Recruitment for Chemonics International

Tax Policy and Administration Advisor

Position: Tax Policy and Administration Advisor (CCN)

Position Type: Cooperating Country National (Kosovo citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident)

Period of Assignment: Long-term, full-time

Reports to:Strengthened Public Financial Management Objective Lead (Objective 2 Lead)

Location: Pristina, with travel to other locations, as needed.

Chemonics is implementing the USAID-funded Kosovo Economic Governance Activity, a 5-year project that started in April 2019, to reduce public perception of and opportunities for economic corruption through improvement to economic governance, thereby encouraging investment in Kosovo’s economy. This result will be achieved through three main objectives:

1. Business Environment Improvement;
2. Strengthened Public Financial Management; and,
3. Enhanced Strategic Communications.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Tax Policy and Administration (TPA) Advisor will work in close cooperation with project staff to support and advise the Ministry of Finance, Labour, and Transfers, the Tax Administration of Kosovo (TAK), and private sector and non-governmental partners, in identifying and implementing reforms to reduce the burden of voluntary tax compliance, improve budgeting of tax reforms and public revenues, and increase the effectiveness of tax administration.

The TPA Advisor must have a deep understanding and interest for effective, public-validated, transparency and effective tax policy, legislation, and administration practices, familiarity with private sector development challenges, and knowledge of the revenue budgeting process. The TPA Advisor must possess strong research and interpersonal skills to identify and facilitate cross-cutting tax governance reforms which reduce opportunities for and perceptions of corruption, incentivize revenue mobilization, and foster private sector trust in tax systems and overall development.

The term of assignment is for the life of the project, subject to satisfactory performance. The TPA Advisor will, at all times, adhere to, and act according to Chemonics’ Professional Code of Ethics (“Living Our Values”).

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

• Facilitate structured dialogue and cooperation between MFLT, TAK and private sector partners, to identify, design, monitor, and evaluate tax policy and administration reforms that reduce the burden of tax compliance and foster tax administration integrity.
• Support MFLT and TAK to design and institutionalize metrics to better capture tax administration performance, inform evidence-based revenue budgeting, and building public confidence in tax administration activities.
• Provide advisory support to build self-reliant MFLT capacities for evaluating the fiscal impact of tax policy proposals and existing tax exemptions in support of evidence-based revenue budgeting.
• Support the identification of opportunities for e-solutions in the delivery of services to taxpayers and process improvements, in close consultation with public and private sector stakeholders.
• Support TAK efforts to further streamline, digitalize, and automate taxpayer services and internal TAK processes to better serve citizens.
• Support MFLT and TAK to utilize best international transparency practices to provide easily accessible tax information, including through mobile technologies.
• Work in close coordination with the project Private Sector and Community Engagement Advisor, Strategic Communications Advisor, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Analytics Advisor to identify and support opportunities to expand and institutionalize mechanisms for engagement between the government and the private sector, improve communications within government partners and between government and the private sector, and increase use of operational outcome-based performance metrics.
• Ensure collaboration with other objectives to find synergies and achieve project targets; Contribute to objective activities’ design under the direction of the PFM objective lead, with input from other team members and counterparts.
• Meet or exceed all quantitative project goals and performance deadlines linked to this position as articulated in the project Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan and annual work plans.
• Submit required reports and deliverables in a timely fashion and in compliance with the program.
• Assume additional responsibilities as requested by the chief of party and/or the PFM objective lead.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Experience - Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in tax governance or policy, tax advisory, or financial management, with a firm knowledge of tax policy, legislation, and tax administration practices.
2. Education – Degree in economics, accounting, finance, or related field.
3. Language Skills – Excellent knowledge of English and Albanian and/or Serbian, with excellent writing and presentation skills.
4. Computer Skills - Advanced skills in using word processing (Microsoft Word) and spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel) as well as electronic communications programs.
5. Interpersonal Skills – Proven ability to work professionally, constructively and collaboratively as part of team, meet deadlines, communicate effectively, and deal with diverse partners in a challenging environment.
6. Self-Motivation and Guidance – Ability to manage daily activities and achieve expected results with or without direct oversight and effectively function in a complex, challenging environment.

Please send electronic applications, including ONLY a CV and cover letter, to [email protected] by December 14, 2022, no later than 3:00 PM. Please indicate the position title in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.