Job Description

Job Title: Lead: Tax Base Broadening and Taxpayer Education
Position Reports to: Regional Director: Taxpayer Engagement - KZN
Division: Taxpayer Engagement-KZN
Location: Durban, KZN
Advert Closing Date: 01 August 2025
About the Position
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is seeking a dynamic and results-driven professional to lead its Tax Base Broadening and Taxpayer Education initiatives within the KZN region. Reporting to the Regional Director: Taxpayer Engagement, this role is pivotal in ensuring that all eligible citizens and entities are accurately registered and fully informed of their tax and customs obligations. As the Lead, you will spearhead the development and execution of impactful taxpayer education and outreach programmes, working closely with government and industry stakeholders to enhance voluntary compliance. You will also drive strategic initiatives to broaden the tax base, ensuring educational content is accessible, accurate, and tailored to diverse taxpayer groups. This role demands a seasoned professional with deep knowledge of at least two tax types, a strong background in audit or tax compliance, and a proven ability to lead teams, manage stakeholder relationships, and deliver measurable outcomes. You will be expected to stay abreast of legislative changes, evaluate programme effectiveness, and continuously refine strategies to meet evolving taxpayer needs.
Job Purpose
To ensure that all citizens and entities who should be registered, reflect correctly on the SARS register, and are clear about their obligations in terms of tax and customs laws.
Education and Experience
Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Honours Degree / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) in Business Administration/Strategic Management/Leadership and Management/Finance/Tax/Accounting/ Audit or related.

Minimum Experience

• 10 - 12 years of experience in Tax Broadening, Taxpayer Education initiatives, and Stakeholder Management relationships, of which 3 - 4 years at a middle management level

OR
Alternative Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Business Administration/Strategic Management/Leadership and Management/Finance/Tax/Accounting/Audit or related.

Alternative Minimum Experience

• 12 - 15 years' experience in Tax Broadening and Taxpayer Education initiatives and Stakeholder Management relationships, of which 3 - 4 years at a middle management level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

• Knowledge and experience in at least 2 Tax types.
• Applicable to a specific Audit environment e.g. Tax, Customs or Excise business environments.

Job Outputs

• Develop and execute taxpayer education and outreach programs to enhance awareness and understanding of tax legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Tax Base Broadening Initiatives.
• Increase Taxpayer Engagement by working with and through Government and Industry Stakeholders.
• Provide advice and information in terms of tax obligations, continuously assess impact of educational programmes and outreach initiatives in an effort to increase the level of voluntary compliance.

• Lead the design of effective education and outreach programmes to deliver impactful educational campaigns.
• Ensure that educational content is accurate, up-to-date, and accessible to a diverse audience, including individuals, businesses, and tax professionals.
• Customize educational programs for various taxpayer groups, addressing their specific needs and concerns.
• Manage relationships with external stakeholders to foster partnerships and ensure effective outreach.
• Regularly report on program performance and provide recommendations for improvements.
• Stay updated on changes in tax laws, regulations, and technologies to adapt educational programs accordingly.
• Evaluate feedback from taxpayers to improve the quality of educational initiatives and meet the evolving needs of the taxpayer base.
• 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.

Process
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.

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
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Respect
• Trust

Technical competencies

• 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
• Strategic Planning
• Tax Knowledge

Leadership Competencies

• 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
• Ability to translate strategy into execution

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.