Business Area Lead: Investigative Audit (PIRE)

SARS; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A tax authority in Pretoria is seeking a highly skilled Business Area Lead to manage audit compliance and ensure effective delivery of services. The ideal candidate will have an Honours Degree in Accounting or related fields and extensive experience in tax audit management. This role involves strategic planning, team leadership, and stakeholder engagement to enhance service delivery and operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

• 10-12 years' experience in a Tax Audit environment.
• 3-4 years at a middle management level.
• Must manage operational activities of the team.

Responsibilities

• Formulate tactical strategy related to audit and compliance.
• Develop and maintain the audit system.
• Engage with various tax clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Business Acumen

Change Management

Decisiveness

Effective Business Communication

Strategic Planning

Tax Compliance Auditing

Education

Honours Degree in Accounting / Auditing / Taxation / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8)

Job description

Position Reports to:

Director: PIRE

Division

Taxpayer Engagement

Location

Pretoria

Advert Closing Date

09 January 2026

About the Position

SARS is seeking to employ a highly skilled, experienced, results‑driven, self‑motivated Business Area Lead with sound judgement and strong business acumen who will contribute towards our higher purpose and service orientation. The successful candidate will need to have experience in planning, managing, and monitoring the implementation of audit and risk profiling compliance programmes, by managing the operational activities of the team and ensuring 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 audit and risk profiling professionals and engage with various tax clients and related stakeholders.

Job Purpose

To formulate tactical strategy and associated delivery plans related to multiple practice areas, by developing and maintaining the audit system and developing audit programmes based on compliance levels and risk prioritisation, ensuring practice integration and operational implementation through the achievement of audit objectives.

Education and Experience

Honours Degree in Accounting / Auditing / Taxation / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) and 10‑12 years' experience in a Tax Audit environment, of which 3‑4 years at a middle management level.

Job Outputs

• Develop an effective annual operating plan to meet established annual objectives that contribute positively to organisational results.
• 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.
• Identify business unit improvement opportunities and development approaches to support business sustainability.
• Plan and conduct random audits to ensure taxpayer compliance.
• Plan for handling work outputs, pull together interdependent activities and specify priorities, standards and procedures to ensure tactical excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine their 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.
• Time‑sously 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.

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
• Persuasion Ability
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect
• Trust

Technical Competencies

• Business Acumen
• Change Management
• Decisiveness
• Effective Business Communication
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Managerial Budgeting
• Operational Audit
• Planning and Organising
• Planning, Management and Measurement
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Strategic Planning
• Tax Compliance Auditing
• Tax Knowledge
• Tax Law

Leadership Competencies

• Ability to translate strategy into execution
• 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

Compliance Competency

GOC Secret - (a) sensitive information, the disclosure of which may endanger the security or national interest of the Republic or could jeopardise the international relations of the Republic;(b) commercial information, the disclosure of which may cause serious financial loss to an entity; or (c) personal information, the disclosure of which may endanger the physical security of a person. E.g. VIP/Restricted Taxpayer information

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.