Tax Accountant at Tower Group

Position Summary:

• Responsible for timely and successful closing the month-end, quarter-end and year-end closing for
• South Africa in coordination and collaboration with the Mauritius Quality Service Centre (QSC),
• Point of entry and responsible for timely preparation and completion of Annual Financial Statements
• Audit.
• Point of entry for corporate audit, coordinate and collaborate with BU Directors to close audits.
• Responsible for Taxation in South Africa.
• Point of entry for Region / HQ queries related to the Trial balance and reporting.
• Managing the variety of stakeholder for the meeting Area’s objectives and KPI’s.
• Budgeting and forecasting for overhead costs, CAPEX and DND revenue for the Area.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

• Oversee the completeness and accuracy of all General Ledger accounts.
• Responsible for timeous and accurate month-end, quarterly and year-end closing as per company guidelines.
• Responsible for accurate and timely submission of quarterly overhead budgets and forecast including Detention & Demurrage revenue, investments, IFRS16 leases, etc.
• Coordinate maintenance and improvement of processes together with the QSC, Area / Region.
• Responsible for achievement of all targets in BA by working closely with the QSC, Area / Region.
• Responsible for timely preparation of annual financial statements by coordinating with external service providers.
• Responsible for calculation and submit all tax returns in an accurate and timely manner and attending, closing of taxation / vat audits and assessments.
• Is the point of entry for financial audit queries / requests, ensuring timeous closure of all audit topics.
• Responsible to follow up, close off all audit queries.
• Assist with and report to corporate audit to confirm the closure of audit queries.
• Implement and monitor processes to avoid the recurrence of audit findings together with introducing preventive processes to reduce and eventually eliminate audit findings.
• Work with all departments to proactively implement measure to prevent revenue leakage and overcharging on the Operational side.
• Produce and maintain management report packs to constructively address matters of risk and possible financial loss.
• Travel to Third party agents countries for audit and face to face meetings if needed.
• Must escalate Country and Area requirements to relevant stakeholders in order for Area to successfully meet our objectives and KPI’s.
• Hold regular meetings with QSC.
• Keep abreast of developments in Customer Services, Sales, Operations to inform Management of impact of changes as well as ensure our processes.
• Preparing cost and revenue analysis, trends, Business cases, PowerPoint presentations for the Area /Country
• Adhoc requests from Management.
• Drive innovation to create meaningful reporting and to address critical topics.

Skills and Knowledge Required:

• Related Tertiary qualification and/or related experience.
• Strong management accounting, financial accounting and tax experience.
• Strong internal audit experience.
• Excellent understanding of Shipping 
• Excellent Excel and PowerPoint skills and reports writing.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to converse with stakeholders on
• different levels in the internal and external organization.
• Analytical, self-starter who comfortable working independently.