Tax Audit Advisor

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Tax Audit Advisor
Sector: Tax Reform – Public Financial Management 
Position Type (full/part time): Part-time
Duration/Level of Effort (long/short term):  50 days
Position Location (e.g. city, country, remote) Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in a hybrid context blending remote and in-office work 
 
 
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
The Government of Ethiopia (GoE) has shown impressive economic growth and poverty reduction over the last decade. However, recent economic shocks caused by the global pandemic, international and domestic conflict threaten these gains, with Ethiopia’s fiscal situation restricts GoE’s capacity to act. Ethiopia’s tax revenue to GDP ratio is extremely low, possibly as low as 6.2% for FY22, which puts it amongst the lowest in Africa. Its declining trend is problematic as the GoE seeks to tackle these challenges. In response to this, the GoE’s 2024 Medium Term Revenue Strategy has set out a 5.7% increment in the Tax/GDP ratio by the end of the 5th Year (2023/24- 2027/28).  
 
In this context, the Tax Transformation Programme (TTP) is supporting GoE to self-finance its development through increased, sustainable revenue collection. Specifically, it is supporting increased voluntary compliance and creating a tax environment that encourages business and investment. Since 2019, TTP has been supporting the GoE across several tax reform related ambitions and was scheduled to close in 2024. However, recognizing the critical contribution the programme is making to GoE and critical aspects of the Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda, FCDO has chosen to extend the programme to 2026. During this extension period, TTP shall continue to bring together technical tax expertise in the form of embedded and trusted advisors, UK HMRC, and other development partners to support GoE to build technical capacity and to raise revenues sustainably to meet the multiple demands on public finances.
 
 
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
A Tax Audit Advisor is one of the key experts to be deployed and work together principally with the Audit Director and appropriate branch managers. The Advisor is expected to cover training and case work on general tax audit, construction and manufacturing special sectors. If a need arises for covering in the training or case work of other specialized sectors such as insurance and banks, the Advisor will be supported by an appropriate tax audit specialist in such areas.
 
 
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The major responsibilities of the Advisor include the following:
 

• Implementation of Manufacturing and Constructions Sector Notes
  • Conduct training for auditors on two sector-specific audits
  • Select one audit case for each sector and conduct audit with the Sector Audit Expert
  • Share the sector audit process with auditors to transfer knowledge and skills.
• Enhancing SIGATS functionality
  • Review current audit module in SIGTAS for audit case management
  • Develop business requirements to improve audit case tracking
  • Run user tests and approve
  • Train audit staff on the audit module
  • Track and manage audit cases using the audit module
  • Develop and issue audit performance reports
• Addressing data quality issues and streamlining SIGTAS’ capturing of audit assessment notices
  • Review the current practice of capturing audit assessments notices in SIGTAS and identify issues
  • Develop procedures streamlining the capturing of audit assessments in SIGTAS and possibility of generating assessments from SIGTAS
  • Conduct workshop on the new procedures and the functionality in SIGTAS to the audit team
  • Implement the new procedures for capturing audit assessments in SIGTAS
  • Produce audit assessment reports from SIGTAS/data warehouse and verify that updated procedures have resolved data quality issues in audit assessments.
• Legal framework for provisional tax audit assessment notices
  • Implement issuance of provisional audit assessment notices based on the new legal framework, discontinuing the informal assessment disclosure to taxpayers by auditors
  • Generate the provisional assessment in SIGTAS making the provisional assessment transparent with tracking of the history of assessments in SIGTAS
• Others
  • Input into monthly/quarterly reports to FCDO and the GoE
  • Attend and input into check-ins with the TTP team
  • Perform similar work related to audit the TTO Head may request.

 
The Audit Advisor will report to the TTO/TTP Head.  
 
Deliverables/Key Performance Indicators

• Responsibility Area: Legal Framework For Provisional Audit Notices 
  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
    • Provisional assessments generated and tracked in SIGTAS
    • Number of training sessions/briefings on new legal framework
• Responsibility Area: Manufacturing & Construction Sector Notes
  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
    • Number of auditors trained per sector
    • Completion of pilot audits with Sector Expert
    • % of participants with improved post-training knowledge
    • Sector audit process documentation shared
• Responsibility Area: Enhancing SIGTAS Functionality 
  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
    • Business requirements document finalised
    • % of user test scenarios passed
    • Number of staff trained on updated SIGTAS audit module
    • % of audit cases tracked via SIGTAS audit module
• Responsibility Area: Improving Data Quality In SIGTAS 
  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
    • Report on existing data issues completed
    • New procedures developed and submitted
    • Number of audit staff attending training/workshops
    • Final audit assessment report

 
 
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education:

• A degree in Accountancy/Audit or professional certification

Minimum Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of international experience in tax audit, especially in manufacturing and construction sectors.

Essential Skills:

• Ability to build effective relationships with client from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds, and to work effectively in politically sensitive and challenging environments.
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment.
• Good analytical and quantitative skills with ability to produce technical and analytical reports on excise tax administration.
• Working knowledge and experience with tax administration IT systems.

 
Language Proficiency:

• The consultant with have excellent English skills (both written and verbal), as well as a good level of Amharic (desirable)  

Employment Conditions:

• The Advisor will be recruited for a Level of Effort of up to 50 days to produce the key deliverables listed in above.  She/He will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• This ToR will be reviewed on a semi-annual basis to ensure that they remain in line with the Project’s priorities.

 
 
APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Application deadline – 10th of July.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.
 
Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.
 
We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.
 
 
ABOUT US
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.
 
We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.