Legal Entity Controller, Kenya & Zimbabwe at The Coca-Cola Company

As Legal Entity Controller you will be responsible for managing accounting, external audit and tax compliance of the legal entities in Kenya & Zimbabwe (2 countries, 4 legal entities) and working as the key local FS business partner with the Franchise Leadership team to proactively identify and mitigate strategic and transactional accounting and tax risks.

Additionally, you will be overseeing compliance with US GAAP, IFRS, Company’s policies & procedures and/or other local accounting regulations as well as Company accounting policies and be safeguarding the resources of the Company by ensuring compliance with Statutory requirements (no fines/penalties), enforcing internal controls and Company policies, and continuously improving them to ensure smooth operations of the business.

In this role you will have people management responsibility for 1 Tax & Accounting Analyst based in Nairobi and potentially additional resources during statutory external audit periods. You will be required to travel less than 5% of your time, mainly requiring overnight stays.

What You’ll Do for Us:

Accounting and Reporting

• Manage non-financial reporting to headquarters in Atlanta, including impairment surveys, third party guarantee reports, legal reserves, payments to government officials, etc.
• Review monthly computation of service fees.
• Prepare monthly legal entity Profit and Loss´ (P&Ls) and narratives and quarterly legal entity balance sheets and narratives.
• Co-ordinate the External Audit with EY, in terms of completion, review and sign-off of the Annual Financial Statements with Controller, BU Finance Director, Planning and Analysis Manager and external auditors.
• Organize legal entity board meetings with input from Franchise Finance Manager and Franchise Legal Counsel including the preparation of board packs and accompanying PowerPoint presentations.
• Ensure items highlighted at monthly Balance Sheet Risk and Opportunities meetings are addressed and acted upon within agreed timelines.
• Responsible for interacting as needed with other areas, i.e. Accounting Research, Corporate Treasury, Corporate Tax, Controllers Group, etc.
• Review Accountant in Charge Memoranda (AICs), Standard Practices and Procedures (SPPs), etc. that impact the Coca-Cola business to ensure that the financial statements are being properly reported.

Tax Planning, Mitigation and Compliance

• Proactively work with the BU functions to mitigate all tax risks and support Commercial Finance and Franchise teams in resolving indirect tax issues (excise, customs, VAT, income and PAYE) affecting the system.
• Review significant contracts, agreements and business processes for compliance and tax efficiency.
• Maintain tax tracker and engage the BU and Atlanta corporate tax department on all tax issues arising and progress in resolving them.
• Review of the monthly VAT, deferred tax and corporation tax computations and related journal vouchers for posting into the ledger and prepare/review monthly tax returns and follow up for timely filing with, payment to and reconciliation with Self-Assessment Returns as issued by the respective Revenue Authorities in Kenya & Zimbabwe.
• Approval of monthly/quarterly general ledger (GL) tax account reconciliations.
• In liaison with Controller and Tax Manager, engage senior tax counsel, external tax advisers and tax authorities and coordinate responses to all tax audits and queries within timelines agreed with or demanded by tax authorities.
• Collaborate with Legal and Company secretarial service providers to ensure compliance with Companies’ Act and other local/secretarial requirements.
• Monthly/periodic review of tax authorities´ statement of accounts for all taxes to ensure payments are correctly allocated and receipt of refunds are confirmed by the revenue authorities.
• Proactively manage work assigned to external advisor to ensure that agreed timelines are met, and quality standards are adhered to within the approved budget.

Operational Control and Compliance

• Coordinate the quarterly Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) certification process with Franchise Finance Director, Controller, Franchise Legal and Franchise General Manager.
• Work with Franchise Finance to ensure proper documentation, communication and implementation of all relevant Company policies and procedures.
• Support internal and external audit process conducted by the Corporate Audit Department and EY, respectively.

Interaction Points

• EY External Auditors – Audit planning, liaison, exchange of information, audit conclusion.
• Genpact team and other IS Process teams – exchange of information, reviews, problem solving
• Corporate Audit Department – Liaison, exchange of information, audit conclusion and management action points if applicable.
• Controllership team – Supervision, allocation of work and problem solving.
• Senior Tax Counsel / Accounting Research Manager / Treasury Services Managers – Problem solving and exchange of information.
• General Ledger Manager / Disbursements Manager / Treasury Supervisor / Accounts Payable Manager – Liaison, exchange of information.
• Franchise General Manager/Franchise Finance Manager/Franchise Legal Counsel – SEC Letter process
• Franchise operations (Legal, HR, Operations, etc.) – Problem solving and multi-functional projects.
• Suppliers / Tax Advisers / Auditors / Tax officials – Exchange of information.
• Bottling Investment Group (BIG) Equity Investment contacts and Equity Investees Finance Managers – Exchange of information.
• Controls and Compliance Manager – Liaison, exchange of information.

Qualifications & Requirements: 

• University Degree preferably in Finance, Accounting or related and registered qualified professional Accountant (CA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent).
• 5-10 years’ experience in applied Accounting, preferably gained in a multinational environment.
• External Audit experience with Big 4 Audit Companies.
• Tax Planning and Compliance.
• Strategic Financial Consulting.
• Auditing, Risk Management and Internal Controls (e.g. SOX, Segregation of Duties, etc.).
• US GAAP, IFRS and local GAAP.
• Advanced SAP and Excel skills.
• Treasury appreciation.
• Analytical skills.
• Systems thinking.

What We Can Do for You: This highlights the benefits of working at The Coca-Cola Company for this specific role –connecting the overall employer brand value to our purpose, culture and benefits. Should be no more than 3 bullets.

• Benefit1
• Benefit 2

Travel requirements:

• X% of travel required