Volunteer, VAT Refund Claims Processing

About this role

The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking a motivated WFP Volunteer to support its Finance Unit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for an assignment of up to six months. The primary purpose of this role is to assist in the efficient processing, tracking, and reconciliation of Value Added Tax (VAT) refund claims in accordance with Government of Tanzania procedures and WFP's organizational policies. The volunteer contributes to the timely recovery of VAT refunds by coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), thereby strengthening financial accountability and operational efficiency across the country office. Under the direct supervision of a Finance Associate and with overall guidance from a Finance Officer, the volunteer will support the monitoring and recording of VAT claims, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and timely reconciliation throughout each billing cycle.

Key duties include retrieving and compiling monthly tax invoices and supporting documents, preparing and completing VAT claim forms in triplicate for submission to MoFA, and maintaining an organized VAT claims tracking database to monitor status, timelines, and outstanding balances. The volunteer will conduct regular follow-ups with MoFA to obtain clearance documentation, facilitate submission of cleared claims to TRA, and track the progress of refunds through to receipt. Additional responsibilities include assisting with WFP financial procedure compliance, supporting reconciliation of VAT receivables for financial reporting, identifying process bottlenecks, and providing recommendations for updating VAT Standard Operating Procedures based on lessons learned. WFP is the world's largest humanitarian organization and a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, committed to diversity, inclusion, and the professional development of its workforce.

The ideal candidate holds a university degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field, with basic knowledge of Tanzania's VAT system. Strong analytical and organizational skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and good communication abilities are essential. Prior experience in finance, accounting, or administrative roles is an advantage.