Senior Specialist: Economist (International Trade) at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)

Job Purpose

• The purpose of this job is to provide specialist advice on international trade strategies in order to align with organisational strategic objectives.

Education and Experience

• Relevant Honours Degree in Economics / Advanced Diploma in Economics (NQF Level 8) specializing in International Economics and/or Trade, Development Economics, Public Policy, International Relations, Public Administration etc. with 10-12 years’ experience in a similar “Economics” environment (or Trade and Industry Statistics), of which 3-4 years is at specialist level

ALTERNATIVE#

• Relevant Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma in Economics and/or Statistics (NQF 7) and 12-15 years’ in a Customs and/or Trade and Industry Statistics environment, of which 3-4 years is at specialist level

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Relevant Honours Degree in Economics / Advanced Diploma in Economics (NQF Level 8) specializing in International Economics and/or Trade, Development Economics, Public Policy, International Relations, Public Administration etc. with 10-12 years’ experience in a similar “Economics” environment (or Trade and Industry Statistics), of which 3-4 years ideally specialist level.. OR Relevant Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma in Economics and/or Statistics (NQF 7) and 12-15 years’ in a Customs and/or Trade and Industry Statistics environment, of which 3-4 years ideally specialist level.
• 3 years or more in your current role?
• 3-5 years working knowledge of Customs Administration?
• Knowledge of Statistics?
• Knowledge and experience using statistical packages for analysing datasets (e.g. SAS/ SQL/ R/ Python/ Eviews/ Stata, etc.)
• Microsoft skills (Proficient in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access)
• Are you able to work in an extremely pressured environment, which may call for you to work after hours?
• Discretion and respect for confidential information?

Job Outputs:

Process

• Identify, analyse, monitor key international trade developments, macro-economic, micro-economic and SARS operations factors, and evaluate their impact on international merchandise trade compilation practices, processes and standards; SARS’ revenue and compliance outcomes.
• Analyse trade developments and trade patterns and update research methodology to ensure that SARS keeps abreast of regional economic developments.
• Conduct trade analysis on market access and revenue potential on South Africa’s regional economic agreements
• Act as the bottom-line drivers of best operating practices for Customs International Trade.
• Define and balance the best way to achieve business tactical intention through process, people and task determination for customs international trade.
• Formulate the tactical strategy and associated delivery plans to manage the end-to-end process for customs international trade.
• Develop & drive practice to manage post-clearance audit i.e. verify contents of shipments after clearance from branches.
• Build and maintain relationships, effectively communicate, and collaborate with international trade stakeholders.
• Participate in consultative process with regional and international multilateral institutions to obtain feedback on knowledge gaps and determine future needs and trends.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
• Translate top down policy, apply modification in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy development and optimisation of practises, processes & systems across an internal value chain.
• Plan for value-added, continuous multiple practice and system improvement optimisation to deliver on objectives and to enhance tactical excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives, developing best practice solutions.
• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies, and practices.
• Contribute to the optimum utilisation of organisation resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plans.
• Develop multiple practices in alignment with operational policy and procedural frameworks, supporting tactical development and excellence.
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge & experience to identify & recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Influence and communicate across business areas impacted by practice area to minimise resistance and ensure on-boarding of new thinking.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse & produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies & inconsistencies for decision making purposes

Governance

• Develop and/or align governance and compliance policies for own practice area to identify and manage risk exposure liability.

People

• Integrate new knowledge and transfer skills attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.
• Provide specialist know-how, support, advice, and practice thought leadership in area of expertise.

Finance

• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation.

Client

• Develop & ensure implementation of a practice that builds service delivery excellence & encourage others to provide exceptional stakeholder service.
• Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management.
• Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders

Behavioural competencies

• External Awareness
• Accountability
• Fairness and Transparency
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Building Sustainability
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Honesty and Integrity
• Organisational awareness
• Conceptual Ability
• Problem solving and Analysis
• Trust
• Respect

Technical competencies

• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Compliance Inspection
• Legislative and Regulatory Compliance
• Economic Research and Analysis
• Trade Negotiations
• Policy Analysis
• Business Knowledge
• Reporting & Report Writing Skills
• Efficiency improvement
• Presentations Skills
• Customs Knowledge
• Creative and Innovative Thinking
• Strategy Formulation Skills
• Development of Position Papers
• Business Knowledge
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Efficiency improvement