Jobs at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)

Job Purpose

• Centralised Litigation Unit prepares for litigation in the Higher Courts for various disputes, including but not limited to only those focusing on tax liability.  The function involves the entire scope of litigation services, from researching legal and tax principles, analysing the merits of SARS position, drafting various court documents, preparing deponents, and possibly appearing in court. The members of Centralised Litigation Unit therefore must have a right of appearance

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Bachelor of Laws(LLB) AND 8-10 years' experience in a litigation or similar environment.
• Admission as Attorney /or Registered Advocate.

Minimum Functional Requirements

Job Outputs:

Process

• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures and associated area's practice.
• Develop a single practice area in alignment with operational activity and procedural frameworks and ensure tactical implementation.
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Finalise legal matters by identifying facts, accessing relevant sources, analysis, application, advice and implementation of the course of action.
• Identify tax and customs loopholes and potential risk and recommend legal interventions in an eff ort to close the tax gap.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy implementation and optimisation of practises, processes and systems across an internal value chain.
• Plan for value-added, continuous practice and system improvements to deliver on objectives to enhance tactical implementation and excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fi t alternatives, best practice implementation solutions.
• Translate top-down policy in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders

Governance

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

People

• Drive own performance in order to achieve work outputs in line with required response time, quality and service delivery standards.
• Integrate new knowledge attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.

Finance

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

Client

• 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

• Accountability
• Adaptability
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Commitment to continuous learning
• Masters Knowledge in Technical affairs
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Organisational Awareness
• Respect
• Trust

Technical competencies

• Business Knowledge
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Efficiency Improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Legal Advisory and interpretation
• Legal Compliance
• Legal Knowledge and knowledge of ethics
• Legal Writing Skills
• Reporting

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Job Purpose

• To conduct advanced audits of high complexity, with the aim of influencing compliance through raising accurate assessments in line with relevant legislation. Provide technical support to other auditors on matters of various complexity levels. Utilises advanced tax, corporate and other legislative knowledge and experience to identify tax gaps, avoidance and evasion schemes, and suggests potential solutions to minimise tax risks. Identifies initiatives and changes to required legislation to impact compliance levels.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) AND 8 years tax audit experience in an Audit environment.

Job Outputs:

Process

• Analyse a wide spectrum of highly complex transactions across multiple tax types and / or entities and / or groups of related entities and / or areas of specialisation which may be based locally or internationally with the aim of understanding the tax implications and determine compliance with relevant legislation.
• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies and practices.
• Analyse highly complex 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. This may relate to specific areas of specialisation.
• Conduct audits using newly identified systems / tools of digital information, methodology and other advanced technology identified to address highly complex advanced audit risks. This may include eCommerce transactions and other digital risks.
• Continuous engagement with Litigation and Dispute management to address issues relating to the interpretation of relevant legislation. Engagement with Legal counsel may be required for highly complex specialised matters. The auditor may be required to testify in a civil court on matters of a highly complex nature.
• Continuous engagements with Debt Management aimed at optimal collection on liabilities raised through the audit. Conduct a detailed financial and cash flow analysis to support the recommendations provided. Engage the taxpayer regarding the collection of debt at the finalisation stage of the audit. Engagement with Legal counsel may be required for highly complex specialised matters.
• Contribute to the optimum utilisation of org. resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plans.
• Coordinate and provide technical support to ensure the finalisation of disputes and complaints. Analyse information of a complex nature provided at dispute stage and taxpayer complaints logged across the linked / related entities / groups of entities and / or specialised projects.
• Coordinate and support the efficient progress of the audit of linked / related entities / groups of entities being audited utilising approved systems.
• Develop a single practice area in alignment with operational activity and procedural frameworks and ensure tactical implementation.
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Identify and escalate serious tax offences for potential criminal investigation, provide a detailed analysis of the facts together with the applicable tax legislation. Engagement with the National Prosecuting Authority may be required for highly complex specialised matters. The auditor may be required to testify in a criminal court.
• Identify changes required to legislation, with relevant stakeholders and policy owners to close compliance loopholes.
• Identify information required to mitigate audit risks of an advanced and highly complex nature and engage taxpayers / tax practitioners / experts / third parties both locally and internationally for additional relevant information and clarification.
• Identify new and additional highly complex 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.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy implementation and optimisation of practises, processes and systems across an internal value chain.
• Plan for value-added, continuous practice and system improvements to deliver on objectives to enhance tactical implementation and excellence.
• Prepare and issue detailed, high level relevant communication / reports as required to internal and external stakeholders. Ensure that communication is coordinated and aligned between related audits on tax types, entity levels or areas of specialisation.
• 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.
• Prepare system notes of progress and outcomes as required and maintain during the audit process, e.g. Service Manager, Teammate. Review system notes of auditors involved in the audit of the linked and / or related entities and / or groups of entities.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives, best practice implementation solutions.
• Provide guidance / technical support to other Auditors on highly complex matters / areas of specialisation. This may involve conducting research, training and development, and coaching support during an audit or dispute process.
• Provide input to draft policies and procedures to the product areas e.g., different Tax Types product areas, Process Design and Engineering, etc.
• Provide inputs and guidance to Account Maintenance on remittance of penalty and interest requests.
• Raise accurate assessments on SARS systems in relation to relevant legislation and ensure that assessments raised on linked / related entities / groups of entities / specialised projects are aligned from a tax perspective.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
• Research to identify highly complex 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, specialised projects, etc.
• Translate top-down policy, apply modification in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders.
• Plan, conduct and support highly complex advanced audits/ projects to ensure compliance with relevant Acts / Regulations / Policies / Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

