Product Architect Specialist (Trusts)

Job Purpose

• To provide expertise, advice and support in the design, oversight and implementation of product-trusts strategies and deliver an end-to-end specialist skills and knowledge in line with the applicable product-trusts legislation.
• The Specialist is accountable for providing specialist product architecture, business architecture, regulatory, legislative, operational and strategic expertise in relation to the SARS Trust Product.
• The role translates legislative, compliance, taxpayer, operational and strategic requirements into future-state product designs, business capabilities, end-to-end operating models, service offerings, business requirements, process improvements and digital solutions that support a modern, data-driven and taxpayer-centric Trust ecosystem.
• The incumbent is responsible for driving innovation, compliance enhancement, product optimisation, stakeholder alignment, trust modernisation and business transformation initiatives to improve taxpayer experience, compliance outcomes, operational efficiency and revenue collection.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Finance OR Law OR Postgraduate Diploma in Taxation OR Chartered Tax Adviser Qualification AND 8 - 10 years' experience in a trust administration, research, tax compliance , regulatory environments, legal practice, compliance management, product management, business architecture, operational design, business analysis of which 3 - 4 years is at a junior specialist level

 ALTERNATIVE

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 15 years’ experience in a trust administration, research, tax compliance , regulatory environments, legal practice, compliance management, product management, business architecture, operational design, business analysis of which 3 - 4 years is at a junior specialist level

Job Outputs:

• Product Architecture and Solution Design
• Business Architecture and Operating Model Design
• Trust Legislative and Technical Expertise
• Trust Modernisation and Digital Transformation
• Product Strategy Development
• Compliance, Governance and Risk Management
• Requirements Management and Systems Enhancement
• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
• Data Analytics and Business Insight
• Knowledge Management and Capability Building

Process

• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies and practices.
• Contribute to the optimum utilisation of org. resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plans.
• Develop a single practice area in alignment with operational activity and procedural frameworks and ensure tactical implementation.
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Ensure product-trusts designs support compliance, modernisation, and long-term sustainability.
• Ensure standardisation of differentiated processes and procedures across all functions to enable consistent application thereof.
• Ensure that all systems, processes, and procedures are reviewed and updated for each tax type to reflect the current legislative needs (including Registration, filing of Returns, SOPs, Payments, Audit).
• Identify and address gaps in the current product-trusts setup through research, stakeholder feedback, and horizon scanning.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
• Maintain visibility and accountability from the conceptualisation of a product-trusts improvement through to its systemic adoption and performance tracking.
• Manage and execute research and needs analysis within the specific products-trusts in order to quantify, measure, and monitor compliance, identify and understand product-trusts expectation and insights and make recommendations.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy implementation and optimisation of practises, processes and systems across an internal value chain.
• Participate in the product-trusts design and development lifecycle, from strategic conceptualisation to operational translation, ensuring that the product-trusts design remains fit-for-purpose, future-ready, and consistent with organisational strategy.
• Plan for value-added, continuous practice and system improvements to deliver on objectives to enhance tactical implementation and excellence with reference to strategic product-trusts goals and alignment with broader organisational reforms.
• Plan for value-added, continuous practice and system improvements to deliver on objectives to enhance tactical implementation and excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives; best practice implementation solutions.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to internal and external role players on technical and complex matters relating to product trusts-specific skills, knowledge, legislation and processes.
• Provide product-trusts specific diagnosis, analysis, and evaluation of product trusts-specific trends and information from related industries, compliance landscape, economic reports, market behaviour, organisational strategy, Government objectives, etc.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
• Support, collaborate and participate in tax, customs and Excise innovations.
• Translate high-level strategic goals into tangible and actionable product-trusts designs, initiatives and proposals, including but not limited to, business cases, legislative changes, and process blueprints.
• Translate top-down policy, apply modification in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders.
• Understand the interdependence between different delivery systems and processes in area of specialisation.

Governance

• Develop and /or align governance and compliance policies for own practice area to identify and manage risk exposure liability.

People

• Integrate new knowledge and transfer skills attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.
• Provide specialist know-how, support, advice and practice thought leadership in area of expertise.

Finance

• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation. 

Client

• Develop and ensure implementation of a practice that builds service delivery excellence and encourages others to provide exceptional stakeholder service.
• Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management.
• Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural Competencies

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Conceptual Ability
• Expertise in Context
• Fairness and Transparency (V)
• Honesty and Integrity (V)
• Organisational Awareness
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect (V)
• Trust (V)
• Strategic Thinking
• Analytical Thinking

Technical Competencies

• Business Knowledge
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Economic Research
• Efficiency improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Product development
• Reporting
• Research, Evaluate, Follow Through
• Product Architecture
• Trust Law
• FATF Standards

Deadline:16th October,2026