Tax Accountant

Role Overview

This position is accountable for the end-to-end leadership of the Tax Section, combining hands-on technical tax work with team supervision. You will own every aspect of tax compliance, from preparing and filing returns to handling audits, refunds, and transfer pricing obligations, while also supplying forward-looking tax guidance that protects the organisation financially and keeps it on the right side of Kenyan law. Your daily work ensures that tax obligations are met accurately and on time, that risks are identified before they escalate, and that management and group stakeholders receive clear, reliable tax reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the preparation and timely submission of all statutory tax filings, including Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE, Withholding Tax, Excise Duty, and other applicable levies, in line with current legislation and any Finance Act changes.
• Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual tax reconciliations and reports for management and group-level consolidation, including tax provisions, cash tax forecasts, and effective tax rate analysis.
• Prepare and follow through on tax refund and offset applications with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), tracking approval status and ensuring PAYE and WHT credit offsets are correctly applied and utilised.
• Oversee compliance with the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS), including invoice validation, exception handling, and training staff on updated system requirements.
• Maintain and update transfer pricing documentation for intra-group arrangements, aligning with Kenyan rules and OECD principles, and support related-party benchmarking exercises.
• Lead tax planning initiatives to minimise exposure within the legal framework, and manage KRA audits, queries, and objections, including coordinating with external tax advisors where necessary.
• Own the tax and cash flow forecasting process, ensuring obligations are settled on schedule and liquidity planning is supported by accurate projections.
• Support the department's budgeting cycle by preparing the tax-related budget, monitoring actual performance, and reporting meaningful variances to management.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a closely related field.
• Full professional accounting qualification – CPA(K) or ACCA – with a certification in taxation viewed as a distinct advantage.
• At least 5–7 years of progressive experience in tax and financial accounting, including a minimum of 2 years in a supervisory or section-head capacity.
• Strong working knowledge of the Income Tax Act, VAT Act, Tax Procedures Act, Finance Act, and eTIMS compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience managing KRA audits and queries, as well as preparing or reviewing transfer pricing documentation.
• Prior experience in the insurance, financial services, or an audit firm environment is an added advantage.
• Advanced proficiency in ERP/accounting systems and MS Excel, with the ability to analyse large datasets and validate legacy balances.
• High integrity and discretion when handling sensitive financial and tax information, combined with strong leadership and team-management abilities.