Statutory & Tax Compliance Manager

STATUTORY & TAX COMPLIANCE MANAGER British Council LOCATION AND CONTRACT DETAILS Position available in Nairobi, Kenya or Nigeria (Lagos or Abuja) on an indefinite contract basis. Closing Date: 19 August 2026 at 21:59 UK Time COMPENSATION Kenya: KES 512,008 monthly gross Nigeria: NGN 30,426,883 annual gross ABOUT THE ROLE Join the British Council's Statutory and Tax Centre of Excellence as a Statutory & Tax Compliance Manager and take the lead on financial and tax reporting across Sub-Saharan Africa. This is a strategic position that will see you drive the Centre's goals and initiatives within the SSA region while providing expert support to other regions as needed. You will be responsible for managing local statutory reporting, tax strategy, tax review and filing across assigned countries. Your primary focus will be ensuring accurate and timely completion of all local financial and tax reporting in compliance with applicable accounting standards and tax legislation. You'll provide specialist guidance to support financial and tax audits across multiple countries, keeping teams informed of regulatory developments that could impact operations. Managing corrective actions from audits and monitoring renewal dates for rulings will be key responsibilities to prevent compliance gaps. The role involves assessing and managing tax risks across SSA operations, monitoring regulatory changes, and delivering strategic recommendations to senior business leaders. You'll evaluate tax implications of business activities and contracts to identify and mitigate risks, while proactively spotting opportunities for timely solutions. Supporting external auditors, tax advisors and regulatory authorities forms an important part of the position, as does collaborating with British Council Group specialists including the group tax team, accounting and treasury divisions. Your work will support British Council's financial accounting activities across SSA through close collaboration with our Managed Service Provider, ensuring financial accounts are completed accurately and on schedule. You'll be comfortable challenging senior stakeholders to maintain statutory and tax compliance while upholding financial reporting standards and corporate policies. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead statutory financial reporting and tax compliance across Sub-Saharan Africa, delivering accurate, timely and compliant financial statements, statutory accounts, tax filings and regulatory submissions aligned with local legislation and accounting standards. Deliver expert advice on statutory reporting, tax matters and regulatory developments, assessing business impact and recommending risk management solutions to maintain compliance. Develop and implement tax strategies, policies and processes supporting organisational objectives while meeting local and international regulatory requirements. Oversee direct and indirect tax compliance including corporate income tax, VAT, withholding tax and transfer pricing obligations, managing timely filing, payment and reporting. Manage relationships with external auditors, tax authorities, advisors and regulatory bodies, supporting audits, assessments and investigations while driving resolution of findings and compliance actions. Partner with regional finance teams, business leaders and external service providers to deliver high-quality financial and tax reporting, strengthen controls and promote financial discipline. Monitor changes in accounting standards, tax legislation and regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring timely implementation and compliance. Review business activities, contracts and cross-border arrangements to identify statutory and tax implications, minimise risk exposure and support sound decision-making. Drive continuous improvement of statutory reporting and tax accounting processes, systems and controls to enhance efficiency, consistency and reporting quality across the region. Build organisational capability through training, guidance and coaching on financial reporting, tax compliance and regulatory requirements, fostering a compliance-focused culture. ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS You must hold a qualified accountant status with a minimum of five years post-qualification experience. You'll need at least four years of relevant experience in finance controllership, tax accounting and statutory reporting, with demonstrated experience preparing and managing corporate taxation, tax compliance, VAT and withholding tax returns across multiple countries in a global or regional organisation. You must show proven competence managing and resolving complex tax and technical accounting issues, with a solid understanding of financial control processes and professional accounting standards for commercial and charitable organisations. Strong influencing and negotiating skills are essential, along with practical business partnering experience and ERP system knowledge. DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE Experience within shared services operations, working in international and multi-cultural organisations, participation in change projects or initiatives, and SAP experience would strengthen your application. CORE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES You'll demonstrate strong financial accounting and reporting capabilities alongside expert tax accounting and reporting skills. Advanced proficiency in Excel and general IT competency are required, along with excellent communication and influencing abilities enabling you to explain complex financial information accessibly. You're highly organised, deadline-focused and skilled at building relationships across all organisational levels. You work with flexibility, independence and initiative in rapidly changing environments, and you're comfortable managing multiple priorities effectively. WORK ELIGIBILITY You must have the