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

• Accountability
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Organisational Awareness
• Conceptual Ability
• Customer Service
• Drive for Results
• Expertise in Context
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty & Integrity 
• Trust
• Respect

Technical competencies

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

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Job Purpose

• To provide support and input in the management of Legal delivery within the Centralised Litigation function which has a national footprint with respect to revenue litigation matters.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Law (NQF7) AND 8-10 years' experience in a litigation environment, including 3-4 years’ experience in managing legal staff

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Bachelor of Law (NQF7)
• 8-10 years' experience in a litigation environment
• 3-4 years’ experience in managing legal staff

 Minimum Functional Requirements

• Prior experience working with tax
• Strong litigation experience
• Management of complex litigation projects

Job Outputs:

• Successfully managing litigation staff
• Successfully prosecuting your own litigation caseload

Process

• Act as the driver for the implementation within the context of business unit excellence and performance improvement.
• Conduct assessments and use information to advise, make recommendations and facilitate 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 strategy and delivery plans through the development of operational activities, ensuring the achievement of operational targets.
• Oversee the efficient utilisation of Private counsel for appeals and urgent interdicts, review or declaratory order applications in the High Court.
• Oversee a group of litigators and their litigation case loads.
• Plan for handling work outputs, pull together interdependent activities and specify priorities, standards and procedures to ensure tactical implementation.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fi t alternatives, implementing best practice solutions.
• Provide periodic reports on performance against plan and progress on short-term initiatives and 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 and associated single practice area 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.

People

• Encourage and enable teamwork, by enabling collaboration with others and commitment to pursuing set goals.
• Translate performance expectations into specific metrics and goals to identify and provide effective services, solve problems and achieve objectives.
• Develop & implement appropriate people capacity plans in line with delivery & efficiency targets, on budget & in partnership with specialised area.
• Develop and maintain a team that is capable for operating to their full capability and provide appropriate skills, knowledge and experience

Finance

• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of accountability.
• Draw up a budget aligned to tactical 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.
• Manage an integrated service excellence culture, which builds rewarding relationships and provides opportunity for feedback and exceptional service.
• Build strong relationships and implement service level agreements that promote SARS with internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural competencies

• Honesty & Integrity
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Court Processes and Procedures
• Fairness & Transparency
• Accountability
• Business Acumen
• Decisiveness
• Effective Business Communication
• Legal Advisory and Interpretation
• Legal Compliance
• Planning, Management and Measurement
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Ability to translate Strategy into Execution
• Values and Manage Diversity

Technical competencies

• Managerial budgeting
• Tax Knowledge
• Legal Advisory and Interpretation
• Legal knowledge and knowledge of ethics
• Legal compliance
• Planning, management and measurement
• Respect & Trust
• Business Acumen
• Court processes and procedures
• Stewardship and service orientation

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Job Purpose

• To provide expertise, advice, and support to develop operational implementation plans and/or associated service delivery processes by gathering, analysing and evaluating data and generating reports to enable management to make effective and sound decisions in order to continuously enhance service delivery.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Statistics/Mathematical Sciences, Computer Sciences / Information Technology/Data Science/Economics AND 5-7 years' experience in a Data Analytics/Data Science/Mathematical Sciences/Research/Economics environment, of which 2-3 years at a technically skilled level.

