Specialist Africa Tax Risk - Sandton at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• To deliver and ensure statutory tax compliance for a specific company or specific tax discipline within the business and provide tax advice where appropriate.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Accountability: Financial and management reporting

• Reporting: Monthly Effective Tax Rate explanations for assigned cluster. 
• Providing tax disclosure for assigned cluster and subsidiaries. 
• Preparing and distributing the required tax reporting and disclosure on tax for the assigned portfolio / cluster. 
• Monitoring and consolidation of future tax relief and providing disclosure for Annual Financial Statement purposes. 
• Preparation of assigned Board Packs and minutes. 
• Assist with tax forecasts and effective tax rate attestations.
• Preparing bi-annual competitor analysis for consolidated group on tax rates.

Accountability: tax advice

• Provide advice on day-to-day income tax matters as and when required for portfolio of taxpayers. 
• Support subsidiaries with tax issues when required.
• Attend and assist with tax related queries received from business. 
• Manage external professional service providers on tax matters when applicable. 

Accountability: tax compliance and administration

• Tax accounting of assigned subsidiaries, as well as the cluster(s) with the view to assess the Effective tax rate (ETR). 
• Complete and/or review and assist with the lodgement of tax returns (annual income tax and provisional tax) with regards to the portfolio of companies - long and short-term insurers included. 
• Prepare tax templates and do maintenance, returns and provisional tax returns where applicable including external queries on allocated subsidiaries related information and computations. 
• Ensure withholding taxes are effectively managed and tax credits appropriately treated. 
• Update database with payments made to tax authorities and monitor tax status of portfolio. 
• Assist and support business with compliance related matters (e.g. Tax Clearance Certificates, appointment of Public Officer etc.) 
• Attend to SARS queries and assist with VDP’s. 
• Prepare tax returns and payments for DWT, IWT and STT

Accountability: Networking

• Manage and develop relationships with the key business areas and the group. 
• Maintain and enhance the existing relationship with SARS and External Tax Auditor personnel.
• Manage the Group Tax Process Council progress 

Accountability: Training

• Provide training and tax presentations to the relevant business areas on the current tax legislation and updates on changes to the legislation.
• Complete all training requirements

Role/Person Specification

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting is essential
• Post-graduate degree or diploma in Income Tax is desirable
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in income tax compliance – SARS e-filing and correspondence
• Tax insurance (short or long term) experience in the submission or preparation of returns will be advantageous

Knowledge and Skills

• Exceptional MS Excel skills including proficiency in macros
• Above average MS Office skills including Word and PowerPoint
• SAP, COUPA & BW knowledge will be beneficial
• Knowledge of stakeholder management
• Communication skills
• Presentation and influencing skills
• Problem-solving and resourcefulness
• Assertiveness

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Financial Sciences (Required)