Senior Officer: Risk Profiling at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)

Job Purpose

• To assist and coordinate risk mitigation activities in order to achieve business objectives. To conduct and analyse the tax compliance behaviour, across multiple tax types, with the view to informing the recommendation for In-depth integrated cases, of high complexity, for Enforcement interventions, during the detailed Risk Profiling stage of the Case Selection process.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Taxation/Finance/Accounting/Auditing and, or a related qualification AND 5 -7 years’ experience in a Tax & Auditing environment, of which 2 - 3 years at a knowledge worker level.

Alternative #

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 10 years related experience within a Tax & Auditing environment, of which 2 - 3 years at a knowledge worker level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

• Auditing: 5-7 years' experience in an Accounting/Auditing/Taxation or similar environment.
• Ability to identify, analyse, and interpret non-compliance across multiple tax types.
• Skilled in profiling high-complex cases for enforcement and identifying tax evasion schemes
• Application of a structured, enterprise wide, risk-based approach for the identification, collection, analysis and interpretation of relevant internal and external information with the objective of effectively and efficiently reaching valuable conclusions and risk assessment outcomes to support specific tax risks.

Job Outputs:

Process

• Execute specialist input through investigation & opportunities within the product process including risk concerns.
• Provide specialist input through the investigation of opportunities for operational and process product and risk optimisation.
• Plan for value-added process improvements, initiatives and services to deliver on operational strategy and objectives.
• Draw on own knowledge and experience to diagnose symptoms, causes and possible effects in order to solve emerging problems.
• Initiate process and procedural change, implement the change and provide guidelines and support related to new requirements as a result of the change.
• Accumulate information to review work progress that provides input to reporting, decision making and the identification of improvement opportunities.
• Apply practical and applied knowledge and act authoritatively on methods, systems and procedures to identify trends and potential risks.
• Communication of situational interpretation and judgement of work outputs and queries in area of specialisation.
• Correctly apply policies, practices, standards, procedures and legislation in the delivery of work outputs.
• Identify tax evasion schemes and potential risk and recommend appropriate interventions.
• Be observant and engage on possible violations of procedures and standards of conduct and escalate where necessary.
• Plan and organise own work tasks within area of work
• Identify, analyse and interpret non-compliance in order to profile high complex full scope cases for Enforcement.
• Profiling of relevant identified parties to detect non-compliance and related risks.
• Identify and assess the level of non-compliance across all/multiple tax types.
• Identify and resolve queries and problems timeously, apply discretion in line with process guidelines provided.
• Effectively plan and schedule own activities to continuously improve quality and service delivery in area of specialisation.
• Execute process and procedural change, implement the change and provide guidelines and support related to new requirements as a result of the change. 
• Use practical and applied knowledge and situational judgement to consider policy implications and to arrive at decisions / conclusions.
• Correctly apply applicable legislation, including amongst other policies, procedures, and SOPs in the delivery of work outputs.
• Detailed risk profiling of In-depth integrated complex cases through data gathering analysis and interpretation in order to refer potential high-risk cases to Specialised Audit.
• Review of Application for International Transfer of funds and Emigration applications above R 10 million and make recommendations.
• Ensure quality of work content, quick turnaround, prioritise, minimise mistakes and continuously improve quality, service and standards.
• Perform all administrative actions related to the area of accountability in line with relevant policies, processes, legislation and work instructions.
• Communication of transactional outputs and queries in area of work according to policies and quality requirements.
• Contribute to the development & improvement of area specific standards, procedures and processes to ensure continued quality and service improvement.
• Contribute to the successful implementation of change initiatives by providing support in area of work.
• Deliver on contracted performance objectives and escalate unresolved delivery and quality issues to management and process owners.
• Draw on own knowledge and experience to identify and develop solutions that leads to improved service delivery and quality.

Governance

• Ensure that completed work adhere to relevant policies, procedures, governance and legislative requirements and report on deviations and discrepancies.
• Comply to set governance and compliance procedures and processes related to an area of specialisation and continuously identify and escalate risks.

People

• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with peers and team members to achieve predefined objectives.

Finance

• Adhere to organisational policies and procedures to ensure cost effectiveness and reduction of financial costs.

Client

• Contribute to a culture of service excellence, which builds positive relationships and provides opportunity for feedback and exceptional service.
• Ensure own understanding and adherence to customer service delivery and provide specialist support to meet or exceed customer expectations.

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Commitment to Continuous Learning 
• Conceptual Ability 
• Expertise in Context
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Organisational Awareness
• Problem Solving and Analysis 
• Respect
• Trust

Technical competencies

• Business Knowledge
• Data Collection and Analysis    
• Efficiency Improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Reporting
• Risk Identification
• Risk Analysis
• Risk Knowledge
• Problem Analysis and Judgement