About the Position

SARS is seeking an experienced data analytics professionals with a genuine passion for turning data into powerful financial insights to join our Management Accounting team as a Specialist: Data Analytics (Finance). In this pivotal role, you will help shape the future of financial analysis, automation, and artificial intelligence within the organisation. Drawing on your expertise, you will play a central part in delivering smarter, faster, and more accurate insights that drive decision-making, as well as medium- and long-term financial planning across the organisation, the Revenue Recovery Project, and the wider Finance function. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact, working collaboratively with talented colleagues and contributing to the ongoing success and innovation at SARS.

Job Purpose

To analyse and provide expert advice with regards to data analytics to achieve business objectives.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

Relevant Bachelor’s Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) AND 8-10 years' experience in a similar environment, Data Analytics, Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Systems, Economics, or related field of which 3-4 years  at junior specialist level.

Alternative #

Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 10 years industry related experience in Data Analytics, Finance, Accounting, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Systems, Economics, or a similar environment of which 3-4 years  at junior specialist level.

Job Outputs:

Process

• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures and associated area's practice.
• Conduct assessments and use information to advise, make recommendations and facilitate improvement.
• Constantly monitor the integrity and quality of data and processes to identify deficiencies and facilitate improvement.
• Develop a single practice area in alignment with operational activity and procedural frameworks and ensure tactical implementation.
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
• Note potential problems and obstacles, accumulate supporting data and initiate actions
• to prevent or overcome predicted problems as may be identified.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy implementation and optimisation of practises, processes and systems across an internal value chain.
• Plan for value-added, continuous practice and system improvements to deliver on objectives to enhance tactical implementation and excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives, best practice implementation solutions.
• Research and support workable recommendations/solutions that meet business needs through information analysis.
• Review the effectiveness of related approaches and methodologies by conducting research, and best practice benchmarking initiatives.
• Translate top-down policy in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders.
• Undertake information gathering, research and analyse data within broad guidelines to produce accurate plans and I or recommendations for business issues.

Governance

• Develop and/or align governance and compliance policies for own practice area to identify and manage risk exposure Liability.

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

• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation.

Client

• Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management.
• Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural Competencies

• Accountability
• Adaptability
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Conceptual Ability
• Expertise in Context
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Organisational Awareness
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect
• Trust

Technical Competencies

• Business Knowledge
• Data Analytics
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Data Governance 
• Data Integrity
• Efficiency improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures 
• Information management 
• Knowledge Management
• Reporting
• Statistical and Mathematical Analysis 
• System Thinking

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.