Consultant Tax at Absa Bank Limited

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

Job Summary

The role requires the strong ability to provide employees’ tax advice across all aspects of employment taxes and to lead the Employment Tax function for the Group. Experience in managing the employees' tax function is advantageous. Experience in Africa and international tax is preferred.

Job Description

Accountability: Tax Advisory

• Provide Employees’ Tax advice in accordance with the required guidelines to the Absa Group.
• Responsible for and driving the strategy of the Employees’ Tax team
• Advise and guide Absa Payroll of changes to legislation to enable the required updates on Payroll and HR systems.
• Advising and testing of the implementation of tax controls the changes in tax legislation.
• Point of contact on all employment tax issues with SARS and respective employment related departments.
• Managing all matters of Employees’ Tax risk with business units and/or subsidiaries including attending meetings with management and auditors.
• Resolve employees' tax audit issues.
• Conduct training on employees’ tax and other tax matters.
• Ad hoc advice on direct tax issues.
• Advise and sign-off on the New product Approval (NPA) process as well as tax planning opportunities.
• Lead commentator for employees’ tax for the Banking Association of South Africa, including managing lobbying efforts with National Treasury.

Accountability: Managing SARS Special Projects (Systems Applications)

• Point of contact and liaison between SARS and Absa with respect to all employees’ tax related SARS projects.
• Engage with SARS to address all legislative, practical and IT related issues on projects.
• Initiate, participate or manage project teams together with Absa project managers in Change Management.
• Brief and obtain Senior Counsel opinion on project related issues to ensure that SARS requirements are legislatively accurate and that the Bank is not at risk.
• Manage all individual tax related external reporting for the Group.
• Ensure that submissions to SARS are met in accordance with deadlines.

Accountability: People Management (Preferred)

• People management to ensure effective daily operations.
• Develop a high performing team by embedding formal performance development and informal coaching. Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members.
• Determine development needs for the team and ensure that identified training requirements are budgeted for and executed.

Accountability: Networking

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with Absa Group subsidiaries and stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with the South African Revenue Services, National Treasury and the Banking Association of South Africa (BASA).

Accountability: Representing in Internal and External Forums

• Represent Group Tax in Industry forums as well as internal forums on matters of Employment Taxes.
• To be the point of contact and liaison between SARS and Absa with respect to Employment Tax projects.
• Discuss and provide input at BASA workgroups as well as other industry bodies e.g. SAICA, SAIT.

Education and Experience Required:

• B Com or Honours Degree or equivalent NQF level qualification
• 5 to 7 years’ experience within the Financial Services Industry specifically in the Tax environment
• 5 years consulting experience in Employment Taxes

Preferred Requirements:

• B Comm – Tax
• HDIP Tax
• International Tax

Knowledge & Skills:

• Analytical Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Problem solving
• General accounting knowledge
• Numerical skills
• Interpreting Level
• Report and opinion writing

Competencies:

• Deciding and initiating action
• Learning and researching
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Relating and networking
• Adapting and responding to change
• Persuading and influencing
• Creating and innovating
• Interpreting tax legislation

Education

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

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised