The South African Revenue Service (SARS)
Job Purpose
The Senior Manager: Risk Technology role within SARS is strategically expected to manage and implement risk technology strategies that align with the organisation’s objectives. This includes leading both a development team (focused on in-house development using C#, MVC, SQL Server, SSIS, and SSRS) and a data team to build and maintain integrated solutions that support Risk Profiling and Case Selection operations. The role is responsible for automating routine tasks across the broader team, enabling staff to focus on high-skill, value-driven work.
A key focus is on designing and maintaining integrations between various internal and external SARS systems to enhance efficiency, reporting accuracy, standardisation, and proactive risk identification and mitigation. The role also oversees the handling of large datasets across multiple tax types, ensuring data integrity, usability, and consistent availability to internal and external stakeholders.
This position plays a critical role in modernising existing processes, integrating AI to improve development and user experience, and providing system-wide expertise on how technology components function together to deliver strategic outcomes.
Education and Experience
Minimum Qualification & Experience Required
Relevant Honours Degree / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8), preferably in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Risk Management or related field AND 10 – 12 years’ experience in a risk management environment, of which 3 – 4 years at a middle management level.
#Alternative
Relevant Bachelor’s Degree/Advanced Diploma (NQF 7), preferably in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Risk Management or related field AND 12 – 15 years related experience, of which 3 – 4 years at a middle management level.
Minimum Functional Requirements
GOC Secret: Handling sensitive and classified information.
Risk Management (IT): Proficient in identifying, mitigating, and managing technology-related risks.
Strategic Leadership: Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary technology and data teams.
Software Development: Strong experience managing in-house development using C#, MVC, SQL Server, SSIS, and SSRS.
Automation and Optimisation: Expertise in designing solutions that automate operational tasks and improve team efficiency.
System Integration Design: Advanced skill in designing and implementing integrations between internal and external systems.
Large-scale Data Handling: Proficient in managing, transforming, and ensuring the integrity of large and complex datasets across multiple domains.
AI Integration: Familiarity with integrating AI tools to enhance development processes and internal user experiences.
Job Outputs:
Process
Ensure timeous communication on progress and challenges in achieving divisional and business unit goals to all relevant stakeholders.
Identify and recommend opportunities to continuously improve all functions and systems in line with national, regional and organisational changes.
Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives, driving best practice solutions.
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.
Governance
Implement governance, risk and compliance policy in own practice areas to identify and manage governance and risk exposure liability.
Manage and/oradvise 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 the 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 that build service delivery excellence and encourage 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
Problem Solving and Analysis
Respect
Trust
Technical competencies
Concern for the impact of own behaviour on others
Nurtures Future Talent
Develops teams and nurtures interdependency
Inspires others to Positive Action
Stewardship and Service Orientation
Strong Results Orientation
Values and Manages Diversity
Ability to translate strategy into execution
Business Acumen
Change Management
Decisiveness
Effective Business Communication
Functional Policies and Procedures
Managerial Budgeting
Planning and Organising
Planning, Management, and Measurement
Problem Analysis and Judgement
Reporting and Interpretation
Risk Awareness
Risk Knowledge
Strategic Planning
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