Senior Finance Operations Accountant EASA

Syngenta; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in sustainable agriculture is seeking a Finance Manager to lead financial control, ensure compliance with IFRS and specifications while overseeing tax governance. The successful candidate will possess a strong background in financial accounting, provide insightful financial analysis, and manage relationships with tax authorities. Candidates with an accounting qualification and experience in a complex, matrix organization will fit the profile. This role is based in Centurion, South Africa, and offers the opportunity to impact business operations significantly.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 6 to 8 years working experience in Finance, Tax, Audit or Compliance.
• Evidence of independency in work, ability to set objectives, deadlines and meet these.
• Experience in working with multiple teams and 3rd party providers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization's financial control function through accurate financial reporting.
• Oversee the integrity of accounting operations, risk management, and financial planning.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, local tax legislation, and treasury guidelines.

Skills

Advanced financial accounting

Proficiency in IFRS/GAAP

Strong business analytics

Project management experience

Advanced Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or related field

Professional accounting qualification (CA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA)

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Company Description

Syngenta Group is one of the world’s leading sustainable agriculture innovation companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. Our 53,000 people across more than 100 countries strive every day to transform agriculture through tailor‑made solutions for the benefit of farmers, society and our planet – making us the world’s most local agricultural technology and innovation partner.

Syngenta Group is committed to operating at the highest standards of ethics and integrity. This is a commitment that we are making to investors, customers, society and employees. Syngenta Group is also committed to maintaining a workplace environment free from discrimination and Harassment.

Job Description

Role Purpose

• Lead the organization's financial control function by providing accurate financial reporting, maintaining robust internal controls, and ensuring regulatory compliance while partnering with business stakeholders to drive operational excellence and strategic decision‑making.
• Oversee the integrity of accounting operations, financial planning, and risk management processes to safeguard company assets and support sustainable business growth through insightful financial analysis and governance.
• Lead statutory reporting, tax governance, treasury management, compliance, and audit coordination for EASA for all businesses
• Ensure accurate financial statements, comprehensive tax compliance (including transfer pricing and tax planning), effective treasury operations (cash management, banking relationships, and funding), and strong governance frameworks.
• Maintain adherence to IFRS, local tax legislation, Group policies, and treasury guidelines while partnering with in‑country finance teams, shared service center, tax authorities, and banking partners.

Key Responsibilities

Statutory Reporting & Compliance

• Lead the statutory close process and preparation of annual financial statements for EASA Countries for all businesses in accordance with IFRS requirements
• Coordinate external audits, ensuring timely submissions, high‑quality audit files, and effective resolution of audit queries
• Provide technical IFRS guidance and maintain strong accounting governance across all statutory entities
• Maintain balance sheet integrity through comprehensive documentation, reconciliations review, and account analysis
• Ensure strong internal controls and compliance with legal, corporate, and regulatory standards
• Drive standardization of statutory and compliance processes across EASA Countries for all businesses

Tax Governance & Compliance

• Oversee comprehensive tax compliance activities including corporate income tax, transfer pricing, VAT/indirect taxes, and withholding taxes for EASA Countries for all businesses
• Collaborate with the South Africa & Zambia Stat & Tax Lead & Accountant to ensure coordinated tax compliance across the region
• Manage relationships with local tax authorities including tax audits, queries, and dispute resolution
• Lead tax planning initiatives and ensure alignment with Group tax strategy and transfer pricing policies
• Review and approve tax provisions, deferred tax calculations, and tax disclosures in financial statements
• Coordinate with Group Tax on complex tax matters, legislative changes, and tax risk management
• Ensure timely and accurate tax filings, payments, and statutory submissions

Treasury Management

• Oversee cash and liquidity management for EASA Countries for all, ensuring optimal working capital and cash flow
• Coordinate intercompany funding arrangements, loans, and cash pooling structures in alignment with Group Treasury policiesMonitor and manage foreign exchange exposure, hedging requirements, and currency risk
• Ensure compliance with treasury policies, controls, and authorization frameworks
• Support treasury reporting requirements including cash forecasting, liquidity analysis, and banking reconciliations
• Liaise with Group Treasury on funding strategies, investment decisions, and treasury system implementations

SSC Operations Excellence - Invoice Processing and Financial Reporting

• Lead quality enhancement and process optimization initiatives for Shared Service Center operations, focusing on Invoice to Pay (I2P) and Accounting to Reporting (A2R) functions
• Strengthen operational controls and streamline workflows to maximize efficiency and output quality. Foster seamless collaboration between SSC and local finance teams while maintaining alignment with Syngenta’s target operating model.
• Focus on establishing sustainable practices to ensure long‑term stability of shared service operations.

Governance & Risk Management

• Maintain robust governance frameworks including policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Ensure compliance with Group policies, and local regulatory standards
• Identify and mitigate financial, tax, and treasury risks through proactive monitoring and controls
• Lead or support internal and external audit activities across statutory, tax, and treasury areas
• Drive continuous improvement in processes, systems, and controls

Business Partnering:

• Support to provide timely and insightful financial analysis to support business decisions, understanding business performance on a monthly / annual basis
• Support budget, 5‑year plan and rolling forecast process

Qualifications

Skills and Capabilities

Professional qualification

• Professional accounting qualification (CA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA)
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or related field

Additional Desirable Qualifications:

• MBA
• Data analytics certifications
• Change management certification
• Industry‑specific certifications

Key Technical Requirements:

• Advanced financial accounting and reporting expertise
• Proficiency in IFRS/GAAP standards
• Strong system knowledge (SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP)
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
• Strong business analytics capabilities
• Strategic planning and forecasting expertise

Critical experience

• 6 to 8 years working experience in Finance, Tax, Audit or Compliance
• Evidence of independency in work, ability to set objectives, deadlines and meet these.
• Experience in working with multiply teams, 3rd party providers.
• Process management and compliance knowledge within a complex, matrix organization and across different functions.
• Project management experience
• Experience with ERP / SAP in decentralised environment desired
• Good understanding of practical issues and trade‑offs faced at country level, while still be able to communicate need to adhere to global standards and principles

Technical Expertise

• IFRS & Statutory Reporting: Expert knowledge of IFRS(South Africa, Zambia), and statutory reporting requirements
• Tax Compliance & Planning: Strong understanding of corporate tax, transfer pricing, VAT/indirect taxes, and tax governance frameworks