Job Description
| Job Title | Litigation Expert | ||
| Sector | Tax Policy & Legislation | ||
| Department | Tax Disputes | ||
| Section | Objections | ||
| Job Code | Target Financial Grade | ||
| General Job Group | Specialized Jobs | Job Sub-group | Legal Jobs |
Job Summary
The Indirect Tax Objections Expert oversees and reviews taxpayer objections related to indirect tax assessment decisions and other relevant determinations, ensuring accurate technical assessment and fair decision-making in line with legislation. The role conducts independent evaluation of legal and factual grounds, verifies admissibility and completeness, requests and assesses additional evidence, and drafts reasoned decisions within statutory timelines. It contributes to the work of the Objections Committee by preparing case summaries and documentation for deliberation, and coordinates with the Appeals & Litigation section and other departments to ensure consistent, transparent, and timely review and recommendation for the resolution of objections.
Key Responsibilities
Objection Intake & Admissibility
- Receives and screens indirect tax objections for completeness and eligibility against filing requirements and time limits.
- At the first-instance review stage, verifies decision details under objection, taxpayer identity/representation, and required documentation.
- Registers cases, assigns references, and sets procedural timelines and milestones.
Case Analysis & Evidence Assessment
- Reviews objection statements, grounds, and supporting evidence against applicable indirect tax legislation and procedures.
- Requests additional information or documentation when required and tracks taxpayer responses.
- Performs independent and objective legal and technical analysis of assessment adjustments, penalties, and refund determinations.
- Ensures consistency and quality of reasoning across objection cases to uphold fairness and transparency.
Decision Drafting & Issuance
- Drafts reasoned decisions addressing each ground of objection with supporting legal provisions and factual analysis.
- Finalizes and issues decisions; where no decision is issued within the prescribed period, records implied rejection as per procedure.
- Prepares cases and documentation for review or endorsement by the Objections Committee, ensuring compliance with internal governance and procedural rules.
Escalation & Litigation Support
- Prepares complete, well-indexed case files and evidentiary bundles for matters escalated beyond objections to the Appeals & Litigation section.
- Facilitates the handover and provides necessary clarifications or supplementary documentation to the Appeals & Litigation section once an objection is determined, ensuring smooth case transition for subsequent judicial proceedings.
- Provides clarifications on objection decisions and participates in handover briefings for subsequent judicial stages.
Coordination & Information Management
- Coordinates with relevant departments to obtain technical inputs or confirm data (e.g., assessments, filings, payments, and refunds relevant to the objections being determined).
- Maintains accurate, confidential records of all objection cases in line with data protection and retention requirements.
- Ensures traceable audit trails for requests, submissions, deliberations, and decisions.
- Supports the Risk and Compliance functions where relevant, by flagging systemic issues or recurring procedural risks.
Reporting, Insights & Continuous Improvement
- Prepares periodic summaries and analytical statistics on volumes, turnaround time, outcomes, common error themes, and reversal rates.
- Highlights recurring procedural or technical issues and recommends process or guidance updates.
- Contributes to templates, checklists, and internal guidance for the Objections section to drive consistency and quality.
- Provides feedback to enhance decision templates and promote consistent interpretation of indirect tax laws.
Preferred Qualifications & Experience
| Preferred qualifications | ● Bachelor’s degree in Law, Taxation, Accounting, or related field. ● Advanced degree in Law (LL.M), Taxation, or Public Administration is preferred. ● Relevant professional certification (e.g., CTA, ACCA, CPA) is an advantage. |
| Preferred experience | ● 16+ years’ experience in tax disputes, administrative review, or legal/tax advisory with emphasis on indirect taxes. ● Proven track record drafting reasoned administrative decisions and managing statutory timelines. ● Experience handling evidence evaluation and preparing case files for escalation to appeals or courts. |
| Technical & Other Skills | ● Strong knowledge of indirect tax legislation, objection procedures, and administrative law principles. ● Ability to analyze assessments, penalties, and refund determinations and articulate clear written decisions. ● Skilled in evidence management, case tracking, and documentation standards. ● Effective communication, analytical rigor, and attention to detail; strong planning and time management to meet deadlines. ● Experience interfacing with audit, disputes, and digital/IT on implementable solutions and efficient data access. |
Key Performance Indicators
| KPI Category | KPI Title | KPI Description | Unit |
| Strategic | |||
| Operational | |||
| Task-specific | |||
Minimum Qualifications & Experience
| Minimum Financial Grade | 2nd Financial Grade | |
| Minimum Experience (by qualification) | PhD / Doctorate | 12 Years |
| MSc / Masters | 15 Years | |
| BSc / Bachelors | 16 Years | |