Careers at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)

Job Purpose

• To conduct advanced audits with the aim of influencing compliance through raising accurate assessments in line with relevant legislation.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• National Diploma / Advanced Certificate (NQF 6) in Accounting/Auditing/Taxation AND 4 years' experience in a tax audit environment.

Job Outputs:

Process

• Accumulate information and provide reports with recommendations applicable to area of specialisation.
• Analyse data / evidence, review and confirm identified risks and consideration of additional risks which may relate to the entity being audited, across tax types, across related entities etc.
• Analyse information provided at dispute stage and taxpayer complaints logged.
• Analyse transactions across multiple tax types and / or entities and / or groups of related entities with the aim of understanding the tax implications thereof.
• Apply practical and applied knowledge and act authoritatively on methods, systems and procedures to identify trends and potential risks.
• Be involved in research to identify tax risks that may not have been addressed effectively through audit or other interventions. These risks will be referred to Case Selection which may lead to the identification of new audit focus areas e.g. industry, tax specific risks etc.
• Communication of situational interpretation and judgement of work outputs and queries in area of specialisation.
• Conduct advanced audits (plan, execute, finalise) in line with relevant Acts / Regulations / Policies / Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) using SARS systems.
• Correctly apply policies, practices, standards, procedures and legislation in the delivery of work outputs.
• Effectively plan and schedule own activities to continuously improve quality and service delivery in area of specialisation.
• Engagement during and after the audit with Debt Management aimed at optimal collection on liabilities raised through the audit. Provide support by conducting a financial analysis to support the recommendations which may be used to determine the optimal collection of liabilities and / or to support this view at various committees e.g. Debt Committee. Engage the taxpayer regarding the collection of debt at the finalisation stage of the audit.
• Engagement with Client Service to resolve issues escalated by taxpayer and requiring direct intervention and contact by the auditor to address the issues raised by the taxpayer. The auditor may or may not have been involved in an audit of the matter escalated but called upon to assist due to the available experience and expertise.
• Engagement with Litigation and Dispute management during and post the audit process to address issues relating to the interpretation of relevant legislation e.g. tax, legislation relating to companies etc. This engagement will take cognizance of the outcomes of similar matters, tax court cases and civil court outcomes. The auditor may be required to testify in a civil court.
• Execute process and procedural change, implement the change and provide guidelines and support related to new requirements as a result of the change.
• Identify and escalate enhancements to management on policies and procedures. Auditors are also requested to provide inputs to draft policies and procedures to the product areas e.g. different Tax Types product areas, Process Design and Engineering, etc.
• Identify and escalate serious tax offences for potential criminal investigations. Escalation to include a detailed analysis of the facts together with the applicable tax legislation. The Auditor may be required to testify in a criminal court.
• Identify information required to mitigate audit risks identified and engage taxpayers / tax practitioners for additional relevant information and clarification.
• Identify new and additional risks for audit scope expansion, identification of new risks relating to other tax types and related entities for referral to Case Selection for profiling for new audit interventions.
• Manage the efficient progress of the audit and related tax types and / or entities being audited utilising approved systems. Prepare system notes of progress and outcomes as required and maintain during the audit process, e.g. Service Manager, Teammate.
• Navigate and extract relevant information from SARS systems and external sources to collect and evaluate risks and compliance to relevant legislation.
• Prepare and issue relevant communication / reports as required to internal and external stakeholders. Ensure that communication is coordinated and aligned between related audits be it tax types or at an entity level.
• Prepare inputs based on analysis and interpretation of facts and legislation, participate and present to relevant Committee. Highlight treatment of audits of similar nature to the relevant Committee to ensure consistent treatment. i.e. Technical Committee, Understatement Committee, Large Assessment Committee, Objections Committee, National Appeals Committee.
• Provide specialist input through the investigation of opportunities for operational and process, product and risk optimisation.
• Raise accurate assessments on SARS systems in relation to relevant legislation.
• Supply inputs to Account Maintenance on remittance of penalty and interest requests.
• Use practical and applied knowledge and situational judgement to arrive at decisions.
• Utilise digital information, systems and tools as they become available to address advanced audit risks. This may include eCommerce transactions and other digital risks.
• Where large data files are required to be downloaded, engage Electronic Forensic Services (EFS) to assist. Detail the data required and the risks, to contribute to the identification of required data files and/or additional data.

