International Tax Manager ( Location Agnostic ) at MFS Africa

Description

MFS Africa is the leading digital payments hub in Africa, enabling low-cost payments across the continent. The company works in close partnership with mobile network operators and financial institutions to bring simple and relevant payment services to unbanked people. MFS Africa connects over 320 million mobile money users across sub-Saharan Africa through its platform – the MFS Hub. As a B2B company, we enable cross-border payment for mobile money operators, banks, money transfer operators, large corporate and a growing number of SMEs. Our recent partnership with Visa will soon allow us to connect the MFS Hub to Visa.net, effectively connecting African consumers and businesses to the global digital economy. As a technology fintech company, we strive to automate everything we do and run world-class operations. Our locations include: Port-Louis, Accra, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Kampala and London. We are regulated by the FSC in Mauritius, BoG in Ghana, BoT in Tanzania, and FCA in the UK.

The Role

We seek an individual with experience in International Tax Management to assist in the delivery of quality tax services to our partners and in turn increase our firms reputation. Our ideal candidate is someone with impeccable communication and organizational skills who is able to work in a demanding environment, where the requirements of various stakeholders need to be managed effectively.

The position is location agnostic, but travel will be required to the locations in which we have presence to interact with revenue authorities and tax advisors.

The duties and responsibilities of the role will be as follows:

• ·Tax Law Compliance – Oversee and co-ordinate the computation, completion and submission of returns for all tax types across all Group companies, including income tax, VAT/GST, employee taxes, WHT and all other applicable taxes

• Financial Reporting – Support the accurate preparation of all Group company financial statements through:
  i) Ensuring tax calculations and disclosures are correctly reflected in the financial statements
  ii) Evaluating uncertain tax reporting positions and business combinations in order to properly reflect the tax treatment of such items in the financial statements
  iii) Analyzing the tax aspects of financial projections and forecasts
  iv) Leading technology and process improvements to ensure accurate, timely information is provided to the financial reporting group

• Planning Activities – Lead the implementation of tax planning strategies, which maximizes savings on a defensible basis and will require the tax manager to:
  i) Review tax research and its application to the business
  ii) Participate in the review of proposed transactions to properly advise management of tax consequences
  iii) Advise business on the tax implications of business acquisitions, dispositions and restructurings

• Tax Audits and Queries – Evaluate requests for information from revenue authorities in all jurisdictions in which the Group has a presence, and participate in developing strategies to successfully defend tax filing positions

• Support the coordination and implementation of audit strategies

• Stay abreast of legal developments and industry positions in order to accurately evaluate options and responses to requests for information

• Leadership – Lead and direct external tax advisors on a project-by-project basis

Requirements

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are essential; French would be an advantage

• Highly organized with great attention to detail

• Strong interpersonal, collaboration and relationship-building skills

• Able to learn quickly and adapt to change

• Able to use sound judgement to make decisions

• Can work autonomously; self-starter with a proactive approach

• Solution driven with a bias to action

Qualifications and experience

• CA or equivalent with further qualifications specializing in taxation

• Minimum of 5 years directly related and progressively responsible tax experience

• Solid IFRS knowledge pertaining to tax disclosure

• Broad technical knowledge of international tax laws and regulations, with particular focus on tax regimes in African countries

• Excellent business acumen with a sound understanding of the tax implications of a multi-national manufacturing company

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative and creative solutions to complex issue

Benefits

• We have a very diverse work environment with over 28+ nationalities represented and continually strive to build a culture of caring and execution

• We operate a flexible remote working policy

• We offer a competitive salary package and bonuses

• We prioritize the overall well being of our staff through various initiatives aimed at ensuring they reach their full potential in a supportive environment

• We solve relevant problems for Africa and the world in hope of continuing to make an impact on the millions, if not billions, of users who also believe in what we do

• We work at the very cutting edge of fin-tech in Africa