Eastern Cape: Tax Department Manager posted by Staff Solutions

About the Role

The Tax Department Manager will provide expert technical oversight across all major tax types, lead a high-performing team, and ensure compliance with SARS requirements and professional standards.

Key Responsibilities

• 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 well-documented.

• 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 high-risk or contentious SARS matters.
• Ensure all deadlines are monitored and met, and risks are proactively managed.

• 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 high-performance, accountable, and collaborative team culture.

• Act as a senior tax contact for key clients.
• Communicate complex tax matters clearly and practically to clients.
• Support client retention and growth through high-quality service and trusted advice.
• Identify opportunities for tax planning, advisory, and additional services.
• Ensure a consistent, professional client experience across the tax department.

• Ensure tax work is delivered accurately, timeously, and 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.

Requirements

• 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

Qualifications

No qualifications mentioned in the original job description.

Salary & Benefits

Salary information not provided in the original job description.