Governance

• 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 specified policies, standards, legislation, and procedures to prevent wastage on resources, unauthorised expenditure and wasteful expenditure and report violations.

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
• Customer Service
• Drive for results
• Expertise in Context
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Organisational Awareness
• Respect
• Trust

Technical competencies

• Audit Methodology
• Business Knowledge
• Business Writing Skills
• Computer Literacy
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Efficiency improvement
• Execute, Implement and Follow Through
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Operational Audit
• Planning and Organising
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Reporting
• Tax Knowledge
• Tax Law

Deadline:5th May,2026

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Job Purpose

• To formulate tactical strategy and associated delivery plans related to a single practice area for Business Relations, by managing the analysis function that conducts the methodical investigation, analysis and documentation of all or part of a business area in terms of business functions and processes, and the information customers/clients use, ensuring practice integration and operational implementation through the achievement of Business Relations objectives.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Bachelor's Degree or Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Taxation, Commerce, Business, or ICT/IT with 8–10 years’ experience in a business technology or operations environment, of which 3–4 years at junior management level.

ALTERNATIVE #

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4) with at least 15 years’ experience in Business Systems or Operational Environment of which 3 - 4 years at a junior management level

Job Outputs:

Process

• Build a knowledge base of each client's business, systems and objectives and ensure alignment technology solutions with business strategies.
• Communicate effectively with clients to identify needs and evaluate alternative technical solutions.
• Co-operate with those responsible in the organisation for developing products and services that will help the customer organisation to achieve its business objectives.
• Develop the means of improving service to, and relationships with, customers, and monitor the effectiveness of such measures.
• Ensure definition of requirements for improving aspect of the processes and systems, and the creation of viable specifications in preparation for the construction of information systems.
• Ensure that the service level management is well documented and audited for effectiveness, efficiency and compliance on a regular basis.
• Facilitate customers' involvement in the continuous improvement of the products and services supplied to them.
• Identify and assess options for the implementation of new or improved business processes and present them with recommendations, to decision makers at senior management level.
• Identify appropriate tools to monitor, analyse and report on actual performance in comparison to SLA requirements in a manageable and meaningful format.
• Maintain the level of customer satisfaction, at regular intervals or after each significant delivery of product or service.
• Manage exceptions, slippage and issues of priority, and initiates extra activities wherever gaps in the programme are identified.
• Manage the process of continual improvement in the provision of services, instigating remedial actions whenever necessary.
• Manage the processes that drive value out of the ICT investment and ensure ROI by being a bridge between the functional business area and information systems development.
• Partner with service provider and user management to undertake major reviews of SLAs, production and agreement of new SLAs and extensions to existing SLAs.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives, implementing best practice solutions.
• Provide advice on the selection of appropriate application strategies, policies, standards, methods and tools for business analysis.
• Provide technical direction for the development, design, and systems integration for client engagement from definition phase through implementation.
• Work with user management to establish the contribution that can be made to business, drawing up requirement specifications, conducting feasibility studies, producing high level and detailed models, oversee development and implementing solutions.
• Act as the bottom-line drivers of tactical implementation within the context of business unit excellence and performance improvement.
• Direct, control, coordinate and optimise budgeted resources to meet specific objectives and deliver agreed results and productivity requirements.
• Ensure the development and implementation of a practice in alignment with operational policy and procedural frameworks.
• Implement tactical strategy and delivery plans through the development of operational activities, ensuring the achievement of operational targets.
• Plan for handling work outputs, pull together interdependent activities and specify priorities, standards and procedures to ensure tactical implementation.
• Provide periodic reports on performance against plan & progress on short-term initiatives & use to realign tactical plan and objectives appropriately. 
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, policies and procedures, and execute the implementation of change and innovation initiated by the organisation.
• Timeously communicate top-down policy modification, objective achievement progress and critical success factors to impacted stakeholders.
• Use the insights gained through integrated business reports to measure success and realign tactical strategy implementation objectives appropriately.

