What this life looks like
You help individuals and businesses navigate the complex world of taxation. Tax Consultants advise on tax planning, ensure compliance with revenue authority requirements, structure transactions tax-efficiently, and represent clients in disputes with tax authorities. As African tax systems modernise and rates evolve, expert tax advice is more valuable than ever.
What she actually does
You research applicable tax laws, prepare and review tax returns for companies and individuals, advise on tax implications of business decisions, plan corporate structures to minimise tax exposure legally, respond to revenue authority queries and audits, and keep clients updated on changes in tax legislation.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Big 4 Tax Practices | PwC Tax Africa, Deloitte Tax, KPMG Tax, Ernst & Young Tax — leading tax advisers across Africa |
| Boutique Tax Firms | Andersen Tax Africa, Taxaide (Nigeria), TaxTech Africa, Leyf Tax (Ghana) |
| Revenue Authorities | FIRS (Nigeria), SARS (South Africa), KRA (Kenya), GRA (Ghana) — regulators hire tax experts too |
| Corporates | Multinationals operating in Africa all have in-house tax functions — Unilever, Shell, MTN, Dangote |
Why it matters in Africa
African governments are expanding their tax bases and modernising revenue collection, making tax compliance more complex and consequential for businesses. Multinationals operating across multiple African jurisdictions need specialists to navigate different tax regimes, transfer pricing rules, and tax treaties.
Your pathway in
- Study Accounting, Finance, or Law at university
- Qualify as a chartered accountant (ACCA, ICAN, ICAG) and then pursue specialist tax qualifications
- Consider the CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser) qualification from the Chartered Institute of Taxation
- Gain experience in the tax practice of an accounting firm — the Big 4 are the most comprehensive training ground
- Develop deep knowledge of your country's tax legislation and any applicable tax treaties
Skills you will need
- Tax legislation knowledge
- Tax return preparation
- Transfer pricing
- Legal research
- Client communication
- Attention to detail
A woman in this field
Bukola Aremu
Nigeria
Bukola is a tax partner at a leading professional services firm in Nigeria, advising multinational corporations on tax planning, compliance, and the complex web of African tax treaties. She has contributed to tax policy discussions at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and is a regular speaker at African tax conferences. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and mentors women entering the tax profession.
Take your first step
- Visit your country's tax authority website and read about how personal income tax and VAT work — understanding the basics is the first step
- Read about transfer pricing — search 'Africa transfer pricing OECD' to understand how multinational tax is managed
- Research the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification and how it is obtained in your country
- Shadow a tax accountant at a local accounting firm or revenue authority during school holidays