Business Area Lead: Legal

Position Reports to:   Bus Area Head: Technical Enablement

Division: Taxpayer Engagement-GS

Location: Woodmead North Office Park

Advert Closing Date:  09 January 2026

About the Position

SARS is seeking to employ a highly skilled, experienced, results driven, self-motivated Senior Manager/Lead with sound judgement and strong business acumen who will contribute towards our higher purpose and service orientation. The successful candidates will need to have experience in planning, managing, and monitoring the implementation of Legal and Specialised Tax activities and end-to-end processes, by managing the operational activities of the team and ensure that the team meets its target within the set quality, turnaround time and productivity norms, in order to deliver on approved operational plans and to continuously enhance service delivery.  The successful candidate will need to manage a team of legal and specialised professionals and engage with various tax clients and related stakeholders.

 Job Purpose

To provide direction and leadership to the Legal Delivery, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Tax advisory teams in order to ensure the effective and efficient performance of LBI Legal and Tax activities to yield revenue and regulate taxpayer compliance.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

Honours / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) in Law/Accounting/Tax and 10-12 years' experience in a Tax, Legal and/or Dispute environment, of which 3-4 years at management level

OR

Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Law/Accounting/Tax and years with a Tax, Legal and/or Dispute environment related experience, of which 3-4 years at management level

Job Outputs:

Process

• 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 & specify priorities, standards & 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 & progress on short-term initiatives & use to realign tactical plan and objectives appropriately.
• Use the insights gained through integrated business reports to measure success & realign tactical strategy development objectives appropriately.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, policies and procedures, and direct the implementation of change and innovation initiated by the organisation.

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

• Plan & develop enhanced organisational efficiency by identifying and addressing development requirements & providing tools for people resources.
• Translate performance expectations into specific metrics and goals to identify and provide effective services, solve problems and achieve objectives.
• Create a positive work climate & culture to energise employees & give meaning to work, minimise work disruption and maximise employee productivity.
• Develop & implement appropriate people capacity plans in line with delivery & efficiency targets, on budget & in partnership with specialised areas.

Finance

• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of accountability.
• Draw up a budget aligned to business unit delivery plans, monitor planned vs. actual, minimise expenditure and report on cost efficiency.

Client

• 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.
• Build strong relationships and develop service level agreements that promote SARS with internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural competencies

• Championing the Mandate
• Influencing Others
• Mobilising Teams
• Driving for Excellence
• Leveraging Diversity
• Accurate Understanding
• Developing Others
• Fairness and Transparency
• Accountability
• Honesty and Integrity
• Trust
• Respect
• Honesty and Integrity
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Building Sustainability

Technical competencies

• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Managerial Budgeting
• Tax Knowledge
• Efficiency improvement
• Strategic Planning
• Legal Advisory and Interpretation
• Legal Knowledge and knowledge of ethics
• Legal Compliance
• Effective Business Communication
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Planning, Management and Measurement
• Decisiveness
• Business Acumen

Compliance Competency

• GOC Confidential

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.