Resident Revenue Administration Advisor based in Colombo, Sri Lanka (FADR1)

Work for the IMF. Work for the World.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seeking to fill a Resident Revenue Administration Advisor (RRAA) position located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Reporting to the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD), the advisor will work with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) as well as Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and the Excise Department (ED) to support implementation of strategic and operational revenue administration reforms. Coordination with capacity development (CD) provided by the IMF to the Customs Department will be an important consideration. FAD, the South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC), and several Development Partners (DP) are already supporting the authorities with their reform initiatives, and significant progress has been made.

The RRAA will deliver and help coordinate IMF’s revenue administration capacity development (CD) locally including liaising with the IMF Resident Representative, IMF Headquarters; and supporting the FAD project manager with reviewing CD needs, preparing CD workplans, managing and delivering the CD workplan including short-term expert assignments. On a strategic level, the RRAA will, in consultation with IMF and the Sri Lankan authorities, coordinate the CD provided by FAD and other DPs assisting revenue reform implementation.

Specifically, the advisor’s responsibilities will be to: (1) help develop and implement the authorities’ revenue mobilization strategy over the medium term; (2) assist with the identification of timely and effective mitigation strategies for the resolution of issues; (3) support internal and external engagement activities in an advisory capacity and assist with the production of communication products; (4) coordinate FAD’s CD on revenue administration at the local level including coordinating project activities with the MoF and key donors and briefing the IMF Resident Representative, and FAD Headquarters on progress; (5) organize and support, in accordance with applicable Fund policies and procedures, FAD external short-term expert assignments; (6) support the FAD project manager with reviewing CD needs and preparing CD workplans covering the priority areas, timing, and sequence of CD activities; (7) support the management and delivery of the CD workplans for the revenue administration according to the agreed budget and integrated with FAD’s other revenue CD work in the Asia Pacific region, including the CD provided by SARTTAC; (8) report on progress in delivering the revenue administration CD workplan and results at regular intervals; and (9) assist with the development of effective performance monitoring management systems.

Applicants should have extensive practical experience in the above areas in a senior management position. Preference will be given to applicants who have all-round experience in managing revenue operations; who have knowledge of revenue issues in a regional context; and who are aware of the issues and challenges facing revenue administration reforms in Asia Pacific and in developing economies. Familiarity with general IMF surveillance and financial support programs is also a considerable asset.

The technical skills and qualifications required for the position include a strong understanding of tax administration and expertise in the following areas:

• The legislative and regulatory environment for tax administration (direct and indirect taxation).
• Organization, strategic planning, and management of revenue administration.
• Revenue administration modernization and reform approaches.
• The use of information technology to support effective and efficient revenue administration operations and management.
• The whole range of revenue administration functional procedures and compliance risk management.
• Policies and activities in the fields of taxpayer registration, filing and payment, taxpayer service, audit, and verification.

General requirements for candidates include:

• A university degree or equivalent qualification relevant to professional work, and four years of professional experience. Preference will be given to highly experienced candidates with at least 10-12 years of experience within a tax administration.
• Recent experience working with an international organization providing CD on good international practice in revenue policy and administrative matters.
• Demonstrated organizational, planning, and project management skills to manage multiple priorities and ensure on-time delivery of quality outputs.
• Fluency in English with strong oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team to maintain effective and cooperative relations with authorities and DPs, and to handle sensitive issues with discretion in a multicultural environment.

The appointment term will initially be for a period of one year, with an extension available subject to various conditions, including satisfactory performance. The selected candidate is expected to start the position in July 2024.

*For non-RCDC selection, a staff member selected for the position will need to take Leave Without Pay in the Interest of the Fund to provide capacity development (LWOP/IOF/CD) expertise for the duration of the assignment. The staff member would be required to switch to an LTX contractual appointment for the duration of the assignment.

This position is not based at the Fund’s Headquarters in Washington, DC; as a result, the vacancy will close at 11:59 PM at the local time of the job location.*

All applicants are expected to include a Statement of Interest as an attachment to the application, which may be used in the screening process for this vacancy.

Department:

FADR1 Fiscal Affairs Department Revenue Administration 1Hiring For:

A11, A12, A13, A14The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, and sexual orientation. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process.