Lead: Business Insights at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)

Job Purpose

To formulate the Insight strategy and associated delivery plans across the value chain of activities in the segment (including Audit, Risk, and Service), ensuring integration and operational implementation.

As the Lead: Business Insights, you will be responsible for leveraging data-driven insights to enhance tax compliance, optimize revenue collection strategies, and streamline operational efficiency. You will be responsible for leading a team that transforms various data points into actionable intelligence that informs decision-making at various levels of the segment, and across the various functions.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Honours / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) in Tax/Accounting/Audit/Finance and 10-12 years business insight and intelligence gathering; risk analysis and audit experience in a tax environment, of which 3-4 years is at management level.

Alternate

• Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Tax/Accounting/Audit/Finance and 12 - 15 business insight and intelligence gathering; risk analysis and audit experience in a tax environment, of which 3-4 years is at management level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

•  Significant experience in intelligence/ business insight/ risk/ audit/ complex tax arrangements and schemes.

Job Outputs:

Process

• Collaborate on development & alignment of functional policies in support of minimum integration requirements in the business unit & organisation.
• Ensure timeous communication on progress and challenges in achieving divisional and business unit goals to all relevant stakeholders.
• Develop tactical strategy and delivery plans in support of functional objectives in partnership with leadership.
• Direct, control, coordinate and optimise budgeted resources to meet specific objectives and deliver agreed results and productivity requirements.
• Ensure the development and implementation of multiple practices in alignment with operational policy and procedural frameworks.
• Identify and recommend opportunities to continuously improve all functions and systems in line with national, regional and organisational changes.
• Plan for handling work outputs, pull together interdependent activities & specify priorities, standards & procedures to ensure tactical excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives, driving best practice solutions.
• Provide periodic reports on performance against plan & progress on short-term initiatives & use to realign tactical plan and objectives appropriately.
• Use the insights gained through integrated business reports to measure success & realign tactical strategy development objectives appropriately.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, policies and procedures, and direct the implementation of change and innovation initiated by the organisation.

Governance

• Implement governance, risk, and compliance policy in own practice areas to identify and manage governance and risk exposure liability.
• Manage and or advise on the translation and application of policy in a specific functional area.

People

• Plan & develop enhanced organisational efficiency by identifying and addressing development requirements & providing tools for people resources.
• Translate performance expectations into specific metrics and goals to identify and provide effective services, solve problems and achieve objectives.
• Create a positive work climate & culture to energise employees & give meaning to work, minimise work disruption and maximise employee productivity.
• Develop & implement appropriate people capacity plans in line with delivery & efficiency targets, on budget & in partnership with specialised areas.

Finance

• Contribute to the development of divisional budgets to minimise expenditure aligned with divisional plans.
• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of accountability.
• Draw up a budget aligned to business unit delivery plans, monitor planned vs. actual, minimise expenditure and report on cost efficiency.

Client

• Develop and ensure implementation of practices which builds service delivery excellence and encourages others to provide exceptional client service.
• Build strong relationships and develop service level agreements that promote SARS with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage an integrated service excellence culture, which builds rewarding relationships and provides opportunity for feedback and exceptional service.

Behavioural competencies

• Conceptual Thinking
• Championing the Mandate
• Influencing Others
• Mobilising Teams
• Driving for Excellence
• Leveraging Diversity
• Accurate Understanding
• Honesty and Integrity
• Trust
• Respect
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Developing Others
• Fairness and Transparency (V)
• Accountability (V)
• Building Sustainability
• Economic Research
• Customer Liaison
• Building Sustainability

Technical competencies

• Service Delivery
• Tax Knowledge
• Managerial Budgeting
• Customer Relationship Management
• Effective Business Communication
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Planning, Management and Measurement
• Decisiveness
• Business Acumen
• Creative and Innovative Thinking
• Strategic Planning
• Research, Evaluate, Follow Through
• Research and Information Gathering
• Economic Research
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Customer Liaison

Compliance Competency

• GOC Confidential