Lead: Taxpayer Compliance EC

In brief

**Overview** This role is for a Lead: Taxpayer Compliance within the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in the Eastern Cape (EC). The primary purpose is to ensure all taxpayers fulfill their tax obligations, verify declared information for correctness and completeness, and resolve queries. The position is also responsible for overseeing and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Taxpayer Compliance division, specifically in Account Maintenance, Debt Management, Portfolio Maintenance, and Audit, by promoting a culture focused on service. **What you will do** * Develop tactical strategy and delivery plans to support 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, and specify priorities, standards, and procedures to ensure tactical excellence. * Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine their impact, and use this to develop best-fit alternatives, driving best practice solutions. * Provide periodic reports on performance against plan and progress on medium-term initiatives, using these to realign operating plans and objectives appropriately. * Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, policies, and procedures, and direct 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 development objectives appropriately. * Oversee assessment maintenance functions. * Follow up on all outstanding matters to ensure accurate taxpayer information, such as demographic information and tax account information. * Assume overall responsibility for the regional Compliance Index achievements, reflected at the level of voluntary compliance in the region. * Make conscious use of artificial intelligence and internal, external, and third-party data to make decisions to maximise revenue collections and remove wastage. * Ensure ongoing upskilling of staff and lead the team to make a meaningful contribution to increase the level of compliance. * Manage compliance/enforcement activities, whilst maintaining an appropriate service-orientated mindset, within the context of the SARS strategic intent, and align with the SARS Compliance theory and Mofel. * Strategically deploy resources, anticipate, and resolve problems to ensure that objectives and targets are achieved within agreed deadlines and standards. * Actively explore opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement across all business areas in the quest to develop and implement best practices. * Lead the registration, filling, and payment debt and accounts compliance function, including portfolio maintenance, ensuring alignment to defined processes and applicable prescripts. * 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. * Create a positive work climate and culture to energise employees, give meaning to work, minimise work disruption, and maximise employee productivity. * Develop and implement appropriate people capacity plans in line with delivery and efficiency targets, on budget and in partnership with specialised areas. * Plan and develop 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. * Draw up a budget aligned to business unit delivery plans, monitor planned versus actual, minimise expenditure, and report on cost efficiency. * Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs, and corporate governance in the area of accountability. * Build strong relationships and develop 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. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * **Education and Experience:** * Honours Degree / Postgraduate Diploma NQF 8 in Business Administration/Strategic Management/Leadership and Management/Accounting/Taxation AND 10 – 12 years' experience in Governance, Compliance & Risk environment, of which 3 - 4 years at a middle management level. * **OR (Alternative):** Bachelor’s degree / Advanced Diploma NQF 7 in Business Administration/Strategic Management/Leadership and Management/Accounting/Taxation AND 12 - 15 years’ experience in Governance, Compliance & Risk environment, of which 3 - 4 years at a middle management level. * **Behavioural Competencies:** Accountability, Fairness and Transparency, Honesty and Integrity, Respect, Trust. * **Technical Competencies:** Building Customer Loyalty, Business Acumen, Change Management, Customer Liaison, Customer Relationship Management, Decisiveness, Effective Business Communication, Functional Policies and Procedures, Managerial Budgeting, Planning and Organising, Planning, Management and Measurement, Problem Analysis and Judgement, Risk and Compliance, SARS Systems Products, Service Delivery, Strategic Planning, Tax Knowledge. * **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. **Who should apply** This role is suited for an experienced and strategic leader with a strong background in governance, compliance, and risk, particularly within the taxation sector. The ideal candidate will possess advanced qualifications in fields such as Business Administration, Strategic Management, Leadership, Accounting, or Taxation, complemented by significant experience including middle management. They should be proficient in developing and executing tactical strategies, optimising resources, driving continuous improvement, and leveraging data and artificial intelligence for informed decision-making. The successful applicant will be capable of fostering a positive work environment, leading and developing teams, and ensuring high standards of compliance and service excellence. Strong attributes of accountability, integrity, client-centricity, financial acumen, and an understanding of SARS-specific operations are essential. The candidate must also demonstrate the ability to balance compliance enforcement with a service-oriented approach. **Deadline** 13th October, 2026 **Reference** Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/lead-taxpayer-compliance-ec-the-south-african-revenue-service-sars Source: myjobmag

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