We are looking for a senior tax attorney who:
Thinks clearly under pressure and does not escalate unnecessarily
Is technically strong and comfortable standing behind their work
Can manage complex, high-value and high-risk SARS matters end to end
Understands that tax disputes are both legal and strategic is comfortable mentoring juniors while still carrying their own load
Wants to build something long-term, not simply “hold a senior title”
If you expect heavy structure, rigid hierarchies, or minimal responsibility, you will not enjoy this environment.
- We operate in a high-performance, delivery-driven environment.
- Structures are actively being built and refined.
- Senior team members are expected to contribute to both technical outcomes and process maturity.
- We are actively building a diverse tax legal team and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds who meet the requirements.
The Role
- You will join the firm as a Senior Tax Attorney within the tax legal team, taking responsibility for the management, strategy and execution of tax dispute and tax debt matters.
You will:
- Run complex SARS disputes and tax debt matters independently
- Act as a technical and strategic resource within the team
- Supervise and guide junior attorneys on active matters
- Engage directly with SARS, clients, counsel and executives
- Contribute to the development of internal systems, standards and templates
- This role has clear progression into leadership, depending on performance and appetite.
Key Responsibilities
SARS Disputes & Litigation (Core Function)
- Lead disputes across tax types (Income Tax, VAT, PAYE, penalties, understatement penalties)
- Draft and review:
- Requests for reasons
- Objections and appeals
- ADR requests and settlement proposals
- Legal submissions and representations
- Strategise dispute positioning, evidence and escalation risk
- Prepare and manage dispute chronologies, bundles and legal arguments
- Brief and liaise with counsel where matters escalate to formal litigation
Tax Debt Management & SARS Engagement
Lead:
- Suspension of payment applications
- Deferred payment arrangements
- Compromise / write-off applications
- Draft high-quality representations for remission of penalties and interest
- Engage with SARS collections and legal divisions strategically, not reactively
- Manage prescription risk, payment exposure and enforcement timelines
Technical Oversight & Research
- Interpret and apply the Tax Administration Act, Income Tax Act and VAT Act in live matters
- Review and refine junior attorneys’ research and drafting
- Draft internal opinions and technical guidance notes
- Stay current on case law, SARS interpretation notes and administrative developments
Team Leadership & Quality Control
- Supervise junior attorneys on disputes and tax debt files
- Review key documents before submission to SARS or clients
- Ensure consistency of approach, tone and technical accuracy
- Contribute to the development of templates, checklists and internal processes
Client and Internal Stakeholder Management
- Act as the primary legal contact on allocated matters
- Participate in and lead client calls and meetings
- Communicate risks, strategy and progress clearly and commercially
- Escalate issues appropriately, with solutions proposed