Governance

• Implement governance, risk and compliance policy in own practice area 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

• Develop and implement appropriate people capacity plans in line with delivery and efficiency targets, on budget and in partnership with specialised area.
• Plan and implement enhanced organisational efficiency by identifying and addressing development requirements and providing tools for people resources.
• Translate performance expectations into specific metrics and goals to identify and provide effective services, solve problems and achieve objectives.

Finance

• Draw up a budget aligned to tactical delivery plans, monitor planned vs. actual, minimise expenditure and report on cost efficiency.
• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of accountability.

Client

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

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect
• Trust

Leadership Competencies

• Ability to translate strategy into execution
• Concern for Impact of own behaviour on others
• Develops teams and nurtures interdependency
• Inspires others to Positive Action
• Nurtures Future Talent
• Stewardship and Service Orientation
• Strong Results Orientation
• Values and Manages Diversity

Technical competencies

• Business Acumen
• Business IT Systems
• Change Management
• Decisiveness
• Effective Business Communication

Deadline:10th May,2026

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Job Purpose

• To plan, organise and manage IT Operations employees and overall IT Operations to effectively and efficiently provide support and maintenance services of all IT infrastructure to ensure availability of IT services and ensure optimal performance in line with the availability targets of the APP. 

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

•  Bachelor’s Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) Information Technology, Computer Science or Similar and 8 - 10 years’ experience in IT Service Delivery environment, of which 3 - 4 years at a junior management level.

ALTERNATIVE #

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 15 years’ experience IT Service Delivery environment, of which 3 - 4 years at a junior management level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

• ITSM: added advantage
• ITIL/COBIT: added advantage

Job Outputs:

Process

• To manage and improve a significant portion of the existing integrated bespoke SARS applications throughout their lifecycle by performing complex, integrated technical support, taking new requirements through the systems development life cycle, and collaborating with application development teams to design and release new services into the production environment.
• Act as the bottom-line drivers of tactical implementation within the context of business unit excellence and performance improvement. 
• Direct, control, coordinate and optimise budgeted resources to meet specific objectives and deliver agreed results and productivity requirements. 
• Ensure the development and implementation of a practice in alignment with operational policy and procedural frameworks.
• Implement tactical strategy and delivery plans through the development of operational activities, ensuring the achievement of operational targets.
• Plan for handling work outputs, pull together interdependent activities and specify priorities, standards and procedures to ensure tactical implementation.
• Provide periodic reports on performance against plan & progress on short-term initiatives & use to realign tactical plan and objectives appropriately. 
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, policies and procedures, and execute the implementation of change and innovation initiated by the organisation.
• Timeously communicate top-down policy modification, objective achievement progress and critical success factors to impacted stakeholders.
• Use the insights gained through integrated business reports to measure success and realign tactical strategy implementation objectives appropriately.
• Conduct assessments and use information to advise, make recommendations and facilitate improvement.
• Inform on infrastructure requirements in support of appropriate delivery systems.
• Ensure achievement of the availability of IT infrastructure and services in line with the organisation's strategic objectives and the annual performance plan.

Governance

• Implement governance, risk and compliance policy in own practice area 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

• Develop and implement appropriate people capacity plans in line with delivery and efficiency targets, on budget and in partnership with specialised area.
• Plan and implement enhanced organisational efficiency by identifying and addressing development requirements and providing tools for people resources.
• Translate performance expectations into specific metrics and goals to identify and provide effective services, solve problems and achieve objectives.

Finance

• Draw up a budget aligned to tactical delivery plans, monitor planned vs. actual, minimise expenditure and report on cost efficiency.
• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of accountability.

Client

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

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Respect
• Trust

Leadership competencies

• Ability to translate strategy into execution
• Concern for Impact of own behaviour on others

Technical competencies

• Customer Relationship Management
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Query Resolution
• SARS Systems Products
• Standard operating procedure compliance

Deadline:9th May,2026