General Manager | MTN Careers

MTNs purpose is to enable the benefits of a modern connected life to everyone. The MTN Group Strategy is anchored in building the largest and most valuable platform business with a clear focus on Africa.

This rests on a scale connectivity and infrastructure business – mobile and fixed access networks in the consumer, enterprise and wholesale segments.

Within the changing tax, regulatory and governance environment the GM: International Tax is responsible for must therefore ensure successful delivery in the context of:

• Diversifying telco-to-techo landscape
• Constant dynamics and local challenges in the economic, regulatory and legal environments and evolving industry ecosystems
• Evolving tax practises and standards across multiple jurisdictions
• Achieving top quartile operating efficiency and effectiveness through scale and common policies and processes
• Driving growth through business intelligence and standardization to maximize business impact
• Multi geographic landscape and cultural context
• Management of demanding customer and supplier expectations
• Enhancing MTN reputational position as a leading secure, reliable and safe network and system provider at OpCo level
• To assist the MTN Board and EXCO in protecting the assets, reputation and sustainability of the organisation for MTN to accomplish its objectives

We at MTN are a purpose and value-led organisation. At MTN, we believe that understanding our people’s needs and aspirations is key to creating experiences that delight you at work, everyday. We are committed to fostering an environment where every member of our Y’ello Family is heard, understood and empowered to live an inspired life.

Our values keep us grounded and moving in the right direction. Most importantly, they keep us honest. It is not something we claim to be. It is in our DNA.

As an organisation, we consider it our mission to create an exciting and rewarding place to work, where our people can be themselves, thrive in positivity and ignite their full potential. A workplace that boosts creativity and innovation, improves productivity, and ultimately drives meaningful results. A workplace that is built on relationships and achieving a purpose that is bigger than us. This is what we want you to experience with us!

Our commitments go beyond an organisational promise. It is in our leadership and managerial ethos to meaningfully partner with our employees, customers and stakeholders with a vision to realise our shared goals.

Live Y’ello

• Lead with Care
• Can-do with Integrity
• Collaborate with Agility
• Serve with Respect
• Act with Inclusion

The General Manager: International Tax is responsible to achieve the following objectives:

Strategy Planning, Implementation and Advisory

• Develop the International Taxation Strategy and Planning for MTN Group entities.
• Facilitate proactive tax optimization and value-added strategies based on regulatory and legislative changes, market studies and business operations dynamics.
• Proactively monitor, develop impact assessments and tax plan adjustments based on various factors such as micro-macro environmental variables, business market conditions, regional / country specific tax regulation and international tax laws.
• Provide inputs into enterprise-wide transformation initiatives and drive adequate risk mitigation and controls.
• Lead and collaborate with Opco Tax teams to ensure appropriate execution of tax strategies and plans.
• Deliver proactive strategic planning, preparation and management of future Tax Regulatory Transformations.
• Ensure compliance with international tax regulations and South Africa CFC rules.

Operational Delivery

• Responsible for management of PAYE for Non-Executive Directors of MTN Group and review calculations for submission to SARS.
• Oversee international tax submissions and submit tax returns with respect to international tax for required Opcos.
• Perform evaluation baseline of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Manage the tracking and resolution of queries/issues from the Opco stakeholders and Group business units.
• Draw meaningful insights while working with large, complex data sets to build models and leverage data visualization tools to inform sound decision-making.

International Tax Audit, Controversy and Negotiation

• Direct and lead the International Tax Audits, Controversy, Negotiation with Authorities for the Group.
• Manage, evaluate and oversee all matters relating to International tax controversy and negotiations for Group.
• Set the International Tax audit defence strategy and ensure proper implementation for both income tax, indirect tax and other related and incidental taxes in foreign jurisdictions.
• Ensure adequate defence documentation is in place to support the positions taken.
• Liaise and lead with respective tax regulators and local government liaison strategies for the Group.
• Provide specialized international tax controversy, negotiation and settlement advisory to respective in-country Tax teams.
• Approve tax audit settlement for opcos and group entities.
• Transform MTN’s partnerships with external audit firms, revenue services and other key partners into value-creating, strategic relationships with mutual value exchange.

