Tax Manager – East Africa (Center of Excellence)

Sucafina is a leading sustainable coffee company, connecting coffee producers with roasters worldwide. With a rich history and a global presence, we are committed to fostering sustainable practices, innovation, and strong relationships across the coffee supply chain. Our operations span sourcing, trading, and logistics, ensuring high-quality coffee reaches consumers efficiently and responsibly. 

Tax Manager- East Africa (Center of Excellence) is responsible for overseeing all tax processes (corporate, VAT, withholding taxes, employment taxes) across the region, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and risk mitigation. The tax manager shall be the regional expert for tax accounting and OneStream tax reporting.  The tax manager shall act as a key liaison point between local trading, operations and finance teams, external consultants, the Group Tax department, and the Group Consolidation Manager.

The tax manager shall work with Group Tax on developing appropriate transfer pricing policies and documentation to strengthen controls, streamline flows, and reduce tax risks.

This position will functionally report to the Group Tax Operations Manager and administratively to the Head of Finance for EMEA.

Key Responsibilities for all African entities in scope

1. Tax compliance

• Work with country finance managers to ensure full tax compliance (corporate income tax, VAT, withholding taxes, local taxes, other filings) in each country.
• Supervise the preparation, review and filing of tax returns, as well as the timely payment of all taxes.
• Maintain a comprehensive regional tax calendar and ensure adherence.
• Provide regular updates to the Group Tax Manager on progress, key risks and issues.
• Coordinate with local finance teams and external advisors to address technical matters and ensure efficient compliance.

2. VAT management

• Assess the current VAT refund position in each country.
• Assess the current VAT processes, compliance status, and risks in each country.
• Review and challenge the preparation, filing, and reconciliation of VAT declarations.
• Drive process to collect VAT refunds from tax authorities working with tax advisers as necessary.
• Define, update, and implement clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for VAT handling.
• Monitor VAT exposure on a continuous basis and propose corrective actions to reduce risk.

3. Tax accounting & OneStream reporting

• Act as the regional subject-matter expert for tax accounting (current tax, deferred tax, provisions).
• Review tax accounts, reconciliations, and month-end closing submissions for accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure high-quality and timely tax-related reporting in OneStream.
• Support the Group Tax department in implementing global tax policies and ensuring compliance in the region.
• Act as the primary interface for the Group Consolidation Manager and Group Tax Manager regarding tax reporting matters.

4. Transfer pricing

• Work with Group Tax to develop transfer pricing policies and documentation.
• Support the preparation and annual update of transfer pricing documentation, including Local Files, functional analyses, and economic benchmarks ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely delivery. Coordinate with finance manager, Group Tax and external advisors for technical reviews and specific analyses.
• Monitor and analyse intercompany cross‑border transactions to ensure alignment with commercial and operational substance and compliance with OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines and applicable local regulations.
• Support and challenge intercompany agreements and pricing models to optimize and defend positions.

5. Functional analysis & tax risk reduction

• Review process flows and tax documentation for all entities in East Africa.
• Identify gaps, inefficiencies, and tax exposure across transactional processes (AP, AR, supply chain, intercompany).Work closely with Group Tax Manager to design and implement improvements.
• Ensure proper documentation and audit trails exist for all tax-relevant processes. Train local finance teams on tax processes and best practices.
• Support local teams in preparing for external audits or tax authority reviews.

Qualifications & Experience

• Professional Accounting qualification (CPA-K, ACCA or similar).
• 10+ years of experience in tax and finance matters in a multinational company with presence in East Africa or a professional accounting firm.
• Experience with preparing corporate tax, VAT, withholding and employment tax returns and a detailed understanding of the wider compliance processes.
• Experience with tax accounting and reporting tools; OneStream experience preferred.
• Experience of getting VAT and indirect taxes refunds.
• Experience of transfer pricing.
• Strong emphasis on Knowledge of East African tax regulations.

Key Competencies

• Strong technical tax knowledge.
• Strong analytical, documentation, and process-improvement skills.
• Ability to simplify complex tax topics for operational teams.
• Good communication and stakeholder-management skills (local and Group level).
• Structured, rigorous, and detail-oriented.
• Problem-solving mindset with ability to manage cross-country tax issues.
• Engaging approach.