Indirect Tax Lead – Customs & Excise (South Africa)

About the role

Our client, a leading oil and gas company, is looking for an Indirect Tax Lead to oversee all indirect tax matters for its South African operations. The role focuses on customs and excise duties, ensuring compliance with local and international tax regulations while driving tax efficiency across the business.

Key responsibilities

• Manage indirect tax compliance, including VAT, excise duties, fuel levies and customs duties.
• Develop and implement tax strategies to optimise tax efficiency.
• Provide tax advice on commercial transactions, supply‑chain activities and operational projects.
• Liaise with SARS, lead tax audits and resolve tax disputes.
• Support multinational tax structures and cross‑border transactions.
• Maintain tax technology and ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) for accurate reporting.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Taxation, Finance or a related field; postgraduate tax qualification preferred.
• Professional accreditation such as SAICA, SAIT or CIMA is advantageous.
• Minimum 8 years of indirect tax experience, with at least 4 years in a senior or leadership role, preferably in oil & gas or a similarly regulated industry.
• In‑depth knowledge of South African VAT legislation and related tax laws.

Required skills

• Proficiency with ERP systems – SAP and Oracle.
• Strong experience managing tax audits and interacting with tax authorities.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex tax regulations.