Finance Controller & Tax Head job at True North Consult Ltd

Position Description

The Finance Controller & Tax Head will serve as the strategic in-country financial, tax, and compliance anchor for Indus Uganda Limited. The role bridges local business operations with central governance by managing Business Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), commercial finance, end-to-end corporate and indirect tax strategy, and all local regulatory, legal, secretarial, and commercial compliance requirements.

Working without direct local accounting subordinates, the Controller will coordinate closely with the Shared Services Office (SSO) in India to drive accounting execution, month-end closures, General Ledger integrity, and financial reporting. The position ensures full P&L and Balance Sheet protection, asset safeguarding, and risk mitigation across the entity

Responsibilities

Business FP&A & Financial Governance

• Lead the operationalization of Business FP&A, including monthly financial MIS, Annual Operating Plans (AOP), rolling forecasts, and variance analysis (Actuals vs. Budget/AOP).
• Oversee P&L and Balance Sheet protection, evaluating Return on Investment (ROI) and key financial metrics across operations.
• Review Accounts Receivable (AR), Accounts Payable (AP), customer billing, and Work Completion Reviews (WCR) executed via the online ERP system, ensuring financial alignment before final sign-offs.

End-to-End Tax Strategy, Operations & Audit Management (Tax Head Profile)

• Strategic Tax Planning & Optimization: Formulate tax-efficient strategies for intra-group transactions, capital structure, dividend repatriations, management fees, and technology royalty recharges. Maximize statutory capital allowances on telecom tower rollouts and equipment purchases to optimize net corporate income tax liabilities. Lead deferred tax computations and income tax reconciliations under IFRS.
• Transfer Pricing (TP) & International Governance: Direct the end-to-end preparation of annual contemporaneous Transfer Pricing (TP) Local Files and Master Files in compliance with Section 90 of the Ugandan Income Tax Act and OECD guidelines. Establish arm’s-length pricing for intercompany loans, management service charges, passive infrastructure sharing, and shared group overheads.
• Operational Tax Compliance & E-Invoicing: Direct monthly and quarterly filings across all tax handles with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), including Corporate Income Tax (CIT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Withholding Tax (WHT), Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), Customs/Import duties, and statutory levies. Mandate full integration with URA’s Electronic Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS) to validate input tax claims and issue valid electronic tax invoices.
• Tax Audits, Assessments & Dispute Resolution: Act as the primary focal point for all URA tax reviews, desk audits, field audits, and TP assessments. Prepare formal notices of objection, administrative appeals, and legal submissions against disputed tax assessments, and secure annual URA Tax Clearance Certificates (TCC).
• Cross-Functional Tax Integration: Review Supply Chain Management (SCM) vendor contracts, import duty classifications, and purchase orders to minimize tax exposure and secure proper WHT indemnities. Verify customer billing setups in ERP for proper VAT treatment and tax credit reconciliations.

Shared Services Coordination & Accounting Operations

• Act as the primary liaison for the Shared Services Office (SSO) in India to align day-to-day accounting routines, general ledger maintenance, and statutory reconciliations.
• Coordinate with SSO teams to streamline ERP workflows, customer billing cycles, vendor payments, and routine accounting deliverables.

Legal, Secretarial & Commercial Compliance

• Lead local corporate secretarial, legal, and statutory compliance, ensuring full adherence to Ugandan corporate governance standards (URSB) and timely corporate filings.
• Bridge operational gaps across Supply Chain Management (SCM), Commercial teams, and Finance to align vendor contracts, customer pricing setups, and site acquisition financial reviews.
• Manage local insurance coverage across tower assets, equipment, and general operational liabilities to mitigate risks.

Banking, Treasury & External Stakeholders

• Manage local banking relationships, credit lines, cash flow tracking, and treasury operations in alignment with central guidelines.
• Serve as the primary local focal point for external financial auditors, tax authorities, legal counsel, insurance providers, and government regulators.
• Execute any and all other local operational and strategic deliverables required from the CFO, Tax Head, Legal Head, and Commercial Head for the Ugandan business unit.

Decision Level

• Prime (Final Authority): Local tax submissions, URA compliance matters, TP documentation sign-offs, operational sign-offs within Delegation of Authority (DoA), local corporate secretarial/regulatory filings, and bank account administration.
• Shared (Joint Decision): Business FP&A budget finalization, commercial pricing structures, CapEx approvals, local banking agreements, tax objection strategies, and insurance policy selections.
• Contributory (Input/Recommendation): Corporate legal strategy, long-term supplier negotiations, group tax structure planning, cash up-streaming plans, and group financial policy updates.

