Senior Investigator

In brief

**Overview** This role is for a Senior Investigator at the South African Revenue Service (SARS). The primary purpose of this position is to independently conduct criminal investigations into complex tax and customs offence cases. This involves utilizing advanced investigative tools to source evidence, with investigations typically covering multiple tax types (VAT, PAYE, PIT, Customs & Excise, CIT) and spanning more than one year. The investigations focus on serious financial crimes such as fraud, corruption, money laundering, racketeering, and organised crime, specifically targeting organised crime networks. **What you will do** Key responsibilities include: * Accumulating information to review work progress, provide input for reporting, decision-making, and identifying improvement opportunities. * Applying practical and applied knowledge to identify trends and potential risks, acting authoritatively on methods, systems, and procedures. * Communicating situational interpretations and judgments related to work outputs and queries. * Correctly applying policies, practices, standards, procedures, and legislation in delivering work outputs. * Drawing on knowledge and experience to diagnose symptoms, causes, and effects to solve emerging problems. * Initiating process and procedural changes, implementing them, and providing guidance on new requirements. * Planning for value-added process improvements, initiatives, and services to meet operational strategy and objectives. * Providing specialist input through investigating opportunities for operational and process product and risk optimisation. * Ensuring adherence to all prescribed legislation during evidence gathering and recognising the constitutional rights of the suspect/taxpayer at all times. * Producing a report upon investigation completion, detailing findings, financial prejudice, and identifying transgressions according to relevant legislation. * Registering investigations with SAPS and regularly engaging with them on case progress. * Addressing all National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) queries, assisting prosecutors, and responding to further requests. * Acting as a credible witness, knowledgeable of the investigation, during the trial phase. * Ensuring compliance with sentence proceedings and types of sentences, including 105A Plea Agreements. * Consulting and drafting holding statements for media coverage regarding convicted taxpayers. * Facilitating presentations and chairing meetings with internal (e.g., Audit) and external (e.g., NPA) stakeholders, followed by post-meeting feedback. * Identifying improvement opportunities in people, processes, systems, policies, and/or legislation to enhance system efficacy. * Providing knowledge and support during Prosecutor Involved Investigations (PII). * Managing the investigation phase by updating relevant systems and filing correspondence/evidence in line with the docket system, ensuring all documents are correctly filed under sections A and B with corresponding entries in the C clip. * Managing the end-to-end criminal investigation process, from case allocation to finalisation in court or otherwise, with a goal of successful prosecution. * Implementing and providing input in the development of governance, compliance, integrity, and ethics processes within the area of specialisation. * Developing and maintaining productive working relationships with peers and team members. * Searching for, integrating, and sharing new knowledge attained through formal and informal learning. * Adhering to organisational policies and procedures to ensure cost-effectiveness and reduction of financial costs. * Contributing to a culture of service excellence, building positive relationships, and providing authoritative, specialist services, expertise, and advice to internal and external stakeholders. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * **Education and Experience:** * Relevant Bachelor’s Degree/Advanced Diploma NQF 7 in Law/Audit/Criminal Justice/Criminology/Investigations/Forensic Science. * 7 - 9 years' experience in an Investigation environment. * Of which 5 – 6 years’ at technically skilled level. * **Minimum Functional Requirements:** * Advanced/Specialised Knowledge of the following legislation: Criminal Justice System, Criminal Procedures Act, Law of Evidence Act, Tax Administration Act, Customs and Excise Act, IT Act, VAT Act, The Principles of Criminal Law, Specific Crimes. * Advanced Knowledge of the following: Performing complex calculations of primary tax products and Customs and Excise duties independently to determine prejudice; Drafting affidavits (auditors’, suppliers’, Investigating Officer) in a clear understandable format, addressing evidentiary issues and facts independently; Illicit Money Flow and Money Laundering; SARS’ reporting obligations in relation to the FATF 40 Recommendations IO.6.7 & 8; Court processes and giving oral evidence in court; Differentiating between witness and suspect at any stage during the investigation; Tax avoidance schemes. * **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, Resilience, Respect, Teamwork, Trust. * **Technical Competencies:** Business Knowledge, Data Collection and Analysis, Decisiveness, Efficiency Improvement, Execute, Implement and Follow Through, Functional Policies and Procedures, Investigative Skills, Presentation Skills, Reporting, Verbal Communication, Written Communication. **Who should apply** This role is suitable for a highly experienced and technically skilled investigator with a strong background in law, audit, criminal justice, criminology, investigations, or forensic science. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in conducting complex criminal investigations, particularly those involving tax and customs offences, fraud, money laundering, and organised crime. They must have extensive knowledge of relevant South African legislation, criminal procedures, and evidence law, as well as an advanced ability to perform complex financial calculations, draft legal documents, and navigate court processes. The successful applicant will be analytical, detail-oriented, committed to ethical conduct, and capable of managing investigations end-to-end, engaging effectively with various stakeholders, and serving as a credible witness. **Deadline** 14th October, 2026 **Reference** Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/senior-investigator-the-south-african-revenue-service-sars-2 Source: myjobmag

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• At least 7 years of experience.

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