Assistant Commissioner, Law Design and Practice

Objections and Review,Office of the Chief Tax Counsel
- Various in ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC & WA
- Ongoing/non-ongoing, full-time/part-time

We are seeking to identify experienced leaders to fill roles across our Law Design and Practice Group. In these roles you’ll empower others by sharing knowledge, experiences and feedback freely, as well as actively developing the technical and practice skills of other members of the business area and beyond. You will also contribute to the strategic direction and the leadership of the Law Design and Practice Group and the broader ATO.

We expect to fill leadership roles within the ATO’s Office of the Chief Tax Counsel (OCTC) and Objections and Review business areas:
**Tax Counsel Network - Office of the Chief Tax Counsel**

As **Assistant Commissioner in the Tax Counsel Network**, you’ll lead the resolution and management of significant technical issues in taxation and superannuation law and provide expert, practical and contemporary tax advice and assurance for the ATO in respect of its highest risk technical issues.

You will:

- strategically lead the ATO's significant litigation, ensuring arguments are consistent with the ATO view
- identify and work with colleagues in the Law Design and Practice Group to assist in solving policy and law design issues.

You will be responsible for delivering advice and making decisions relating to high profile, high risk and complex tax technical matters that can have major system, revenue or reputational impacts. You will:

- adopt good governance, record keeping and knowledge management practices
- proactively lead and oversee engagement with stakeholders
- influence taxpayer behaviour through effective consultation, public advice and guidance and early engagement
- keep staff, stakeholders and decision makers informed, including through communicating the Commissioner’s view of the law clearly, succinctly and influentially: Obtaining and demonstrating an understanding of why the issue matters, what our position is and what it means for our stakeholders and the community.

These roles may be offered on an ongoing or non-ongoing basis in
**Adelaide, Box Hill, Brisbane CBD, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne CBD, Moonee Ponds, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth or Sydney CBD.**

**Litigation and Legal Services - Office of the Chief Tax Counsel**

As
**Assistant Commissioner Legal Services**, you'll oversee and manage the ATO's Office of the Chief Tax Counsel (OCTC) legal services program of work efficiently, effectively and within budget.

You will be responsible for the OCTC’s practice management and contract management functions, and you’ll have responsibility for:

- panel firm engagement
- counsel engagement
- diversity in briefing requirements
- reporting to the Office of Legal Services Coordination (OLSC) in the Attorney General's Department
- governance related to OLSC and other reporting obligations.

You will provide pre-litigation legal services (either direct briefed or through the engagement of panel firms) including:

- obtaining Counsel advice
- engagement of experts
- conducting interviews or engaging counsel to conduct interviews
- alternative dispute resolution processes including mediations and early neutral evaluations.

You will manage settlement policies and procedures and oversee the Independent Assurance of Settlements process. You’ll be accountable for the Test Case and Small Business Administrative Appeals Tribunal funding programs.

You will contribute to determining and adjusting litigation and legal services priorities and you will manage strategic and/or general litigation cases as required.

This role may be offered on an ongoing or non-ongoing basis in
**Adelaide, Brisbane CBD, Hobart, Melbourne CBD, Perth or Sydney CBD.**

**Objections and Review**

As an
**Assistant Commissioner in Objections and Review**, you'll be responsible for a segment of our objections or independent review service.

You will:

- champion and deliver fair, impartial and timely resolution of disputes, including through your leadership and tax-technical skill and experience
- strive to improve our processes, driving efficiency and making better use of our insights
- build a capable, flexible and cohesive workforce
- collaborate across the ATO to influence outcomes and ensure the optimum operation of the disputes pipeline, reducing future disputes
- engage effectively with external stakeholders, including working with scrutineers, and dealing with tax advisors and lawyers in relation to objections, independent reviews and alternative dispute resolution
- shape the strategic direction of Objections and Review through active participation in the Objections and Review executive.

This role may be offered on an ongoing or non-ongoing basis in
**Adelaide, Box Hill, Brisbane CBD, Dandenong, Gosford, Hobart, Melbourne CBD, Moonee Ponds, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney CBD, Townsville or Upper Mount Gravatt.