Consultant: Software Asset Management

SARS, through its Strategy Enab and Modernisation division, is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Consultant: Software Asset Management to join its dedicated SAM team at the SARS Brooklyn office. This specialist role is central to managing software assets across the entire organisation, ensuring full compliance with licensing standards and regulatory requirements, while also extending oversight to cloud-based software usage on platforms such as Microsoft Azure. The position exists to help SARS maximise the value of its software investments and maintain firm control over its IT environment, with a specific focus on managing and optimising resources, services and infrastructure in a hybrid-cloud computing setting, all in accordance with SARS policies and procedures.

Candidates must meet one of two qualification routes. The first requires a Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma at NQF 7 in IT or Finance, combined with five to seven years of software asset management experience, of which two to three years should be at a functional specialist level. The alternative route requires a Senior Certificate at NQF 4, ITIL certification, and ten years of software asset management experience, including two to three years at a technically skilled level. Additional certifications such as Azure Fundamentals, CSAM, LISA and ITIL will be an added advantage. The role demands a solid understanding of various software licensing models, including per-user, per-device and subscription-based arrangements, as well as the ability to interpret end user licence agreements from major vendors such as Microsoft. Practical knowledge of cloud resource management, including cloud activity monitoring through tools like Microsoft Azure Monitor, Billing and Cost Management, is essential, along with proficiency in SAM tools for tracking and managing software inventory. The successful candidate will also need to reconcile the IT asset register with the finance asset register, perform software audits, maintain accurate usage records, and ensure adherence to software licensing agreements to avoid legal issues. A basic understanding of IT infrastructure, operating systems, network configurations and software deployment processes is required, together with strong data analysis and reporting skills to identify trends, optimise licences, reduce costs, and communicate software asset status and compliance through reports and dashboards.

The duties are broad and end-to-end in nature. The consultant will manage the full software asset lifecycle, from procurement and deployment through to utilisation and decommissioning, while also managing software asset management portals and tools to support compliance. A key responsibility is optimising and controlling cost management within the organisation’s cloud environment, including developing and managing budgets for cloud resources and services. The role requires continuous monitoring of on-premises and cloud assets to ensure they meet required service levels, responding to all software audit queries, and resolving queries and problems timeously while applying discretion in line with process guidelines. On the governance front, the consultant must ensure that cloud and software assets adhere to regulatory requirements, industry standards and organisational policies, and contribute to the development of governance, compliance, integrity and ethics processes within the area of specialisation. The role also involves developing and maintaining productive relationships with SARS role players and third-party suppliers to maximise benefit in software licensing, maintenance and service offerings, as well as sharing new knowledge gained through formal and informal learning. Strong budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis skills are required, along with the ability to analyse large datasets to optimise IT costs, usage and performance. Finally, the consultant must contribute to a culture of service excellence, providing authoritative specialist services, expertise and advice to both internal and external stakeholders.

This is a hybrid technical and financial role suited to someone with strong analytical thinking, problem-solving ability, honesty and integrity, fairness and transparency, and a commitment to building sustainability. The position is based at SARS Brooklyn and falls within the Strategy Enab and Modernisation division, with application and closing date details available in the original vacancy listing.