Tax Department Manager Eastern Cape, south-africa
full-time
Key Responsibilities
Technical Tax Leadership
Provide expert technical oversight across all major tax types, including:
Income Tax (Individuals, Companies, Trusts)
Provisional Tax
VAT
PAYE and related payroll taxes
Dividends Tax and Withholding Taxes
Review and sign off on complex tax computations, returns, and submissions.
Interpret and apply current tax legislation, case law, and SARS practice notes.
Provide guidance on complex tax structures, transactions, and compliance matters.
Ensure tax advice and submissions are technically sound, defensible, and welldocumented.
SARS Engagement & Dispute Resolution
Manage and oversee all complex SARS interactions, including:
Audits and verifications
Requests for Information (RFIs)
Requests for Reasons (RFRs)
Objections and appeals
Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) matters
Draft, review, and approve detailed technical responses to SARS.
Act as the escalation point for highrisk or contentious SARS matters.
Ensure all deadlines are monitored and met, and risks are proactively managed.
People & Team Management
Lead, manage, and develop the tax team, including:
Tax administrators, consultants, and senior tax staff
Allocate work appropriately based on complexity, capacity, and competence.
Conduct performance management, coaching, mentoring, and skills development.
Identify training needs and ensure ongoing technical and professional development.
Foster a highperformance, accountable, and collaborative team culture.
Client Service & Advisory
Act as a senior tax contact for key clients.
Communicate complex tax matters clearly and practically to clients.
Support client retention and growth through highquality service and trusted advice.
Identify opportunities for tax planning, advisory, and additional services.
Ensure a consistent, professional client experience across the tax department.
Operational & Quality Management
Ensure tax work is delivered:
Accurately
Timeously
In line with internal SOPs and professional standards
Monitor departmental workflows, deadlines, and capacity.
Maintain and improve tax processes, templates, and checklists.
Ensure proper documentation and audit trails for all tax matters.
Contribute to departmental budgeting, productivity, and profitability.
Compliance & Professional Standards
Ensure compliance with:
SARS requirements
Professional body standards
Internal policies and procedures
Stay up to date with legislative changes and ensure timely implementation.
Ensure CPD requirements are met (self and team, where applicable).
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
Relevant Tax Degree / Postgraduate Tax Qualification
Minimum 5 - 8 years relevant tax experience, with exposure to complex tax matters
Proven experience managing and leading a team
Strong experience dealing directly with SARS audits, disputes, and technical queries
Excellent, uptodate knowledge of South African tax legislation
Advantageous
Professional registration (e.g. SAIT, SAICA, SAIPA)
Experience in a professional services / advisory firm environment
Exposure to tax planning and structuring
Key Competencies & Skills
Strong technical tax competence
Excellent analytical and problemsolving skills
High attention to detail and quality
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to manage complexity and competing deadlines
Leadership, coaching, and peoplemanagement capability
Professional judgment and ethical decisionmaking
Clientfocused mindset
Performance Measures (Indicative)
Quality and accuracy of tax work
SARS outcomes and dispute resolution success
Timeliness of submissions and responses
Team productivity, capability, and engagement
Client satisfaction and retention
Compliance with internal standards and procedures