Africa Tax & Legal - Chief of Staff

Job Description

• The Chief of Staff is the Managing Partner for Tax & Legal's trusted strategic partner, extending the Managing Partners capacity and impact across Africa Tax & Legal. The role translates leadership intent into clear priorities, disciplined execution and decision-ready insight; aligns the Africa Tax & Legal strategy with Africa Firm and Global Tax & Legal priorities; provides strategic coordination across LeadCo, the COO and key enabling functions; and supports the stewardship, continuity and growth of priority clients for which the Managing Partner has leadership or relationship responsibility.

Strategy and enterprise alignment

• Partner with the Managing Partner and LeadCo for Tax & Legal to shape, refresh and communicate the Africa Tax & Legal strategy, distilling complex inputs into a clear enterprise narrative and focused priorities.
• Ensure alignment with Africa Firm and Global Tax & Legal strategy and identify implications from business and market plans.
• Lead strategic coordination of the Long-Term Plan and enterprise submissions with Finance and subject-matter leaders.
• Bring external, market and competitor perspectives to growth, investment, capability and portfolio choices.
• Interpret Firm, Global and Africa Tax & Legal requirements, reducing noise and protecting leadership and client-facing capacity.

Executive advisory and decision support

• Serve as a trusted thought partner to the managing partner, providing constructive challenge and translating analysis into options and recommendations.
• Prepare and quality-review decision materials, executive briefings, Board reports, ExCo submissions and leadership communications.
• Support preparation for Africa Executive, Business Council, Global and other priority leadership forums.
• Handle sensitive matters with discretion and convert decisions into clear ownership, actions and follow-through.
• Support visibility and reporting against agreed leadership priorities and commitments.

Performance, execution and strategic initiatives

• Establish a single, reliable view of progress against strategic priorities, financial and operational commitments.
• Oversee a selective portfolio of high-impact strategic initiatives with clear outcomes, governance, milestones and value realisation.
• Provide executive oversight and challenge on growth initiatives and investment proposals.
• Identify cross-business opportunities to simplify processes, improve reporting and increase leadership effectiveness.
• Escalate material delivery risks promptly and facilitate resolution across leaders, businesses, markets and enabling functions.

Client stewardship and market leadership

• Maintain an active client-facing role for priority clients where the managing partner holds the lead, sponsor or senior relationship role.
• Coordinate with Lead Client Service Partners and account teams on client priorities, relationship health, opportunities, risks and executive actions.
• Participate in selected client meetings, relationship reviews, pursuits and market engagements.
• Ensure timely preparation and follow-through for managing partner client engagements.
• Bring client and market insight into leadership decisions and connect client needs to firm capability.
• Exercise sound judgement regarding independence, confidentiality, quality and risk.

Leadership governance, communication and engagement

• Orchestrate the strategic agenda and effectiveness of LeadCo, business reviews and other managing partner led forums.
• Coordinate internal and external communications and support priority speaking, media and strategic-event engagements.
• Represent the managing partner or Africa Tax & Legal in selected Africa Firm, Global and cross-business forums when delegated.
• Build and sustain a high-value network across Africa Tax & Legal, Africa Firm, Global Tax & Legal, business leaders and enabling functions.
• Champion a collaborative, inclusive and high-accountability culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• 8-12 years of relevant experience in professional services, Tax & Legal, strategy, business leadership, operations or executive advisory roles.
• Understanding of Africa Tax & Legal businesses and their interaction with the wider firm locally and globally

Core Competencies

Behavioural

• Client and commercial orientation
• Credible communication at all levels
• Collaboration across businesses, borders and functions
• Adaptability and resilience
• Discretion, confidentiality, quality and risk focus
• Constructive challenge and stakeholder influence

Technical

• Understanding of Africa Tax & Legal businesses and their interaction with the wider firm locally and globally
• Strategic thinking and synthesis
• Executive judgement and influence
• Performance and financial insight
• Enterprise project leadership
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills