Job Description

About the Position
We are on an exciting journey to build "a smart modern SARS with unquestionable integrity, trusted and admired by all". Our mandate is to ensure optimal compliance with Tax and Customs legislation. We do this through fostering a culture of Voluntary Compliance and by making it easy for taxpayers and traders to comply with their legal obligations. Our Higher Purpose, the reason that SARS exists, is to provide resources that help to build a capable state, that nurtures sustainable economic growth, social development and that serves the well-being of all South Africans. We are Nation Builders.
In an era characterised by rapidly evolving technological innovation, SARS is preparing for a world where increasingly our work is informed by data driven insights, machine learning, algorithms, artificial intelligence and interconnectivity of people and devices.
This dynamic world of work calls for pioneers imbued by a sense of serving the SARS Higher Purpose and service to our people. The successful Nation Builders will work with the entire team in support of our Strategic Intent and the nine Strategic Objectives, namely: * Provide Clarity & Certainty of tax obligations.

• Make it Easy for Taxpayers and Traders to Comply & fulfil their obligations.
• Detect Taxpayers and Traders who do not comply and make noncompliance hard and costly.
• Develop a high performing, diverse, agile and engaged workforce towards higher value knowledge and service work.
• Expand and increase the use of data to improve integrity, derive insights & improve outcomes.
• Modernise our systems to provide digital & streamlined services.
• Drive greater resources stewardship to ensure the efficient use of resources and deliver quality outcomes & performance excellence.
• Work with and through Stakeholders to improve the tax system.
• Build public trust and confidence in the tax administration system.

SARS is seeking a leader who is dynamic, highly skilled, and passionate about service excellence. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, have exceptional planning and organisational skills, and embody integrity and confidentiality, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful contribution.
As Lead: Service and Support, you will do more than supporting our operations-you will be the backbone of regional service delivery, champion regional compliance, and inspire teams to uphold the highest standards of governance and support across the Free State & Northern Cape.
Why Join Standard Operations Free State & Northern Cape?

• Purpose with Impact - Your work will support our efforts to ensure compliance and strengthen public trust in our tax system.
• Strategic Leadership - Report directly to the Regional Director and be part of the executive team driving transformation in the region.
• Growth & Influence - Lead high-performing teams, nurture talent, and create a culture of accountability, fairness, and respect.

What You Will Do

• Drive Regional Excellence - Oversee regional services and support, in particular Financial Management, Procurement and General Housekeeping.
• Champion Compliance - Collaborate with Health and Safety, Asset Management, Security, Physical Facilities and Finance teams to ensure adherence to SARS and national standards and legislation.
• Innovate Service Delivery - Lead initiatives to upgrade support systems, implement advanced monitoring, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Governance & Risk - Implement governance, risk, and compliance policies; manage financial controls; and ensure audit readiness.

What We Are Looking For

• A great personality with strong attention to detail.
• Strong planning, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal abilities.
• Proven ability to manage compliance, governance, finance, and risk in a complex environment.
• Proven experience in financial systems (e.g. SAP), asset management, and procurement governance will be highly regarded.

Ready to Make a Difference?
If you are motivated by meaningful challenges, committed to public service, and eager to leave a lasting impact, we would like to hear from you. Apply now and become a steward of national progress.
Job Purpose
To manage regional services and provide support through ensuring compliance with OHS requirements, including Control Health (Audit), Physical Facilities, consolidating the SARS organisational arrangements with regards to general housekeeping, Finance, Security and Procurement.
Education and Experience
Minimum Qualification & Experience Required
Honours degree/Postgraduate Diploma (NQF8) in Accounting, Finance, Audit or Business Management, AND 10 to 12 years' experience in a Financial or Business Management environment, of which 3 to 4 years at middle management level.
OR
Bachelor's Degree or Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Accounting, Finance, Audit or Business Management, AND 12 to 15 years' experience in a Financial or Business Management environment, of which 3 to 4 years at middle management level.
Job Outputs:
Process

• Collaborate with the Asset Management team to verify the list of impaired assets for the region, action the move of assets under construction and the transfer of assets in line with applicable processes and procedures.
• Collaborate with the Health and Safety team in ensuring the region comply to the Occupational Health & Safety requirements and keep staff informed of any health and safety matters and development programmes.
• Conduct regular training sessions and webinars to educate stakeholders on compliance requirements. Implement user-friendly online portals and tools to simplify compliance processes.
• Develop a knowledge management system to capture and share best practices across the organization and ensure transparency and accountability in all service and support activities.
• Develop and distribute clear guidelines and FAQs to help stakeholders and traders understand their obligations.
• Develop and implement advanced monitoring systems to detect non-compliance and collaborate with enforcement teams to ensure timely and effective action against non-compliance.
• Drive and monitor the bi-annual asset verification cycle, provide regular feedback to managers and ensure the deadline is met.
• Ensure all security protocols are adhered to with zero breaches reported and improve incident response time.
• Lead initiatives to upgrade and integrate support systems with the latest technologies.
• Manage finance function within the region, including budgeting, forecasting, risk management, adherence to the PFMA, asset management, procurement processes, travel management and petty cash management.
• Monitor procurement governance processes within the region to minimise risk, comply with PFMA and ensuring no audit findings by the Auditor-General.
• Oversee physical facilities, including general housekeeping to ensure SARS standards are maintained.
• Represent the region in various committees, provide inputs and implement good governance in area of responsibility.
• Develop tactical strategy and delivery plans in support of 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 its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives; driving best practice solutions.
• Provide periodic reports on performance against plan and progress on medium-term initiatives and use to realign operating plan 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.

Governance

• 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.

People

• Create a positive work climate and culture to energise employees and 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.

Finance

• Draw up a budget aligned to business unit delivery plans, monitor planned vs. actual, minimise expenditure and report on cost efficiency.
• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of accountability.
• Implement and manage financial risk methodologies, techniques and systems and use to monitor and report on financial activities.
• Implement and provide feedback on the effectiveness of financial policy, practice and procedures; preventing illegal, unethical or improper conduct.

Client

• 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.

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Respect
• Service Delivery Innovation
• Trust
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity

Leadership competencies

• Concern for Impact of own behaviour on others
• Develops teams and nurtures interdependency
• Inspire others to Positive Action
• Nurtures Future Talent
• Stewardship and Service Orientation
• Strong Results Orientation
• Values and Manages Diversity
• Ability to translate strategy into execution

Technical competencies

• Business Acumen
• Decisiveness
• Effective Business Communication
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Governance, Ethics and Values
• Managerial Budgeting
• Planning and Organising
• Planning, Management and Measurement
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Service Delivery
• Strategic Planning and Reporting
• Change Management

Compliance Competency

• GOC Secret

Employment Equity
The Employment Equity policy of SARS will be considered as part of the recruitment and selection process and Persons with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be required to undertake an oath of secrecy, pre-employment screening, case study, pre-assessment, psychometric assessment and or vetting, and a declaration of private interest. The appointment is also subject to appropriate reference(s) and security clearance where applicable.

Skills Required