Job Opportunity at IMF, Tax Administration Advisor

The Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seeking to recruit a resident tax administration advisor at the Regional Capacity Development Center in East Africa (AFRITAC East or AFE), based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 

Depending on travel restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the advisor may have to work remotely from his/her home country until restrictions are lifted.  AFRITAC East is a multi-donor financed Center of the IMF. It provides capacity development (CD, i.e., technical assistance and training) in economic and financial management through six program streams covering tax and customs administration, public financial management, financial sector regulation and supervision, financial sector stability, statistics and macro-economics. 

It covers eight countries in the region, namely Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), and Uganda. It also provides direct support to the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat.

The initial contract will be for a period of one year with an option for renewal based upon satisfactory performance. It is anticipated that the advisor will remain in this position for a minimum of two years and may be extended up to a maximum of four years, based upon performance and a continuing need for the specific position.

AFRITAC East is supporting its member countries with their revenue reform initiatives. The resident tax administration advisor will assist these countries with the development and implementation of tax administration reforms, while ensuring consistency with FAD-recommended tax reform strategies that headquarters missions help the authorities design.

The advisor’s primary responsibilities will include: 

1. consulting with the revenue authorities of the member countries and the EAC Secretariat, and supporting the center director in developing and monitoring the AFRITAC East work plan, which dovetails with the FAD workplan for the region; 
2. providing technical and operational advice on tax administration reforms and helping implement such advice, as needed and based on advice that the FAD has provided through its missions and workshops; 
3. helping  prepare and deliver tax administration workshops and training courses for AFRITAC East members; 
4. providing coordinating and logistical support to short-term tax administration experts recruited to deliver CD to AFRITAC East member countries; 
5. managing the AFRITAC East tax administration program (in close coordination with the resident tax administration advisor), which entails: preparing work plans and budgets, ensuring work plans for each country, and any regional initiatives, are fully consistent with and support the implementation of FAD-recommended reform initiatives; monitoring, reporting, accounting for progress towards outcomes through a results based management framework; 
6. working and cooperating closely with the EAC Secretariat; 
7. coordinating with other CD providers working in the region and their experts; and 
8. contributing to AFRITAC East’s corporate activities (e.g., annual reports and outreach activities).

Qualifications:

The technical and operational skills and qualifications required for this position include a high level of knowledge in the following areas:

• The legislative and regulatory environment for tax, including international agreements and standards.
• Organization, strategic planning, and management of a tax agency/department.
• The use of information technology and new digital tools and applications to support tax administration operations.
• The whole range of tax administration technical procedures and controls.
• Policies and activities in the field of tax enforcement and compliance.
• Familiarity with tax policies and regulations.
• International good practices in tax administration.

Applicants should have extensive practical experience in the core operations of a tax administration and have spent a minimum of 5 years in a senior management position within a tax administration. 

Preference will be given to applicants who have broad experience in managing tax operations; have participated in developing and implementing tax administration reform programs within their administrations or internationally, including introducing new digital tools and technologies to improve tax operations; have experience in technical and operational capacity building in tax administration, such as participating in relevant CD activities, developing and conducting training interventions (including seminars, workshops, and online training) and mentoring tax administration staff; have experience in managing or overseeing CD delivery and coordinating with other CD providers and donors; and are aware of the issues and challenges facing tax administration reforms in the African and other regions.

General requirements for candidates include:

• A university degree in a relevant field and/or five years of professional experience within a revenue/tax administration or international organization providing TA on revenue policy and administrative matters.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to work as part of a team, to maintain effective and cooperative relations with national authorities and with donors, and to handle sensitive issues with discretion in a multicultural environment.
• Full proficiency in English; knowledge of French.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, particularly presentational capabilities to deliver effective seminars and training events.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with ability to effectively and flexibly manage budget and other resources, ensuring timing and quality compliance with reporting requirements while working with considerable autonomy.
• Familiarity with modern computer systems, applications software, and digital innovations to support tax operations.
• Previous experience of capacity building in the tax administration area (such as participating in tax administration CD activities and organizing and conducting training courses and workshops) would be an advantage.
• A willingness to travel extensively in the region is required.

Successful applicants who are not selected for this position may be eligible to join the FAD panel of tax administration experts, from which individuals are recruited for short-term assignments focusing on specific areas.

Assumption of duty is expected to be November 1, 2021.

Special Eligibility Provisions for Internal Applicants

 A staff member whose open-ended appointment decision has been approved is eligible for consideration. A staff member appointed to AFE will retain their staff employment status, remain on the Fund’s payroll, and move laterally for the duration of the assignment subject to the limit of staff assignments earmarked for this purpose. 

The selected staff will be eligible for overseas assignment benefits. At the end of the assignment, a staff member is expected to return to his/her home department in the Fund, unless other arrangements have been made (e.g., the staff member has applied and is selected in another department). In the event an external or a contractual candidate is selected for this assignment, the candidate will be hired on a contractual appointment basis, and the provision under the Handbook for Experts on Long-Term Assignments will continue to apply.

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