Alternative #

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 10 years of related experience in Data Analytics / Data Science / Mathematical Sciences / Research / Economics environment, of which 2-3 years at a technically skilled level.

Job Outputs:

Process

• Apply processes to improve data validation across service delivery systems in line with operational targets.
• Collect and collate data, analyze information, and provide reports and documentation to facilitate discussions at national forums.
• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with peers and SARS role players to achieve predefined objectives.
• Ensure the integrity and quality of all data collected and identify and escalate associated problems.
• Identify and resolve queries and problems timeously, apply discretion in line with process guidelines provided, and escalate unresolved problems.
• 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 judgment of work outputs and queries in the area of specialisation.
• Correctly apply policies, practices, standards, procedures, and legislation in the delivery of work outputs.
• Draw on your 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.
• Plan for value-added process improvements, initiatives, and services to deliver on operational strategy and objectives.
• Provide specialist input through the investigation of opportunities for operational and process, product, and risk optimisation.

Governance

• Ensure that completed work adheres to relevant policies, procedures, governance, and legislative requirements, and report on deviations & discrepancies.
• Implement and provide input into the development of governance, compliance, integrity, and ethics processes within the area of specialisation.

People

• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with peers and team members to achieve predefined objectives.
• Search for, integrate, and share new knowledge attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.

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.
• Provide authoritative, specialist services, expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders

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
• Trust
• Respect

Technical Competencies

• Knowledge Management
• Information Management
• Business Knowledge
• Efficiency and Improvement
• Functional Policies & Procedures
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Reporting

go to method of application »

Job Purpose

• To formulate tactical strategy and associated delivery plans related to a single practice area, by leading and managing an audit team to ensure effectiveness of audit operations across multi tax types, ensuring practice integration and operational implementation through the achievement of Audit objectives.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Relevant Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Tax/Accounting/Audit AND 8-10 years' experience in an Audit environment, of which 3-4 years at junior management level

Job Outputs:

Process

• Enforce compliance management through adherence to technical standards and all relevant legal and SARS requirements.
• Manage significant cases, minimise the risks identified and assist in the development of tax and customs legislation where required.
• Own end-to-end audits conducted, including finalisation of objections and appeals.
• Accompany auditors in interaction and engagement with the taxpayer, where required.
• Timeously communicate top-down policy and associated single practice area modification, objective achievement progress and critical success factors to impacted stakeholders.
• Use the insights gained through integrated business reports to measure success & realign tactical strategy implementation objectives appropriately.
• Plan for handling work outputs, pull together interdependent activities & specify priorities, standards & procedures to ensure tactical implementation.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, policies and procedures, and execute the implementation of change and innovation initiated by the organisation.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives, implementing best practice solutions.
• Provide periodic reports on performance against plan & progress on short-term initiatives & use to realign tactical plan and objectives appropriately.
• 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.

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

• Encourage and enable teamwork, by enabling collaboration with others and commitment to pursuing set goals.
• Develop and maintain a team that is capable for operating to their full capability and provide appropriate skills, knowledge and experience.
• Plan & implement 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.
• Develop & implement appropriate people capacity plans in line with delivery & efficiency targets, on budget & in partnership with specialised area.
• Create a positive work climate & culture to energise employees & give meaning to work, minimise work disruption and maximise employee productivity.

Finance

• Manage effective cost control of the core processes in line with targeted savings.
• 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 tactical delivery plans, monitor planned vs. actual, minimise expenditure and report on cost efficiency

Client

• Drive service delivery goals and standards in support of business unit objectives.
• Build strong relationships and implement 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.
• Develop and ensure implementation of practices which builds service delivery excellence and encourages others to provide exceptional client service.

Behavioural competencies

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

Technical competencies

• Knowledge of Technology Assisted Investigation Tools
• Managerial Budgeting
• Tax Knowledge
• Business Knowledge
• Operational Audit
• Tax Compliance Auditing
• Effective Business Communication
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Planning, Management and Measurement
• Decisiveness
• Business Acumen
• Anticipating future challenges and trends
• Making timely, strategic decisions