Person Specification

Education, Training, Skills & Experience

Educational Level

• Must Have: Chartered Accountant (CA / ACCA / CPA Uganda) qualification.

Experience

• Must Have: 8–10 years of post-qualification experience in financial management, FP&A, commercial control, end-to-end tax strategy, and regulatory compliance.
• Preferred: Prior experience within telecommunications, tower infrastructure, or multi-jurisdictional corporate environments.

Demonstrated Skills:

• Tax & Statutory Mastery: Advanced knowledge of Ugandan tax legislation (URA), Transfer Pricing regulations, EFRIS e-invoicing compliance, corporate secretarial procedures, and IFRS financial reporting.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Proven ability to manage accounting outcomes through remote/shared service center (SSO) models.
• Strategic & Analytical Focus: Strong proficiency in tax planning, financial modeling, variance analysis, SCM-commercial integration, and P&L protection.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional communication skills for dealing directly with tax authorities, bankers, external auditors, legal counsel, and group leadership.

Position Dimensions

• Direct Subordinates: Coordinates accounting activities via Shared Services Office in India.
• Interface: Fair mix of Internal (Group CFO, Central SSO, SCM, Commercial Heads) and External (URA, Banks, External Auditors, Legal Counsel, Insurance Brokers).

• Lead the operationalization of Business FP&A, including monthly financial MIS, Annual Operating Plans (AOP), rolling forecasts, and variance analysis (Actuals vs. Budget/AOP).
• Oversee P&L and Balance Sheet protection, evaluating Return on Investment (ROI) and key financial metrics across operations.
• Review Accounts Receivable (AR), Accounts Payable (AP), customer billing, and Work Completion Reviews (WCR) executed via the online ERP system, ensuring financial alignment before final sign-offs.
• Formulate tax-efficient strategies for intra-group transactions, capital structure, dividend repatriations, management fees, and technology royalty recharges. Maximize statutory capital allowances on telecom tower rollouts and equipment purchases to optimize net corporate income tax liabilities. Lead deferred tax computations and income tax reconciliations under IFRS.
• Direct the end-to-end preparation of annual contemporaneous Transfer Pricing (TP) Local Files and Master Files in compliance with Section 90 of the Ugandan Income Tax Act and OECD guidelines. Establish arm’s-length pricing for intercompany loans, management service charges, passive infrastructure sharing, and shared group overheads.
• Direct monthly and quarterly filings across all tax handles with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), including Corporate Income Tax (CIT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Withholding Tax (WHT), Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), Customs/Import duties, and statutory levies. Mandate full integration with URA’s Electronic Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS) to validate input tax claims and issue valid electronic tax invoices.
• Act as the primary focal point for all URA tax reviews, desk audits, field audits, and TP assessments. Prepare formal notices of objection, administrative appeals, and legal submissions against disputed tax assessments, and secure annual URA Tax Clearance Certificates (TCC).
• Review Supply Chain Management (SCM) vendor contracts, import duty classifications, and purchase orders to minimize tax exposure and secure proper WHT indemnities. Verify customer billing setups in ERP for proper VAT treatment and tax credit reconciliations.
• Act as the primary liaison for the Shared Services Office (SSO) in India to align day-to-day accounting routines, general ledger maintenance, and statutory reconciliations.
• Coordinate with SSO teams to streamline ERP workflows, customer billing cycles, vendor payments, and routine accounting deliverables.
• Lead local corporate secretarial, legal, and statutory compliance, ensuring full adherence to Ugandan corporate governance standards (URSB) and timely corporate filings.
• Bridge operational gaps across Supply Chain Management (SCM), Commercial teams, and Finance to align vendor contracts, customer pricing setups, and site acquisition financial reviews.
• Manage local insurance coverage across tower assets, equipment, and general operational liabilities to mitigate risks.
• Manage local banking relationships, credit lines, cash flow tracking, and treasury operations in alignment with central guidelines.
• Serve as the primary local focal point for external financial auditors, tax authorities, legal counsel, insurance providers, and government regulators.
• Execute any and all other local operational and strategic deliverables required from the CFO, Tax Head, Legal Head, and Commercial Head for the Ugandan business unit.

• Advanced knowledge of Ugandan tax legislation (URA), Transfer Pricing regulations, EFRIS e-invoicing compliance, corporate secretarial procedures, and IFRS financial reporting.
• Proven ability to manage accounting outcomes through remote/shared service center (SSO) models.
• Strong proficiency in tax planning, financial modeling, variance analysis, SCM-commercial integration, and P&L protection.
• Exceptional communication skills for dealing directly with tax authorities, bankers, external auditors, legal counsel, and group leadership.

• Chartered Accountant (CA / ACCA / CPA Uganda) qualification.