Specialist: Audit (Syndicated Tax and Customs Crime) – Focused Investigative Audit Jobs

Job Purpose

• Conduct advanced audits of high complexity to promote compliance by issuing accurate assessments in line with relevant laws. Offer technical support to other auditors on various complex issues. Use deep knowledge of tax, corporate, and other laws to spot tax gaps, avoidance, and evasion schemes, and propose solutions to reduce tax risks. Identify initiatives and legislative changes to improve compliance.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s Degree / Advanced Diploma in Accounting, Audit, or Taxation (NQF 7) or equivalent, plus 8-10 years’ experience in Tax, Audit, or Financial Forensic Investigations, including 3-4 years at operational specialist level.

Or

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4) plus 15 years’ experience in Tax, Audit, or Financial Forensic Investigations, including 3-4 years at operational specialist level.

Job Outputs

Process

• Examine a wide range of complex transactions across multiple tax types, entities, or groups, including local and international ones, to understand tax impacts and ensure compliance with laws.
• Review and suggest improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies, and practices.
• Analyze complex data and evidence, confirm risks, and consider additional ones related to the audited entity, across tax types or related entities.
• Perform audits using new digital tools, methods, and technologies to tackle advanced audit risks, such as eCommerce and other digital issues.
• Work closely with Litigation and Dispute teams on legal interpretations. Consult legal experts for complex matters and may need to testify in civil court.
• Collaborate with Debt Management for optimal collection of audit liabilities. Perform financial and cash flow analysis, engage taxpayers on debt collection, and involve legal experts if needed.
• Help optimize organizational resources by advising on planning and development of specialist resource plans.
• Support the resolution of disputes and complaints by analyzing complex information from related entities or projects.
• Coordinate audits of linked or related entities using approved systems for efficient progress.
• Develop a single practice area aligned with operational frameworks and ensure its tactical implementation.
• Use personal expertise to recommend solutions to specific problems in practices.
• Spot serious tax offences for criminal investigation, provide detailed analysis with applicable laws, engage the National Prosecuting Authority if needed, and may testify in criminal court.
• Work with stakeholders to identify needed legislative changes to close compliance gaps.
• Determine required information to address advanced audit risks and request it from taxpayers, practitioners, experts, or third parties locally and internationally.
• Identify new complex risks to expand audit scope or refer to Case Selection for new audits.
• Combine business information, analyze it, and create reports to spot trends, discrepancies, and inconsistencies for decision-making.
• Optimize processes and systems across the internal value chain. Maintain progress notes in systems like Service Manager or TeamMate, and review notes from other auditors on related audits.
• Proactively address interconnected problems, assess impacts, and develop effective solutions.
• Guide other auditors on complex matters through research, training, coaching, and support during audits or disputes.
• Contribute to drafting policies and procedures for tax product areas, Process Design, and Engineering.
• Advise Account Maintenance on penalty and interest remission requests.
• Issue accurate assessments on SARS systems per relevant laws, ensuring alignment across related entities.
• Suggest and implement changes to improve processes, systems, and procedures.
• Research unaddressed complex tax risks and refer them to Case Selection for potential new audit areas like industries or specialized projects.
• Apply top-down policies to your practice area and communicate changes to stakeholders.
• Plan, conduct, and support complex advanced audits and projects to ensure compliance with Acts, Regulations, Policies, and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Plan for ongoing improvements in practices and systems to achieve objectives and enhance implementation.
• Prepare and share detailed reports and communications with internal and external stakeholders. Ensure alignment across related audits.
• Provide inputs for committees like Technical, Understatement, Large Assessment, Objections, or National Appeals, highlighting consistent treatment for similar audits.

Governance

• Develop or align governance and compliance policies for your practice area to manage risks and liabilities.

People

• Apply new knowledge and skills from learning opportunities in your role.
• Provide specialist advice, support, and thought leadership in your area of expertise.

Finance

• Implement and monitor financial controls, cost management, and corporate governance in your specialization.

Client

• Build practices that promote excellent service delivery and encourage others to serve stakeholders well.
• Contribute to the specialist practice community and organizational knowledge management.
• Offer authoritative expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioral Competencies

• Fairness and Transparency
• Analytical Thinking
• Accountability
• Conceptual Ability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Expertise in Context
• Honesty and Integrity
• Trust
• Respect
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Business Knowledge
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Computer Literacy
• Building Sustainability
• Drive for Results
• Audit Methodology

Technical Competencies

• Data Collection and Analysis
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Reporting
• Efficiency Improvement
• Quality Orientation
• Problem Solving and Judgement
• Execute, Implement, and Follow Through
• Decisiveness
• Financial Acumen
• Planning and Organising
• Tax Knowledge
• Tax Law

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the official SARS careers portal.

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