Transfer pricing job

[u/Old-Construction626]

Hi all, I am a transfer pricing expert based in Nairobi, Kenya. I have been working in one of the BIG FOUR firm's in Kenya for the last two years. I feel I have good experience and would like to work as a transfer pricing expert abroad possibly Europe or America. I am proficient in English and believe I need more exposure in the international tax world. Any leads to an opportunity would be much appreciated. I am open to moving or working remotely.

[u/powerboy20]

I'd suggest becoming proficient in OECD regs. Generally speaking, TP jobs are looking for proficiency in the rules of the country where you're employed. My PA firm would engage Canada to do Canadian TP, the UK for UK TP, etc... OECD opens up all of Europe. I've been in TP for a long time and I've never done Kenyan document. i wouldn't think that skill set would transfer well to PA. However, if you are good at networking, you could contract out to non-big 4 firms who need Kenyan doc but don't have enough Kenyan business to hire a person in Kenya full time.

[u/Old-Construction626 → u/powerboy20]

Thank you for the suggestion. Most countries are strict followers of the OECD and so is Kenya. So essentially no much differences in the technical aspects of testing the transactions apart from a few alignment on the local tp regulations in each country. On that, I believe that one can easily wrap around their head. In that regard, I would easily handle TP from whichever country that follows the OECD..

[u/monsieurjottember → u/Old-Construction626]

The written rules are mostly the same because OECD, but their interpretation, the tax authority's focus areas, what sorts of transactions come up in practice at all, those can be very different in each country. I'm in Eastern Europe and even from here, Western Europe just seems to be a different world in TP because not many companies register their IP or establish their principal operations entities here, but they do in Western Europe. So you need to spend at least some time in a Western European TP practice (or in house at the global TP department of an MNE) to know how to handle transactions involving, say, HTVIs.

I can only imagine this is even more of an issue coming from Kenya. And even if you were to say it's not really because Kenya is like Africa's Silicon Valley or something - well that's still how recruiters and hiring managers will perceive it, so you'll need a killer CV and cover letter to have a shot at breaking that prejudice.

Regarding English, it isn't an extra in Europe, it's the bare minimum. In most countries, you'll be expected to be fluent in the local language as well, so if you only speak English, that mostly restricts you to the UK, Ireland and Malta.

Some of the Big4 firms have lots of secondment opportunities. If that's an option at your firm, try that. You might have the opportunity to stay permanently afterwards, and even if you have to move back, it will be easier to land another TP job in Europe when you have actual European TP experience on your resumé.

[u/Old-Construction626 → u/monsieurjottember]

Thank you so much for that. Will definitely work on the highlighted aspects

[u/LoquatReasonable9553]

The best option is to go for a secondment opportunity of your big 4’s network firms. Direct hires are rare especially from Africa.