Finance Operations Accountant at Syngenta Group

Lusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

27 Apr, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

27 Jan, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Financial Accounting, IFRS, Tax Compliance, Statutory Reporting, Audit Support, Transfer Pricing, Analytical Skills, Communication, Collaboration, Process Optimization, ERP Systems, Project Management, Governance, Attention to Detail, Strategic Planning, Business Analytics

Industry

Farming

Description

Company Description Syngenta Group is one of the world’s leading sustainable agriculture innovation companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. Our 53,000 people across more than 100 countries strive every day to transform agriculture through tailor-made solutions for the benefit of farmers, society and our planet – making us the world’s most local agricultural technology and innovation partner. Syngenta Group is committed to operating at the highest standards of ethics and integrity. This is a commitment that we are making to investors, customers, society and employees. Syngenta Group is also committed to maintaining a workplace environment free from discrimination and Harassment. Job Description Role Purpose Provide End to End finance support to the cluster (EASA/South Africa) Provide technical accounting and tax support for East Africa and Southern Africa statutory entities, working closely with the East Africa and Southern Africa Statutory Leads. Ensure accurate tax computations, robust statutory reporting, and strong compliance governance across both jurisdictions. Strengthen tax controls, support audit processes, and maintain high-quality financial records to meet Group standards and local regulatory requirements. Provide support for global service Centre Key Responsibilities Tax Compliance & Computations Prepare corporate income tax computations, provisional tax calculations, and annual tax returns for East Africa and Southern Africa entities Support tax filing processes and coordinate with local tax consultants to ensure timely submissions Prepare/Review and validate indirect tax compliance including VAT, withholding tax (WHT), and PAYE calculations Monitor tax payment schedules and ensure timely remittances to tax authorities Maintain comprehensive tax working papers and documentation to support tax positions Identify and escalate tax risks or exposures to Statutory Leads and Group tax Statutory Reporting & Financial Statements Support preparation of statutory financial statements for East Africa and Southern Africa in accordance with IFRS Prepare statutory reporting schedules, disclosures, and supporting documentation Review and validate accounting to reporting outputs including journals, statutory account reconciliations for accuracy and completeness Ensure proper cut-off procedures and accruals for period-end reporting Maintain balance sheet governance for high-risk accounts including provisions, accruals, and prepayments Support month-end and year-end close processes with statutory accounting requirements Audit Support & Documentation Prepare audit files, schedules, and supporting documentation for external auditors Coordinate audit requests and respond to auditor queries in a timely and professional manner Support statutory audits for both Zambia and Kenya entities, ensuring audit readiness Implement audit recommendations and address control deficiencies identified Liaise with external auditors to facilitate smooth audit processes and timely completion Transfer Pricing & Intercompany Support transfer pricing documentation and compliance requirements for both jurisdictions Coordinate with Group Tax and Transfer pricing teams on transfer pricing policies and updates Support transfer pricing studies and benchmarking analysis as required Tax Governance & Advisory Ensure tax implications are identified and communicated for commercial transactions and business decisions Provide technical tax guidance to Commercial Finance and business stakeholders on routine matters Monitor changes in tax legislation and assess impact on East Africa and Southern Africa operations Support tax planning initiatives and optimization opportunities within compliance frameworks Maintain comprehensive audit trails and documentation for all statutory and tax matters Process Standardization & Controls Collaborate with East Africa and Southern Africa Statutory Leads to harmonize statutory and tax processes across the region Support implementation of standardized templates, procedures, and controls for statutory reporting and tax compliance Identify opportunities for process improvements and efficiency gains in statutory and tax workflows Ensure robust financial controls and governance frameworks are maintained Document procedures and create reference materials for statutory and tax processes Stakeholder Collaboration & Reporting Provide regular updates to Statutory Leads on tax and statutory matters, risks, and compliance status Coordinate with Group Tax on technical matters, tax audits, and policy implementation Liaise with local tax authorities and consultants on routine compliance matters Support Commercial Finance team with tax-related queries and business decision support Participate in regional finance calls and contribute to cross-functional projects Qualifications Skills & Capabilities Professional qualification Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or related field Key Technical Requirements: Advanced financial accounting and reporting expertise Proficiency in IFRS/GAAP standards Strong system knowledge (SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP) Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills Strong business analytics capabilities Strategic planning and forecasting expertise