Finance Operations Accountant

Role Purpose 

• Provide End to End finance support to the cluster (EASA/South Africa)
• Provide technical accounting and tax support for East Africa and Southern Africa statutory entities, working closely with the East Africa and Southern Africa Statutory Leads.
•  Ensure accurate tax computations, robust statutory reporting, and strong compliance governance across both jurisdictions.
• Strengthen tax controls, support audit processes, and maintain high-quality financial records to meet Group standards and local regulatory requirements.
• Provide support for global service Centre

Key Responsibilities

Tax Compliance & Computations

• Prepare corporate income tax computations, provisional tax calculations, and annual tax returns for East Africa and Southern Africa entities
• Support tax filing processes and coordinate with local tax consultants to ensure timely submissions
• Prepare/Review and validate indirect tax compliance including VAT, withholding tax (WHT), and PAYE calculations
• Monitor tax payment schedules and ensure timely remittances to tax authorities
• Maintain comprehensive tax working papers and documentation to support tax positions
• Identify and escalate tax risks or exposures to Statutory Leads and Group tax

Statutory Reporting & Financial Statements

• Support preparation of statutory financial statements for East Africa and Southern Africa in accordance with IFRS
• Prepare statutory reporting schedules, disclosures, and supporting documentation
• Review and validate accounting to reporting outputs including journals, statutory account reconciliations for accuracy and completeness
• Ensure proper cut-off procedures and accruals for period-end reporting
• Maintain balance sheet governance for high-risk accounts including provisions, accruals, and prepayments
• Support month-end and year-end close processes with statutory accounting requirements

Audit Support & Documentation

• Prepare audit files, schedules, and supporting documentation for external auditors
• Coordinate audit requests and respond to auditor queries in a timely and professional manner
• Support statutory audits for both Zambia and Kenya entities, ensuring audit readiness
• Implement audit recommendations and address control deficiencies identified
• Liaise with external auditors to facilitate smooth audit processes and timely completion

Transfer Pricing & Intercompany

• Support transfer pricing documentation and compliance requirements for both jurisdictions
• Coordinate with Group Tax and Transfer pricing teams on transfer pricing policies and updates
• Support transfer pricing studies and benchmarking analysis as required

Tax Governance & Advisory

• Ensure tax implications are identified and communicated for commercial transactions and business decisions
• Provide technical tax guidance to Commercial Finance and business stakeholders on routine matters
• Monitor changes in tax legislation and assess impact on East Africa and Southern Africa operations
• Support tax planning initiatives and optimization opportunities within compliance frameworks
• Maintain comprehensive audit trails and documentation for all statutory and tax matters

Process Standardization & Controls

• Collaborate with East Africa and Southern Africa Statutory Leads to harmonize statutory and tax processes across the region
• Support implementation of standardized templates, procedures, and controls for statutory reporting and tax compliance
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and efficiency gains in statutory and tax workflows
• Ensure robust financial controls and governance frameworks are maintained
• Document procedures and create reference materials for statutory and tax processes

Stakeholder Collaboration & Reporting

• Provide regular updates to Statutory Leads on tax and statutory matters, risks, and compliance status
• Coordinate with Group Tax on technical matters, tax audits, and policy implementation
• Liaise with local tax authorities and consultants on routine compliance matters
• Support Commercial Finance team with tax-related queries and business decision support
• Participate in regional finance calls and contribute to cross-functional projects

Skills & Capabilities

Professional qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or related field
• Key Technical Requirements:
• Advanced financial accounting and reporting expertise
• Proficiency in IFRS/GAAP standards
• Strong system knowledge (SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP)
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
• Strong business analytics capabilities
• Strategic planning and forecasting expertise

Additional Desirable Qualifications:

• Professional accounting qualification (CA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA)
• MBA
• Data analytics certifications
• Change management certification
• Industry-specific certifications

Technical Accounting & Tax Expertise

• Strong technical knowledge of corporate income tax, deferred tax (IAS 12), VAT, withholding tax, and PAYE in Zambian and Kenyan contexts
•  Solid understanding of IFRS and statutory financial statement preparation, disclosures, and compliance requirements
• Proven ability to prepare accurate corporate tax computations, provisional tax calculations, and deferred tax schedules
•  Working knowledge of transfer pricing principles, documentation requirements, and intercompany transactions
• Process optimization expertise
• Strong ERP systems knowledge
• Shared service center experience
• Project management skills

