Head of Tax – EBKL at Equity Bank Kenya

SOKIFY CAREER OPPORTUNITY Position: Head of Tax – EBKL at Equity Bank Kenya Employer: Equity Bank Limited ABOUT THE ROLE You will serve as the strategic leader responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing tax strategies, policies, and governance frameworks across Equity Bank Kenya Limited (EBKL). This position sits at the heart of the bank's financial operations, supporting its presence across Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Reporting directly to the Head of Finance – EBKL while maintaining functional alignment with the Group Chief Tax, Regulatory & Sustainability Officer, you will be the principal voice on all tax matters for senior management, regulatory bodies, auditors, and external stakeholders. YOUR MISSION Ensure that EBKL's tax outcomes deliver commercial value, maintain full legal compliance, uphold the bank's reputation, and withstand scrutiny from regulators and shareholders—all while creating sustainable value for EBKL and the wider Equity Group. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES You will drive the bank's tax strategy and develop comprehensive tax policies aligned with business objectives. You'll provide expert advisory on transactions and business decisions, ensuring tax efficiency across operations. Your team will manage all tax compliance obligations and reporting requirements while maintaining robust risk management controls. A critical part of your role involves staying ahead of evolving tax laws, regulations, and policy changes. You'll interpret their implications for EBKL, communicate findings to leadership, and coordinate implementation of necessary responses. You'll also manage relationships with key stakeholders including government bodies, external advisors, and internal departments. As a leader, you'll build and mentor a high-performing tax function, establish clear succession plans, and strengthen both technical expertise and management capability within your team. DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY Within your delegated authority, you will approve EBKL's tax positions on significant transactions and restructurings. You'll establish and enforce tax risk thresholds in consultation with finance and group leadership. You'll develop strategies for managing tax disputes, settlements, and litigation matters, and oversee all external tax advisors to ensure quality outcomes and accountability. Any matters exceeding your authority will be escalated through established governance channels. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE You hold a bachelor's degree in law, business, finance, accounting, or a related field, complemented by a professional qualification such as CPA, ACCA, or equivalent recognised credential. You bring a minimum of ten years of post-qualification experience in taxation, with at least five years in a management or senior management capacity. This experience should come from a financial institution, listed group, or top-tier professional advisory firm. You've successfully led complex tax audits, disputes, and litigation matters, and have demonstrated ability engaging with revenue authorities and regulatory bodies. You possess strong knowledge of domestic, regional, and international tax issues as they apply to Kenya and the financial services sector. You can translate technical tax knowledge into sound commercial decisions, demonstrating proven ability in business strategy, transaction advisory, and operational delivery. You show mature judgement in assessing and managing appropriate levels of tax risk. VALUED ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Advanced or specialist certifications in international taxation, transfer pricing, tax dispute resolution, or similar tax disciplines will strengthen your candidacy. ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES Deep technical mastery of both direct and indirect taxation, including tax accounting, reporting, and disclosure frameworks is fundamental. You demonstrate strong commercial judgment, analytical rigor, and risk-based decision-making approaches. You operate with credibility at senior management, board, regulator, and revenue authority levels. Your stakeholder management, negotiation, written communication, and presentation abilities are excellent. You show strong project leadership and implementation capability, delivering results through cross-functional teams and external partners. You embed strong governance, compliance, ethics, and accountability standards throughout your function. You lead inclusively, coach effectively, and collaborate seamlessly across diverse cultures and professional backgrounds.