MTN Group Hiring for Senior Manager- Group Tax Job at Dubai Full Time

Context (Global influences, environmental / industry demands, organisational mission etc.)

The Senior Manager, Group Tax Dubai (‘’Senior Manager’’), oversees the MTN Francophone opcos including Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Benin, Congo and Guinea Conakry plus Global connect and the Dutch Companies structure, all will be referred to as assigned OPCOs

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Responsible to implement and maintain the group tax strategy and policy in the assigned OPCOs
• Minimise tax risk for the assigned OPCOs by pro-actively implementing a tax risk management strategy and policy and driving tax planning and reporting on current and potential tax risks
• Responsible for tax audit and dispute resolution in the assigned OPCOs
• Ensure Group and operating units alignment of and adherence to Group tax guidelines and principles / Train and give support to in-country tax resources in the assigned OPCOs
• Optimize tax planning for the MTN Group companies within the legislative framework
• Involvement in cross functional multi-disciplinary projects (this would e.g. be any relevant M&A work as well as group re-organisations / restructuring); Highlight potential tax risk areas and provide recommendations to resolve

The Senior Manager reports into GM Regional tax and TP. The position will interface with the CoE, Opco stakeholders, business unit heads, finance partners and the Shared Services Hub (SSH) (not limited to) via Oracle workflows and non-Oracle workflows to ensure effective and efficient operations.

Key Performance Areas: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA’s)

The role will cover mainly MTN Francophone opcos plus global connect by being responsible to set tax policy and strategy in line with group overall strategy and custodian of the tax risk management strategy to ensure effective and efficient tax management to maximise MTN group benefit

Considering the recent changes in the tax landscape (And mainly adoption of the Pillar 2) the role will be key in assessing the impact of those changes, make recommendations to address controversial impacts and ensure proper implementation in the assigned OPCOs

As part the wider Group Tax team, the role is responsible for delivering to a specialized Corporate Tax Strategy and Operations portfolio for the assigned OPCOs

Tax Strategy, Operations and Reporting

• Responsible for tax management support for the responsible structurese. Including, but not limited to,
  • Review and ensure effectiveness of the structure
  • Responsible of the overall tax compliance of the entities under the structure
  • Assess the structure on regular basis and recommend and motivate changes to the MTN leadership when required
• Support the GM and Group Tax Executive in cascading of Group Tax Strategy and plan for assigned OPCOs, resident entities, and other specialized business entities to ensure compliance, prudence and to improve group tax position and rates.
• Responsible for effective cascading, articulation, and implementation of the tax strategy through business plans, operations and structure for covered entities
• Proactively conduct market research to anticipate the changes in the corporate tax landscape and its impact on corporate tax in covered Group entities.
• Liaise with tax authorities and other regulatory authorities to ensure compliance, coordination for query resolutions. Represent MTN Group in formal meetings, appearances with relevant Government authorities and regulators in covered Group entities jurisdictions
• Ensure taxation best practices are in place that align to the business needs and strategies
• Ensure Opcos adhere to compliance requirements

Tax Audit and Risk Management

• Manage tax audits, provide sign-off on all tax audit findings. Act as the liaison between OPCO management and group executives to analyse tax audit impact and advise on resolution.
• Lead periodic tax reviews for covered entities to assess controls and compliance and advise on remedial actions.
• Collaborate and work closely with Group Internal Audit and Risk teams to ensure internal controls and audit plans (as they pertain to corporate tax of the Group entities) are up-to-date and that mitigating actions are undertaken.
• Manage, monitor, and report on operational Corporate Tax risks pertaining to covered Group entities and other specialized business entities. Update the Group Tax Risk Register for monitoring and tracking of the identified risks.
• Proactively develop mitigating actions, strategies and controls based on tax audit, internal audits, queries or disputes from regulators and external auditors/consultants.
• Periodically refresh tax opinions and mandates, with respect to their impact on Group.

Tax Disputes, Controversy and Negotiations

• Manage defense on matters relating to tax disputes, controversies, and negotiations, as they relate to the covered Group entities, and other specialized business entities.
• Engage with internal stakeholders (including markets and other Group functions) and external counsel / other third parties in the managing litigations, prevention and resolution of tax disputes and controversies, as they relate to the covered Group entities, and other specialized business entities.
• Render expertise on the technical and factual details matters as they pertain to disputes, litigations, and resolutions, to Opcos as required.
• Co-ordinate and disseminate best practice in planning and preparation for potential tax disputes, controversies, and negotiations.
• Provide technical input in Industry groups as well as group’s own lobby efforts with stakeholders across the markets.

Other Core and Strategic Activities

• Provide functional support and advisory services to business leaders on tax and tax-related matters, as required, pertaining to assigned OPCOs and other specialized business entity
• Provide technical support to the Executive group tax on group strategic projects impacting assigned OPCOs as well as other MTN operations.
• Support the GM in evaluating environmental variables, business market conditions and tax regulation changes for consideration in the tax strategy update
• Work with outside advisers and counsel on transaction planning, including contract language in M&A transactions, evaluating both local and foreign tax implications and tax optimization strategies for the covered entities.
• Interface with outside auditors and tax accounting team on tax provision and financial statement matters, including disclosures for the covered entities
• The impact of Pillar 2 will require the SM to support the assigned OPCOs Tax teams as there will be increased scrutiny and audit activity from the local Revenue Authorities who attempt to implement the complex rules of Pillar 2.

Reporting

• Report on a monthly / periodic basis to the relevant stakeholders relating to progress and in accordance with the measurement metrics set by the organization.
• Provide ad hoc reports, dashboards and give presentations to Group Tax Exec, GM Regional tax, Exco, audit committees on tax related matters as and when required.
• Periodically review reports from the SSH, Opco and related entities as applicable.

Budgets

• Manage sub-divisional budgets in line with business objectives.
• Manage project initiative budgets in line with business objectives.
• Ensure that cost of operations is reduced, in line with a least cost operating strategy stemming from the business drivers.

Staff Leadership and Management

• Training, coaching and development of tax resources in covered OPCOs as well as facilitate groupwide tax training on technical topics.
• Support OPCO CFOs in identifying and recruiting tax resources for OPCOs.
• Drive tax accuracy and compliance goals for the division.
• Establish the data driven processes needed to achieve operational excellence.
• Promote a ‘MTN centric’ and ‘partnership approach’ to develop strong relationships with other working groups and ensure adherence to Group governance

Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies)

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance and / or equivalent
• Post graduate degree in Finance and/or equivalent professional qualification (preferred)
• CPA, CTA, ACCA, ADIT or other Professional certification in Tax

Experience:

• 5 – 8 years of relevant experience in finance or senior business management roles
• 3 – 5 years of relevant working managerial experience in international tax domain
• Technical Experience in Corporate Taxation, Litigations, Disputes and Negotiations
• Tax operations experience especially in a multi-country operations environment
• Experience in leading change / transformation (Tax)
• Experience in continuous improvement through the implementation of best practices (Tax)
• Experience in telecommunication and technology sector taxation
• In-depth understanding of procedural and practical aspects of tax dispute resolution and advise strategically in this respect

Competencies:

• Project management
• Tax risk management
• Stakeholder management
• Tax Operations, Audit and Compliance
• Tax Strategy, Planning and Forecasting
• Tax Disputes, Litigations, Controversy and Negotiations
• Tax leading practices and trends
• Telecommunications
• GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles)
• IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards)

Behavioural Competencies

• Integrity
• Adaptable
• Complete Candour
• Culturally aware
• Emotional Maturity
• Can Do attitude
• Leadership
• Team Player

Other:

International travel (if required)