Finance Operations Accountant

Lusaka, Zambia
Full-time
Zambia Job Market
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.

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Employment Opportunities

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

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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
Zambia Job Market

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)
Zambia Job Market

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