Tax Risk Management and Governance

• Establish a culture of strong tax discipline, with effective internal controls across the Group and Opcos.
• Minimise International tax risk for the Group companies by pro-actively implementing a tax risk management strategy and policy and driving tax planning and reporting on current and potential tax risk.
• Proactively monitor for Group International Tax risks, and recommended mitigation strategies in line with the overall business strategy. Monitor and track Group Tax Risk Register for identified risks.
• Support Group with recommendations and proactive strategies to manage future International tax positions.
• Collaborate with Opco tax team members to seamlessly integrate International Tax compliance with tax reporting and tax planning activities.
• Identify International taxation risks that the group may be exposed and determine if required, a mitigation strategy in line with the overall business strategy.

Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects Advisory

• Work with business leaders and advisors to determine tax for new entities, business / products and services model impacts of various tax scenarios.
• Partner with external advisers and counsel on International Tax Deal Advisory and Transactions, including strategic initiatives and transaction structuring, evaluation of local and foreign tax implications, compliance, assessments as it impacts Group Tax risk positions and exposures for new entities, products, services and business.
• Manage specialized international tax requirements, integration and automation initiatives as they pertain to group Tax Computations and Reporting projects.
• Provide international tax expertise guidance and enable pragmatic and effective operational execution for the Group.
• Request for relevant budget for internal projects and new initiatives.
• Facilitate preparation of proposal on change initiatives, SLA, policies and procedures.
• Transform MTN’s partnerships and relationships with external audit firms, revenue services and other key partners into value-creating, strategic relationships with mutual value exchange.

Staff & Leadership Management

• Manage tax team members: providing leadership, mentorship, growth and development paths.
• Set clear objectives and goals for the team and enable the team to deliver and use operating mechanisms to continually assess progress and improve.
• Develop a culture of strong collaboration and effective team working.
• Encourage knowledge transfer through the implementation of a knowledge transfer plans and drive continuous improvement philosophy.
• Promote an ‘MTN centric’ and ‘partnership approach’ to develop strong relationships with other working groups and ensure adherence to Group governance.

Key Deliverables

• International Tax Strategy and Objectives
• International Tax Structuring
• International Tax Positions
• International Tax Controversy Tracker
• Reporting and Dashboards

Role Dependencies

• Understanding of international and regional tax laws
• Interpretation and understanding of Tax positioning
• Understanding of business operations and entity holdings

Education:

• Minimum 4-year degree in Finance or Law or equivalent
• CA (SA), CIMA
• Articles from a top 5 audit firm or law firm
• Advanced Diploma in International Tax is advantageous
• Master’s Degree in Tax Law is advantageous

Experience:

• 10-12 years’ professional experience with focus on emerging markets telecoms sector with minimum senior management role experience of 5 years.
• International Tax operations experience especially in a multi-national
• Experience in leading change / transformation in Tax
• Experience in Tax leading practices and trends
• Proven success with strategic thinking and effective decision making
• Experience in developing peers and teams

Capabilities:

• Strategy Formulators, Decisive Problem Solver, Innovative Value Creator
• Culture and Change Champion, Inspiring People Leader, Relationship Builder
• Results Achieve, Operationally Astute

Functional Competencies:

• Regional and International Tax Laws
• Transfer Pricing
• Tax Accounting & Audit
• Tax Planning Reporting & Analytics
• Tax Optimisation
• Mergers and Acquisition

Skills: 

• Strategic and Analytical Thinking
• Judgement and Decision-Making
• Tolerance of Ambiguity
• Market Knowledge and Contextual Understanding
• Data Analysis and Visualisation
• Business and Financial Acumen

Behavioural Qualities:

• Influencing and Impact
• Change and Conflict Management
• Building Strategic Relationships / Networking