Director, Forensic Data-Mining

JOB PURPOSE

To acquire and analyze data in order to ascertain the status of the tax system and determine the level of voluntary compliance and the factors affecting taxpayer behaviour; develop risk models to identify non-compliant taxpayers and inform the development of the Programme Plan in collaboration with the Programmes Branch, to ensure that the revenues due are identified, assessed, and collected. 

KEY OUTPUTS

• Unit Operational Plan developed and implemented; 
• Tax system risks identified; 
• Non-compliant entities identified and risk rated; 
• Tax gap is determined and analysed; 
• Quantitative models developed; 
• Tax Risk programmes evaluated and communicated; 
• Research conducted and findings presented; 
• Reports prepared and submitted; 
• Human and financial resources managed; 

KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS

Management and Administrative Duties 

• Guides the development of the Operational and Work Plans with the supporting budget for the Section, ensuring that all the relevant activities to be undertaken and required resources are considered and that expenditures are made within the budgetary allocations; 
• Plans, coordinates and directs all the activities of the functional areas; 
• Establishes and enforces standards and rules of professional conduct for staff within the Section in order to maintain the highest degree of confidence in its integrity and efficiency; 
• Ensures staff is aware of and operates in accordance with all relevant laws and policies; 
• Maintains effective working relations with external and internal stakeholders, ensuring that the Section provides a consistently high level of service.

Technical and Professional Responsibilities 

• Provides sound technical advice to the Chief Strategic Planning and Research Officer and or the Deputy Commissioner General, Strategic Services on all matters relating to Forensic Data Mining; 
• Negotiates data sharing arrangements or protocols with government and non government sources; 
• Coordinates activities geared at obtaining data from external sources; 
• Collects and analyzes primary data to identify factors that influence taxpayer behaviour towards voluntary compliance, thus determining; 
• Examines and analyzes internal and external /third party data to improve revenue collections and operational performance of TAJ; 
• Integrates tax data with appropriate economic data and variables to examine the growth in the economy and variance in revenue collection; 
• Develops tax compliance risk models to identify patterns in non-compliance behaviour in terms of registration, filing, reporting and payment; 
• Ensures that tax compliance risk models developed are utilized to drive the audit selection process; 
• Submits analytical reports to the relevant functional areas within the Programmes Section, to guide the development of programmes; 
• Contributes to research work in order to determine action to reduce the domestic tax gap; 
• Contributes to TAJ’s Compliance Risk Management Strategy and Programmes; 
• Institutionalizes control measures to secure the credibility and integrity third party data 
• Makes recommendations for the acquisition of current and robust data mining software; 
• Collaborates with the Training Section to ensure that the staff is adequately trained in using current data mining software; 
• Keeps abreast of TAJ’s strategic objectives and makes appropriate recommendations to improve revenue collection; 
• Continuously evaluates the Forensic Data-mining Section’s performance and prepares and submits performance reports in the established format;
• Implement established enterprise risk culture within teams/sections that is aligned to TAJ’s enterprise risk management objectives; 
• Maintains, manages and provides aggregated reports (Sub-risk Register) on ERM activities under the purview of the Section as per required; 
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Chief Strategic Planning and Research Officer. 

Human Resource Management Duties 

• Develops and manages the Section’s Human Resource plan that addresses staff requirements and succession planning and liaises with the Chief Programme Officer; 
• Participates in the recruitment of staff for the Section and ensures that they are aware of and adhere to the policies and procedures of the Department; 
• Conducts periodical reviews of supervisees in accordance with the Work Plan; 
• Completes final performance assessments based on performance criteria and recommends appropriate training and development programmes as necessary; 
• Initiates and participates in disciplinary proceedings relating to staff members within the Section and implements corrective measures. 

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

This job is satisfactorily performed when: 

• The Section’s Operational Plan, with the supporting budget, are prepared in accordance with the guidelines and submitted by the due date; 
• Tax system risks are accurately identified and communicated within the stipulated time; 
• Non-compliant entities are identified, risk rated and submitted within the stipulated time; 
• Tax gap is determined and analysed in accordance with the established standards; 
• Robust quantitative models are developed and implemented to assess compliance risks; 
• Outcomes of tax risk programmes are accurately evaluated and the results communicated within the established timeframe; 
• Research conducted and presentations made within agreed timeframe; 
• Accurate, comprehensive reports are prepared in the required format and submitted within the agreed timeframe; 
• Human resource policies and procedures and financial resources are administered equitably without discrimination.

AUTHORITY TO

• Source sensitive information of interest to the Department; 
• Gather compliance data; 
• Access database on the taxpayer population; 
• Share important information with other areas of the Department. 

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Specific Knowledge 

• Expert knowledge of Quantitative Analysis and inferential statistics to aid operational decision making; 
• Expert knowledge of business intelligence analytics; 
• Comprehensive knowledge of Tax Administration’s operations and functions;
• Comprehensive knowledge of research and statistical methodology and techniques;
• Working knowledge of Tax Laws and practices; 
• Working knowledge of Human Resource Management and practices; 
• Working knowledge of other relevant computer software. 

Required Skills and Specialised Techniques 

• Excellent planning and organizing skills; 
• Excellent research, analytical and problem-solving skills; 
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and team skills; 
• Ability to interpret data, test validity and reliability of research and survey data;
• Keen attention to detail and results oriented; 

Qualification and Experience 

• Master’s Degree in Data Science or Economics or Statistics or equivalent;
• Post Graduate training in Econometrics; 
• Training in Quantitative Analysis with emphasis on tax compliance;
• Training in Project Management would be an asset; 
• Five (5) years related work experience. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Normal office environment; 
• Required to work outside of normal working hours; 
• Travel (20% - 25%).

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.