Multi-Entity & Cluster Capability

• Ability to manage statutory and tax requirements across multiple legal entities and jurisdictions simultaneously
• Effective collaboration with stakeholders across different countries and time zones
• Ability to understand and apply different tax and statutory requirements across East Africa and Southern Africa

Governance & Controls

• Strong governance and internal control orientation with focus on compliance and risk mitigation
•  Understanding of audit requirements and ability to maintain comprehensive, audit-ready documentation
•  Ability to identify tax and accounting risks and escalate appropriately
•  Strong commitment to meeting statutory deadlines and maintaining high documentation standards

Technical & Analytical Skills

• High attention to detail with strong analytical skills to review complex transactions, identify issues, and propose solutions
• Excel & Systems: Advanced Excel proficiency for tax computations and reconciliations; experience with ERP systems (SAP,  or similar)
•  Logical approach to resolving technical accounting and tax issues

Communication & Collaboration

• Ability to explain complex tax and accounting matters clearly to non-technical stakeholders
• Effective collaboration with internal teams, external auditors, and tax authorities professionally
• Strong written communication for preparing tax documentation, audit files, and technical memos

Personal Attributes

• Diligent & Reliable: Consistent delivery of accurate work within deadlines
• Takes initiative to identify issues and flexible in managing changing priorities across two jurisdictions
•  Committed to staying current with tax and accounting developments
• High ethical standards with collaborative approach and willingness to support regional colleagues
• Ability to manage workload pressure during peak periods (tax filing deadlines, audits, year-end)

Key  Success factor and challenges

• Strong accounting knowledge with specialization in IFRS, statutory accounting, and direct tax concepts
• Good understanding of local GAAP requirements and relevant tax legislation • Knowledge of Syngenta policies and procedures (reporting, capital process, treasury policies, transfer pricing manual)
• Understanding of internal control frameworks and business end-to-end processes
•  Strong and effective communication with key stakeholders including third-party suppliers, country finance teams, auditors, and group consolidation team
•  Ability to build and maintain strong relationships across the organization
• Ability to effectively prioritize tasks and manage competing deadlines
• Promote continuous improvement mindset and identify process optimization opportunities
• Openness to new digital solutions and ability to leverage technology effectively
• Adaptability to changing requirements and business needs

Key Challenges

•  Managing statutory and tax compliance across two jurisdictions with different requirements
• Balancing multiple priorities during peak periods (tax filing deadlines, audits, year-end)
• Ensuring data quality and accuracy from accounting to reporting while maintaining tight timelines
• Staying current with evolving tax legislation and accounting standards in both countries •
• Building effective working relationships across regional teams and time zones

Key Interfaces

Internal Stakeholders

Primary Reporting & Collaboration:

• Kenya Statutory Lead - Dotted line reporting, Kenya statutory and tax matters, regional coordination
•  South Africa Statutory Lead - Dotted line reporting, Zambia statutory and tax matters, technical guidance
• Finance Operations Lead (Line manager)  

Key Collaborators:

• Shared Service Centre ( Invoice to pay and accounting to reporting) : Data validation, transaction processing, reconciliations, query resolution
•  Group Tax - Technical tax guidance, policy interpretation, transfer pricing, tax audits
•  Commercial Finance Team -Tax advisory on commercial transactions, business case support
•  Country Finance Teams (Zambia & Kenya) - Local finance coordination, statutory requirements
•  Cluster Finance Team - Cluster reporting, governance, best practice sharing
• Treasury – Intercompany funding, foreign exchange, cash management coordination
•  Legal & Compliance - Regulatory matters, corporate governance, legal entity management

External Stakeholders

• External Auditors - Audit coordination, documentation, query resolution
•  Local Tax Consultants - Tax compliance support, advisory, technical matters
• Zambia Revenue Authority and Kenya Revenue Authority -  Tax filings, payments, compliance, audits/queries (coordination through Kenya Stat Lead)
•  Corporate Secretaries/Registrars – Statutory filings, company secretarial matters

Location: Kenya / Zambia