Ops Manager: Debt Management

Position Reports to: Manager: Debt Management

Division: Taxpayer Engagement & Operations

Location: Gauteng, Doringkloof

Advert Closing Date: 15 October 2026

About the Position

SARS is seeking an experienced and results-driven Ops Manager: Estates Debt Management to lead the effective management and collection of Estate Duty debt. The position requires a manager with strong debt management capability as well as practical knowledge of deceased/insolvent estates and Estate Duty processes. The successful candidate will manage the Estate Duty debt book, drive appropriate collection interventions, oversee operational performance and controls, and coordinate complex estate debt matters with relevant stakeholders. The role requires sound judgement in applying estate and debt processes, strong operational leadership, risk management and the ability to deliver sustainable collection and service outcomes in support of SARS revenue and compliance objectives.

Job Purpose

To plan, manage and monitor Estate Duty debt operations and related end-to-end estate debt processes, ensuring that cases are progressed and finalised within applicable quality, turnaround-time, productivity, governance and compliance requirements. The manager will oversee the Estate debt and Estate Duty debt book, allocate and prioritise work, monitor collection outcomes and ageing, manage complex cases and support continuous improvement across the estate debt lifecycle.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification and Experience Required

Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Debt / Audit /Business / Financial Management or similar with 5 - 7 years’ experience in a Debt Management environment, of which 1 year at a supervisory level. Exposure to Estate Duty, deceased estates, insolvent estate and estate debt management will be advantageous.

OR

Senior Certificate (NQF 4) with 10 years related experience in a Debt Management environment, of which 1 year at supervisory level. Exposure to EstateDuty, deceased estates, insolvent estate and estate debt management will be advantageous.

Job Outputs:

Process

• Ensure that standard debt management cases are finalised within specified turnaround time.
• Accumulate information to report on work progress and use for decision making purposes and the identification of improvement opportunities.
• Apply discretion and judgement to diagnose symptoms, causes and effects and to make decisions to overcome problems and to provide solutions.
• Apply the necessary discretion and judgment in making decisions and overcoming obstacles in order to attain set goals and objectives for area of accountability.
• Deploy resources appropriately and anticipate and resolve problems to ensure that tactical targets are achieved within agreed deadlines and standards.
• Ensure procedures, policies and mandates are clearly understood and complied with.
• Ensure the development, alignment and implementation of end-to-end processes within area of accountability for continued process improvement.
• Frequently report on progress of unit and or team against pre-defined objectives and standards, ensuring accurate representation of facts.
• Implement change and provide guidelines to direct reports defining the impact of change, the change itself and new requirements as a result of the change.
• Implement resource plans in line with delivery and performance objectives, on budget and in partnership with specialised areas.
• Link and communicate unit's objectives back to mandate, schedule and prioritise activities and allocate work to meet identified work outputs.
• Manage a work function or unit by focusing on the delivery and achievement of set objectives within specified time frames, costs and standards.
• Plan and organise multiple work outputs by assigning priorities and continuously reviewing objectives and goals.
• Provide input into the development of the tactical strategy as well as develop and implement a supporting operational strategy.

• Manage and monitor the Estate debt book, including allocation, prioritisation, ageing, case progression and collection outcomes.
• Ensure Estate debt cases are progressed within applicable turnaround times and in accordance with approved policies, procedures, mandates and governance requirements.
• Oversee collection interventions on Estate debt and ensure that case circumstances are considered when determining the appropriate debt-management action.
• Apply working knowledge of deceased and insolvent estate processes when managing debt cases, including the relationship between assessment, payment, debt, account reconciliation, refunds and estate finalisation.
• Ensure that Estate Duty accounts and debt information are reviewed and reconciled so that collection decisions are based on accurate account positions.
• Oversee debt-related relief processes applicable to estates, including deferments, compromises and write-offs, subject to the relevant mandates and governance requirements.
• Coordinate complex estate debt matters with executors and relevant internal stakeholders, including Estate Duty, Estate Audit, Portfolio Maintenance, Debt Management, Finance/Payments and other operational areas as required.
• Monitor dependencies that may delay estate debt resolution, including outstanding documentation, audit outcomes, payment allocation, refunds and other estate administration requirements.
• Use management information on the Estate debt book to identify risks, backlogs, trends and improvement opportunities and to support decision making.
• Deploy resources appropriately, schedule and prioritise activities, allocate work and proactively resolve operational obstacles so that tactical targets are achieved.
• Provide accurate reporting on unit performance against predefined objectives and standards and implement corrective action where required.
• Ensure continuous improvement of end-to-end Estate debt processes and implement approved operational changes.

Governance

• Implement and use governance and compliance procedures and processes effectively to identify and manage risks and expose previously unknown liabilities.
• Implement risk management, governance and compliance policies and processes to identify and manage risks and expose liabilities.
• Understand and implement governance control processes and role segregation requirements in area of accountability.

People

• Build strong relationships through providing direction and leadership to others and expressing positive expectations.
• Encourage and enable teamwork, by enabling collaboration with others and commitment to pursuing set goals.
• Implement appropriate people capacity plans in line with delivery and efficiency targets, on budget and in partnership with specialised areas.
• Monitor and actively manage team performance to meet specified objectives against required targets, deadlines and quality standards.

Finance

• Draw up a budget aligned to operational delivery plans, monitor and report on variances.
• Ensure team's adherence to specified policies, standards and procedures to prevent and reduce wastage on financial resources and escalate associated risk.
• Implement, manage and report on cost improvement objectives and communicate or escalate any shortfalls.

Client

• Implement continuous improvements and shorter turnaround times in line with Service Level Agreements with stakeholders.
• Develop and implement processes which build client service delivery excellence and encourage others to provide exceptional service.

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability (V)
• Honesty and Integrity (V)
• Fairness and Transparency
• Respect
• Trust
• Ability to translate strategy into execution
• Concern for Impact of own behaviour on others
• Adaptability
• Develops teams and nurtures interdependency
• Inspires others to Positive Action
• Nurtures Future Talent
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Resilience
• Stewardship and Service Orientation
• Strong Results Orientation
• Values and Manages Diversity

Technical competencies

• Business Acumen
• Change Management
• Debt Management
• Decisiveness
• Effective Business Communication
• Effective Improvement
• Financial Analysis & Reporting
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Legal Compliance
• Managerial Budgeting
• Negotiation Skills
• Planning, Management and Measurement
• Planning and Organising
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• SARS Systems Products
• Tax Knowledge

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.

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