C.   Balance Sheet Reconciliations

The Senior Accountant will be responsible for preparing and maintaining accurate reconciliations for assigned balance sheet accounts, including but not limited to:

• • • Trade receivables
    • Other receivables and payables
    • Tax accounts
    • Payroll related balances
    • Fixed assets
    • Prepayments
    • Accrued expenses
    • Loans and other financing balances
    • Intercompany or related party balances
    • Stock related accounts
    • Suspense and clearing accounts

All reconciliations must clearly identify outstanding items, the reason for the difference and the action required to clear them.

Old or unexplained reconciling items must be escalated to the CFO.

 

D.   Tax and Statutory Compliance

The Senior Accountant will be responsible for preparing, reviewing and coordinating the company's routine tax and statutory compliance requirements, including:

VAT

2. 1. 1. Prepare VAT workings and supporting schedules.
      2. Reconcile VAT control accounts to the accounting records.
      3. Review input and output VAT for completeness and accuracy.
      4. Ensure VAT returns are prepared and submitted within statutory deadlines.
      5. Investigate VAT variances and unusual transactions.
      6. Ensure appropriate supporting documentation is maintained for VAT claims.

Withholding Tax

1. 1. 1. Identify transactions subject to withholding tax.
      2. Calculate and review withholding tax liabilities.
      3. Ensure withholding tax is correctly deducted and accounted for.
      4. Prepare and submit withholding tax returns within statutory deadlines.
      5. Ensure withholding tax certificates are obtained, recorded and filed.
      6. Reconcile withholding tax payable accounts to submitted returns and payments.

 

PAYE and SDL

1. 1. 1. Prepare and review monthly PAYE and SDL calculations.
      2. Reconcile payroll tax liabilities to payroll records and the general ledger.
      3. Ensure PAYE and SDL returns and payments are completed within statutory deadlines.
      4. Investigate and resolve any differences between payroll, accounting records and tax returns.

Stamp Duty

1. 1. 1. Identify transactions requiring stamp duty.
      2. Calculate and arrange payment of applicable stamp duty.
      3. Maintain supporting documentation and evidence of payment.
      4. Ensure stamp duty obligations are not overlooked.

Provisional Tax and Corporate Tax

1. 1. 1. Maintain tax computation schedules and supporting information.
      2. Assist with preparation and review of provisional tax calculations and returns.
      3. Monitor provisional tax payments against statutory obligations.
      4. Assist with annual corporate income tax computations and returns.
      5. Reconcile tax payments and liabilities to the general ledger and TRA records.
      6. Identify potential tax exposures and immediately escalate them to the CFO.

Other Statutory Compliance

Monitor and assist with other applicable statutory returns, taxes, levies and regulatory requirements as directed by the CFO.

The Senior Accountant must maintain a tax compliance calendar showing all filing and payment deadlines and ensure that no statutory deadline is missed.

 

E.  TRA and Tax Audits

1. 1. 1. 1. Act as the Finance team's day to day coordinator for routine TRA information requests, under the direction of the CFO.
         2. Prepare schedules, reconciliations and supporting documentation requested by TRA.
         3. Maintain a complete file of TRA correspondence, assessments, payments, returns and supporting documentation.
         4. Track outstanding TRA matters and follow up on agreed actions.
         5. Assist the CFO and external tax advisers during TRA audits and reviews.
         6. Reconcile TRA statements and records with the company's accounting and tax records.
         7. Identify potential tax exposures and notify the CFO immediately.
         8. Ensure all audit requests are properly documented and submitted within agreed deadlines.

F. Stock and Stores Controls

The Senior Accountant will have an important financial control and review responsibility over stock transactions.

1. 1. 1. 1. Review stock issues to ensure they are being created in accordance with the company's approved procedures.
         2. Check that stock issues are supported by the required requisitions, approvals and documentation.
         3. Review whether stock issues are recorded against the correct asset, location, item code, or other relevant cost centre.
         4. Review stock movements and investigate unusual or unexplained variances.
         5. Compare stock records between the accounting system and inventory system where required.
         6. Monitor whether stock issues are being recorded promptly and completely.
         7. Identify missing, duplicate, unusual or unsupported stock issues and report them to the CFO.
         8. Assist with periodic stock counts and reconciliation of physical stock to system records.

                         9.Follow up on stock count variances and ensure appropriate explanations and corrective actions are documented.

   10.Monitor compliance with Stores procedures and escalate repeated non compliance.

G.   Fixed Assets

1. 1. 1. 1. Maintain the fixed asset register.
         2. Ensure additions and disposals are properly supported and approved.
         3. Reconcile the fixed asset register to the general ledger.
         4. Calculate and record depreciation accurately.
         5. Assist with periodic physical verification of fixed assets.
         6. Investigate and report missing or unrecorded assets.

H. Audit Support

1. 1. 1. 1. Prepare audit schedules and supporting documentation for external, internal and statutory audits.
         2. Respond to audit queries within agreed deadlines.
         3. Maintain proper audit working papers.
         4. Track outstanding audit requests and ensure timely closure.
         5. Assist the CFO in implementing agreed audit recommendations.
         6. Monitor recurring audit findings and recommend improvements to prevent repeat issues.

I. Financial Controls

1. 1. 1. 1. Ensure Finance procedures and internal controls are followed.
         2. Identify weaknesses in financial processes and recommend improvements.
         3. Monitor supporting documentation and approval requirements.
         4. Investigate unusual transactions, variances and control exceptions.
         5. Escalate suspected errors, irregularities or control breaches to the CFO immediately.
         6. Maintain confidentiality of all financial and company information.
         7. Ensure adequate documentation and audit trails exist for financial transactions.

J. Other Responsibilities

1. 1. 1. 1. Support the CFO and MD on financial projects and investigations.
         2. Assist with implementation of new accounting and financial control procedures.
         3. Participate in system improvements and data clean up.
         4. Provide cover for other Finance team members when required.
         5. Perform any other reasonable duties assigned by the CFO or MD.

 

Requirements

• • • • Bachelor’s degree in accounting
      • Professional accounting qualification such as CPA or ACCA preferably completed or at an advanced stage.
      • Minimum 3 years' relevant accounting experience.
      • Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting.
      • Good working knowledge of Tanzania tax requirements and TRA processes.
      • Practical experience with VAT, withholding tax, PAYE, SDL, provisional tax and other statutory compliance.
      • Experience preparing balance sheet reconciliations and month end accounts.
      • Strong Excel skills.
      • Experience working with accounting or ERP systems.