Tax Specialist

Role Overview

This role manages the company’s indirect tax compliance in Kenya, from preparing statutory returns and reconciling tax accounts to overseeing Duty Remission Scheme (DRS) requirements. It also serves as a key point of contact for the Kenya Revenue Authority and other regulators, helping the business respond to audits, manage tax exposure and understand the effects of legislative change.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, check and submit monthly VAT, Excise Duty and Withholding Tax returns, ensuring filings are accurate, supported by appropriate records and submitted on time.
• Prepare VAT refund applications and track their progress with the relevant authorities.
• Coordinate DRS applications, renewals, gazettement and approvals, and monitor approved limits against actual raw-material consumption.
• Reconcile VAT, Excise Duty and Withholding Tax balances each month; investigate variances and resolve discrepancies with the relevant teams.
• Review tax treatments and transaction coding in Oracle ERP, and maintain effective tax controls and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate responses to KRA and other regulatory enquiries, assessments and information requests; organise audit materials and support the resolution of findings.
• Track changes to Kenyan tax legislation, Finance Acts and regulatory guidance, assess their business impact, and advise management and cross-functional colleagues on appropriate actions.
• Contribute tax expertise to finance transformation, process automation and tax optimisation work, and submit weekly cash flow forecasts on time.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation or a related discipline, with at least Second Class Upper honours.
• CPA (K), ACCA or an equivalent professional qualification.
• At least five years of post-qualification taxation experience; experience in a large FMCG, agriculture, manufacturing or multinational organisation is preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Kenyan tax requirements, including VAT, Excise Duty, Customs, Duty Remission Schemes and Withholding Tax.
• Experience coordinating tax audits and engaging with revenue authorities or other regulators.
• Proficiency in Oracle ERP and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.