Head Group Tax at Pick n Pay Stores Limited

• The Head of Tax is ultimately responsible for the tax affairs of the Pick n Pay Group, with a particular focus on the tax affairs of the Pick n Pay segment.
• The Head of Tax takes ultimate responsibility for all engagement with relevant tax authorities and represents Pick n Pay in relation to its tax affairs.
• This role will lead the tax function, together with a tax team, ensuring compliance with all South Africa and relevant rest of Africa countries tax regulations, while optimizing the company’s tax position. This role will involve developing tax strategies, managing risks, providing tax advice and collaborating with various departments to support the company’s overall business objectives. This incumbent is expected to drive continuous optimization in tax reporting and analytics, working with relevant stakeholders and business units to ensure accuracy, reliability, and automation of tax relevant information. The Head of Tax will report into the Group Head of Finance.

Minimum requirements

• Chartered Accountant (SA)
• Bachelor’s degree in Tax
• Post graduate degree in tax, advantageous
• 10 years of progressive tax experience, with a focus on retail, consumer goods or auditing firms.
• Strong knowledge of South African tax laws

Competencies

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Effective communication and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex tax-related information to management and other  stakeholders.
• Proficiency in tax software and financial modeling

Key responsibilities

• Tax Strategy Development:
• Formulate and implement effective tax strategies aligned with business goals, ensuring tax compliance and minimization of tax liabilities.
• Identify opportunities for tax savings and efficiencies.
• Identify opportunities for effective utilization of assessed losses, including the identification of opportunities to reorganize legal structures for tax optimization.

Risk Assessment:

• Identify and assess tax risks and exposures, developing strategies to mitigate them.
• Maintain the tax risk register for the Group, with a particular focus on the Pick n Pay segment of the Group
• Manage tax audits and disputes, collaborating with external advisors as necessary.

Advisory Role:

• Provide strategic tax advice on all tax related matters, including mergers, acquisitions, and other business initiatives or transactions, collaborating with external advisors as necessary, to ensure compliance and proper tax risk management. 
• Partner with finance, legal, and operations teams to ensure tax implications are considered in business decisions.
• Monitor industry trends and developments and changes in tax laws that could impact the tax affairs of the Group.

Compliance Management:

• Ensure timely and accurate preparation and filing of all tax returns (income, VAT, etc.) to avoid reputational risk.
• Monitor compliance with local and neighboring countries tax regulations.
• Owner and project lead on all amendments to relevant tax laws that requires implementation and changes within the Group, collaborating with external advisors as necessary.
• Maintain relationships with tax authorities and industry bodies
• Engage with tax authorities on relevant tax matters, assist with remediation to minimize impacts on the Group, collaborating with external advisors as necessary.

Reporting, Planning and Analytics:

• Oversee the preparation of tax provisions and ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Assist with tax planning and forecasting, including cash flow projections to meet tax requirements.
• Analyze the impact of new tax laws and regulations on business operations, reporting requirements and cash flow requirements.
• Maintain regular reporting of the Group’s tax affairs to the Head of Finance, including regular reporting of relevant tax risks.
• Regular reporting of the status of the Group’s tax affairs and material tax risks to the Chief Finance Officer, the Group Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and the Pick n Pay Stores Limited Board of Directors
• Effective collaboration with finance and IT on tax reporting functionality, driving continuous improvement and digitization of tax relevant financial information requirements.

Leadership and Development:

• Lead and mentor the tax team, ensuring complete management of the tax affairs of the Group
• Direct and manage team performance and development, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement, innovation, and digitization
• Develop a talent management strategy
• Maintain succession planning and support necessary recruitment
• Develop and implement tax policies and procedures.