Senior Manager: Interpretative Tax Policy

Job Title: Sen Manager: Interpretative Tax Policy – Corporate Income Tax

Position Reports to:  Head: Leveraged Legal Products

Division: Taxpayer Engagement

Location: Pretoria

Advert Closing Date: 16 January 2026

About the Position

SARS is making an exciting opportunity available for a highly skilled, experienced and results driven Corporate Income Tax technical person with sound judgement, strong business acumen and the ability to manage teams and interpretive outcomes.

Job Purpose

To manage by researching, reviewing and providing tax technical input on the formulation of official policies and practices as it relates to the interpretation of all corporate income tax and related matters. To issue and take responsibility for the quality and technical accuracy   of divisional documents such as non-binding opinions, internal documents, guides, interpretation notes and binding general rulings. To provide input on practical operational implementation of policies and practices formulated.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

Relevant Honours Degree / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) in Taxation or LLB and 10 – 12 years' experience in Law Interpretation relating to Corporate Income Tax, of which 3 - 4 years is at a middle management level.

OR

Relevant bachelor's degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Taxation or LLB and 12 – 15 years' experience in Law Interpretation relating to Corporate Income Tax, of which 3 - 4 years is at a middle management level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

Job Outputs:

Process

• Together with your team, identify corporate tax related topics and sections that require interpretation and/or guidance in order to provide clarity and certainty to taxpayers.
• Manage and provide tax technical guidance to a team of between 8 and 15 tax technically skilled individuals responsible for researching and writing opinions and guidance documents on identified corporate tax related topics and sections that require interpretation and/or guidance in order to provide clarity and certainty to taxpayers.
• Comprehensively evaluate the implications of a legislative interpretation and guidance document on the tax base, cross-border environment, tax administration in general and tax policy.
• Ensure that comparative analysis with best practices world-wide are considered in the policy development process.
• Identify and liaise with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that all aspects relating to a specific topic and/or section has been considered when formulating a policy and/or providing guidance.
• Contribute to SARS's internal governance policies and procedures by, for example, participating in Committees, workshops and various forums convened by other divisions within SARS.
• Advise or otherwise provide guidance to SARS senior management and/or National Treasury where required on corporate tax technical and related matters, including deficiencies in current legislation impacting on the tax base, and do presentations and represent SARS at various internal and external forums.
• Liaise with competent authorities of other countries if required in respect of international or cross-border transactions.
• Manage and provide guidance, advice and assistance to corporate income tax teams during the drafting process of divisional output and identify training and development needs of team members.
• Assist in the development of personnel in the division by contributing to technical discussions, presenting training and assist with on-the-job transfer of knowledge.
• Develop business and delivery plans in consultation with leadership in support of divisional and organisational objectives.
• Provide reports on performance against plan and progress on initiatives and realign business plan and objectives appropriately when required.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, policies and procedures within the division, 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

• 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
• Translate performance expectations into specific metrics and goals to identify and provide effective services, solve problems and achieve objectives.

 Finance

• 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

• Ability to translate strategy into execution
• Concern for Impact of own behaviour on others
• Fairness and Transparency
• Develops teams and nurtures interdependency
• Accountability
• Inspires others to Positive Action
• Honesty and Integrity
• Trust
• Respect
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Nurtures Future Talent
• Stewardship and Service Orientation
• Strong Results Orientation
• Values and Manages Diversity

Technical competencies

• In-depth knowledge of Corporate Income Tax
• In-depth knowledge of International Tax
• Working knowledge of Tax Administration Act, STT and Transfer Duty
• Opinion drafting skills and experience
• Business Acumen
• Change Management
• Decisiveness
•  Knowledge of ethics
• Legal Compliance
• Managerial Budgeting
• Planning and Organising
• Planning, Management and Measurement
• Policy development
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Strategic Planning

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.