT.
Richard Sterling achieved an Honours degree in Economics from the University of Warwick, developing a strong analytical foundation for global trade mechanics. He began his specialised career at Ernst & Young, working within the indirect tax division where he managed multimillion-pound VAT portfolios for international retail brands. As the e-commerce sector exploded, Richard identified a critical need for specialised accounting among independent Amazon FBA sellers, dropshippers, and digital product creators. He is a master at deciphering complex mixed supply rules, distinguishing between zero-rated and exempt goods, and implementing automated tax mapping within high-volume retail software. His technical proficiency extends to reconciling international sales data, identifying hidden post-Brexit import VAT errors, and resolving debilitating cash flow bottlenecks for digital merchants. Richard writes extensively to untangle the bureaucratic nightmare of UK and European VAT legislation, saving small agencies from catastrophic miscalculation penalties. His articles are purposefully designed to guide high-volume digital entrepreneurs through the maze of flat-rate schemes versus standard VAT accounting. He frequently addresses real-world frustrations, such as reclaiming VAT on client entertainment or handling output tax when B2B customers default on invoices. Through his highly pedagogical content, Richard empowers online retailers to scale globally without triggering unexpected, cross-border tax investigations.