Senior Manager: Interpretative Tax Policy – Corporate Income Tax Jobs

Job Purpose

This role involves leading research, reviews, and providing tax technical input to develop official policies and practices on corporate income tax and related matters. You will issue and ensure the quality and accuracy of divisional documents, such as non-binding opinions, internal guides, interpretation notes, and binding general rulings. You will also provide input on how to implement these policies in practice.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification and Experience Required

• Relevant Honours Degree or Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) in Taxation or LLB, plus 10-12 years of experience in law interpretation related to Corporate Income Tax, including 3-4 years at middle management level.

OR

• Relevant Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Taxation or LLB, plus 12-15 years of experience in law interpretation related to Corporate Income Tax, including 3-4 years at middle management level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

Job Outputs

Process

• Work with your team to identify corporate tax topics and sections needing interpretation or guidance to give taxpayers clarity and certainty.
• Lead and guide a team of 8 to 15 tax experts in researching and writing opinions and guidance on these topics.
• Assess how legislative interpretations and guidance affect the tax base, cross-border issues, tax administration, and policy.
• Consider global best practices in policy development.
• Consult with internal and external stakeholders to cover all aspects of a topic or section when creating policies or guidance.
• Contribute to SARS’s internal governance through committees, workshops, and forums with other divisions.
• Advise SARS senior management and National Treasury on corporate tax matters, including legislative gaps, and represent SARS at forums.
• Liaise with international authorities on cross-border transactions if needed.
• Guide corporate income tax teams in drafting divisional outputs and identify team training needs.
• Support staff development through discussions, training, and knowledge sharing.
• Develop business and delivery plans aligned with divisional and organizational goals.
• Report on performance and adjust plans as needed.
• Suggest process, system, policy, and procedure improvements, and lead their implementation.

Governance

• Apply governance, risk, and compliance policies in your areas to manage risks and liabilities.
• Guide the application of policies in your functional area.

People

• Create a positive work environment to motivate staff, reduce disruptions, and boost productivity.
• Plan people capacity to meet delivery targets efficiently and on budget.
• Improve organizational efficiency through development and resource provision.
• Set performance metrics and goals to deliver services, solve issues, and meet objectives.

Finance

• Manage financial controls, costs, and corporate governance in your area.

Client

• Build strong relationships and service agreements with stakeholders.
• Promote service excellence and encourage exceptional client service.
• Foster a culture of integrated service, feedback, and rewarding relationships.

Behavioural Competencies

• Turn strategy into action
• Care about how your behavior affects others
• Fairness and transparency
• Build and support teams
• Take accountability
• Inspire positive actions in others
• Honesty and integrity
• Build trust
• Show respect
• Problem-solving and analysis
• Develop future talent
• Stewardship and service focus
• Strong results orientation
• Value and manage diversity

Technical Competencies

• Deep knowledge of Corporate Income Tax
• Deep knowledge of International Tax
• Working knowledge of Tax Administration Act, STT, and Transfer Duty
• Skills in drafting opinions
• Business acumen
• Change management
• Decisiveness
• Knowledge of ethics
• Legal compliance
• Managerial budgeting
• Planning and organizing
• Planning, management, and measurement
• Policy development
• Problem analysis and judgment
• Strategic planning