Additional Desirable Qualifications: Professional accounting qualification (CA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA) MBA Data analytics certifications Change management certification Industry-specific certifications Technical Accounting & Tax Expertise Strong technical knowledge of corporate income tax, deferred tax (IAS 12), VAT, withholding tax, and PAYE in Zambian and Kenyan contexts Solid understanding of IFRS and statutory financial statement preparation, disclosures, and compliance requirements Proven ability to prepare accurate corporate tax computations, provisional tax calculations, and deferred tax schedules Working knowledge of transfer pricing principles, documentation requirements, and intercompany transactions Process optimization expertise Strong ERP systems knowledge Shared service center experience Project management skills Multi-Entity & Cluster Capability Ability to manage statutory and tax requirements across multiple legal entities and jurisdictions simultaneously Effective collaboration with stakeholders across different countries and time zones Ability to understand and apply different tax and statutory requirements across East Africa and Southern Africa Governance & Controls Strong governance and internal control orientation with focus on compliance and risk mitigation Understanding of audit requirements and ability to maintain comprehensive, audit-ready documentation Ability to identify tax and accounting risks and escalate appropriately Strong commitment to meeting statutory deadlines and maintaining high documentation standards Technical & Analytical Skills High attention to detail with strong analytical skills to review complex transactions, identify issues, and propose solutions Excel & Systems: Advanced Excel proficiency for tax computations and reconciliations; experience with ERP systems (SAP, or similar) Logical approach to resolving technical accounting and tax issues Communication & Collaboration Ability to explain complex tax and accounting matters clearly to non-technical stakeholders Effective collaboration with internal teams, external auditors, and tax authorities professionally Strong written communication for preparing tax documentation, audit files, and technical memos Personal Attributes Diligent & Reliable: Consistent delivery of accurate work within deadlines Takes initiative to identify issues and flexible in managing changing priorities across two jurisdictions Committed to staying current with tax and accounting developments High ethical standards with collaborative approach and willingness to support regional colleagues Ability to manage workload pressure during peak periods (tax filing deadlines, audits, year-end) Key Success factor and challenges Strong accounting knowledge with specialization in IFRS, statutory accounting, and direct tax concepts Good understanding of local GAAP requirements and relevant tax legislation • Knowledge of Syngenta policies and procedures (reporting, capital process, treasury policies, transfer pricing manual) Understanding of internal control frameworks and business end-to-end processes Strong and effective communication with key stakeholders including third-party suppliers, country finance teams, auditors, and group consolidation team Ability to build and maintain strong relationships across the organization Ability to effectively prioritize tasks and manage competing deadlines Promote continuous improvement mindset and identify process optimization opportunities Openness to new digital solutions and ability to leverage technology effectively Adaptability to changing requirements and business needs Key Challenges Managing statutory and tax compliance across two jurisdictions with different requirements Balancing multiple priorities during peak periods (tax filing deadlines, audits, year-end) Ensuring data quality and accuracy from accounting to reporting while maintaining tight timelines Staying current with evolving tax legislation and accounting standards in both countries • Building effective working relationships across regional teams and time zones Key Interfaces Internal Stakeholders Primary Reporting & Collaboration: Kenya Statutory Lead - Dotted line reporting, Kenya statutory and tax matters, regional coordination South Africa Statutory Lead - Dotted line reporting, Zambia statutory and tax matters, technical guidance Finance Operations Lead (Line manager) Key Collaborators: Shared Service Centre ( Invoice to pay and accounting to reporting) : Data validation, transaction processing, reconciliations, query resolution Group Tax - Technical tax guidance, policy interpretation, transfer pricing, tax audits Commercial Finance Team -Tax advisory on commercial transactions, business case support Country Finance Teams (Zambia & Kenya) - Local finance coordination, statutory requirements Cluster Finance Team - Cluster reporting, governance, best practice sharing Treasury – Intercompany funding, foreign exchange, cash management coordination Legal & Compliance - Regulatory matters, corporate governance, legal entity management External Stakeholders External Auditors - Audit coordination, documentation, query resolution Local Tax Consultants - Tax compliance support, advisory, technical matters Zambia Revenue Authority and Kenya Revenue Authority - Tax filings, payments, compliance, audits/queries (coordination through Kenya Stat Lead) Corporate Secretaries/Registrars – Statutory filings, company secretarial matters Additional Information Location: Kenya / Zambia

Responsibilities

Provide end-to-end finance support for East Africa and Southern Africa, ensuring accurate tax computations and robust statutory reporting. Support audit processes and maintain high-quality financial records to meet group standards and local regulatory requirements.