Tax and Intercompany Accountant at British Council

The role is responsible for the operational management and delivery of British Council Nigeria’s Tax and Intercompany activities of the branch and subsidiaries across different locations in the country. Focusing on compliance in line with internal organisational requirements and external regulatory standards, while acting as a trusted partner to the business delivery and operational support teams.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:  

Tax

• Recommend effective tax strategies that comply with relevant laws and promote British Council’s financial well-being.
• Responsible for the management of all Nigeria direct and indirect tax matters, including ensuring tax returns are accurately prepared and filed on time, paid as at when due, and tax audits are managed effectively.
• In collaboration with the P2P, ensure tax payments are made on time.

Intercompany Credit Control

• Chase for the payment of long overdue accounts by sending follow-up emails to the Accounts payable contacts in SSC, and the various branches and subsidiaries
• Identify/review and resolves invoicing issues.
• Escalate to the Senior Financial Controller or Financial Controller any overdue / non- responsive ICO receivables.

Intercompany Recharges

• Generate the cost centre / WBS balances for recharge for the period and prepares draft of the invoices for approval by Senior Financial Controller or Financial Controller.
• Validate dispute by checking the records and supporting documents for accuracy.
• Identify/review and resolves invoicing issues
• Book recharges through the intercompany portal and intercompany team in the Shared Services Centre (SSC)

Intercompany Settlement/Cash Application

• Coordinate with Treasury for any settlement requirements
• Prepare payments and collections relating to Intercompany
• Collaborate with the Financial Controller in the monthly cash forecast process
• Serves as the Nigeria intermediary for all branch and subsidiary related matters

Reporting and Reconciliation

• Verify and review details of intercompany requests submitted for / against Nigeria entities
• Determine appropriate Intercompany accounting details (e.g. GL accounts, Cost Centres, Transaction Type, Tax Code, Plant Code, etc.), when required
• Process intercompany account journal entries and submit recharge / billing requests on the Intercompany Portal (ICO Portal).
• Monitor pending Intercompany requests on the ICO portal and follow up relevant parties who need to action such requests.

Others

• Identify process improvement opportunities and implements in line with the policy
• Support internal and external audits
• Ensures compliance with terms of intercompany agreements such as Cost Contribution Assignments (CCA), Affiliation, Debenture and Loan agreements, License Agreements, Grants Agreements, Asset Transfer Agreement, Exams Administration Cooperation Agreement, etc.

Requirements of the role:

• Higher Education
• Minimum of 4 years relevant experience in tax and finance roles including tax reporting, tax compliance, and tax accounting
• Knowledge of local laws and experience managing corporate taxation, VAT & WHT management and statutory reporting.
• Experience dealing with tax authorities.
• Good understanding of financial control processes and professional accounting standards (including local requirements where applicable) for commercial and/or charitable organisations.
• Experience in managing and reconciling intercompany transactions
• Strong influencing and negotiating experience.

Desirable:

• Shared Services Operations.
• Experience of working in international and multi-cultural organisations.
• Experience working with tax and accounting firms.
• Experience of an ERP system (SAP preferably)
• Professional qualification – CITN and ACA/ ACCA.