Head of Tax - Advocacy and Policy
Betway Africa · Johannesburg, Gauteng
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Start free — we apply for you →- As our Head of Tax - Advocacy and Policy, you'll support the Tax Director by owning the group's external tax engagement, tax policy leadership, monitoring of tax developments, and oversight of tax disputes. You'll play a key part in enabling informed business decision‑making by ensuring that the group is prepared for, influences where appropriate, and responds effectively to changes in tax legislation, regulation, and administrative practice.
- You will balance proactive advocacy and forward‑looking technical leadership with effective management of tax controversy, ensuring that the organisation's tax positions are defensible, consistent, and aligned with the group's commercial objectives and tax risk appetite.
- Your drive and ideas will help us move faster, improve smarter, and stay ahead of the game.
What you'll do
You'll take ownership of work that gives us our competitive edge, including:
Tax Advocacy & External Engagement
- Lead the group's tax advocacy agenda with revenue authorities, regulators, industry bodies, and relevant policy‑making forums.
- Participate in industry consultations and working groups to represent the group's interests and influence the development of tax law and administrative practice.
- Draft and coordinate submissions on legislative proposals, discussion papers, and administrative guidance directly or via industry bodies.
- Support constructive, transparent engagement with revenue authorities to promote certainty and reduce future dispute risk.
Tax Policy & Technical Leadership
- Develop, maintain, and update group tax policies, technical opinions, and position papers across relevant tax types.
- Serve as the internal technical escalation point for complex or contentious interpretive tax issues.
- Ensure consistent technical positions are applied across jurisdictions, business units, and tax workstreams.
- Provide authoritative guidance to other tax team portfolios Compliance, Advisory, Audit & Defence on policy and interpretative matters.
Tax Developments & Forward‑Looking Preparedness
- Monitor and assess tax legislative, regulatory, and administrative developments across relevant jurisdictions.
- Analyse the business impact of proposed and enacted tax changes, including operational, financial, and systems implications.
- Communicate tax developments to senior management and the wider business in a clear, practical, and timely manner.
- Support proactive planning and pre‑emptive risk mitigation strategies in anticipation of future changes.
Governance & Stakeholder Management
- Maintain central oversight of advocacy positions, policy interpretations, and dispute outcomes to ensure institutional consistency.
- Coordinate contributions from internal stakeholders Legal, Finance, Risk, Government Relations where relevant.
- Provide structured updates to the Tax Director and senior leadership on advocacy activity, tax developments, and dispute trends.
- This list covers your core responsibilities – with plenty of room to stretch, explore and take on new challenges as we grow.
What you'll bring
You're someone who brings
- Chartered Accountant CASA, Attorney, or equivalent professional qualification.
- Postgraduate qualification in Taxation, International Tax, Law, or a related discipline.
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, Law, or a related field.
- 10+ years of tax experience in a multinational corporate environment, professional services firm, regulatory body, or tax authority.
- Extensive experience in technical tax interpretation, policy development, and tax governance.
- Experience engaging with tax authorities, policymakers, regulators, or industry bodies.
- Proven experience managing complex tax disputes, controversy matters, or legislative consultations.
- Demonstrated ability to advise senior executives on strategic tax matters.
- Clear, confident communication written and verbal, and the ability to breakdown complex ideas.
- A collaborative mindset, working smoothly with cross functional teams to hit shared goals.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects without dropping the ball.
- Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to high quality work.
- Adaptability – you stay sharp, productive and positive in fast moving environments.
Desirable skills you've got up your sleeve
It would be great if you also have some of the following skills
- Deep knowledge of domestic and international tax legislation.
- Strong understanding of tax policy development and regulatory processes.
- Advanced technical tax research and interpretation skills.
- Knowledge of tax dispute resolution and controversy management.
- Understanding of OECD guidelines, international tax frameworks, and emerging global tax developments.
- Strong risk assessment and governance capability.
- Ability to translate technical developments into practical business implications.
- Exceptional written communication and policy drafting skills.
- Experience within online gaming, technology, digital services, financial services, or other highly regulated multinational industries.
- Exposure to OECD initiatives, BEPS developments, and international tax policy developments.
- Experience contributing to public consultations, industry submissions, or legislative reform initiatives.
- Master's Degree in Taxation, International Tax, or Tax Law.
- Professional membership with recognised tax institutions.
- Specialist qualification in international tax, tax policy, or regulatory affairs.