Data Analyst II- Customs, Excise

Job Title :   Data Analyst – Customs, Excise & International Trade Facilitation (SMME Segment)

Position Reports to  :   Manager: SMME Data Analytics

Division :   Design and Enabling

Location :   Head Office

Advert Closing Date :   05 December 2025

About the Position

SARS is seeking a highly skilled Data Analyst to join our Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) Segment focusing on international trade facilitation. This role is critical in supporting SARS's mandate to facilitate compliant trade, optimise revenue collection, and enhance border management through data-driven insights tailored to the SMME sector.

Job Purpose

The Data Analyst will play a critical role in transforming raw data into actionable insights that support strategic decision-making. This position requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively across teams to deliver high-quality data solutions

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

Relevant bachelor's degree / Advanced Diploma: Data Science / Statistics / Economics / Information Systems / Computer Science/ Mathematics/ Business Information Systems AND 5-7 years' experience in Data Engineering / Business Data Intelligence / Data Science/ Data Analytics, of which 2-3 years ideally at functional specialist level.

 OR

Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 10 years of experience in Data Engineering / Business Data Intelligence / Data Science/ Data Analytics, of which 2-3 years ideally at functional specialist level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

Experience:

• At least 3 years in data analytics, preferably within customs, excise, or trade environments.
• Strong knowledge of international trade regulations and customs processes.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in SQL and data visualization tools (Power BI).
• Familiarity with advanced Excel functions.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Competencies:

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving.
• Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Preferred Attributes:

• Experience in risk modelling for customs and excise.
• Familiarity with World Customs Organization (WCO) standards and trade facilitation agreements.
• Knowledge of South African trade and excise legislation, especially for SMMEs.
• Analyse large and complex datasets related to customs declarations, excise duties, domestic and international trade flows for SMMEs.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and predictive models to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for trade facilitation in the SMME segment.
• Support policy and operational decision-making through actionable insights.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve compliance monitoring and risk profiling for SMMEs.
• Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and compliance with SARS standards and international best practices.

Job Outputs:

Process

• Accumulate information to review work progress that provides input to reporting, decision making and the identification of improvement opportunities.
• Apply practical and applied knowledge and act authoritatively on methods, systems and procedures to identify trends and potential risks.
• Communication of situational interpretation and judgement of work outputs and queries in area of specialisation.
• Correctly apply policies, practices, standards, procedures and legislation in the delivery of work outputs.
• Draw on own knowledge and experience to diagnose symptoms, causes and possible effects in order to solve emerging problems.
• Initiate process and procedural change, implement the change and provide guidelines and support related to new requirements because of the change.
• Plan for value-added process improvements, initiatives and services to deliver on operational strategy and objectives.
• Execute specialist input through investigation &opportunities within the product process including risk concern.
• Provide specialist input through the investigation of opportunities for operational and process product and risk optimisation.
• Undertake information gathering, research and analyse data within broad guidelines to produce accurate plans & or recommendations for business issues.
• To perform intermediate business analysis using various techniques, e.g. statistical analysis, explanatory and predictive modelling, data mining.
• To design, develop and test medium to complex data analytics solutions like Reports, Dashboards, Analysis, Extracts, Models, etc.
• To identify, analyses and interpret trends and patterns in medium to complex data sets, based on data findings.
• Constantly monitor the integrity and quality of data and processes to identify deficiencies and facilitate improvement.
• Communicate the results of their analysis and findings by using medium to complex data visualisation techniques.
• To ensure the availability of existing data analytics solutions (like reports, etc.) by maintaining them as well as improving them where shortcomings exist.
• To research best practices and supports developing the solutions and recommendations for the current business operations.
• Support ad hoc data requests and contribute to ongoing process improvements.

Governance

• Ensure that completed work adhere to relevant policies, procedures, governance and legislative requirements and report on deviations & discrepancies.
• Implement and provide input into the development of governance, compliance, integrity and ethics processes within area of specialization.

People

• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with peers and team members to achieve predefined objectives.
• Search for, integrate and share new knowledge attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.

Finance

• Adhere to organisational policies and procedures to ensure cost effectiveness and reduction of financial costs.

Client

• Contribute to a culture of service excellence, which builds positive relationships and provides opportunity for feedback and exceptional service.
• Provide authoritative, specialist services, expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Building Sustainability
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Conceptual Ability
• Fairness and Transparency
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect
• Trust

Technical competencies

• Business Knowledge
• Computer Literacy
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Database Design and Management
• Data Management
• Efficiency improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Information management
• Reporting
• Statistical and Mathematical Analysis Proficiency
• Technical Expertise

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.