Tax Compliance Risk and Industry Benchmarking Adviser (APEP)

About the role

The Australia-Papua New Guinea Economic Partnership (APEP) is delivering technical assistance to strengthen revenue administration and efficient revenue collection. Under its macroeconomic stability and public financial management workstream, the assignment responds to a request from the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) Tax Intelligence Unit to strengthen industry benchmarking and identify potential corporate income tax underreporting. The adviser works with the IRC Tax Intelligence Division and partner divisions, based in Port Moresby, with an assignment starting February 2027 and 120 days of inputs delivered through February 2028.

Key responsibilities

• Map taxpayers from the nine broad SIGTAS industry categories to the 21 PNGSIC 2014 classifications and design practical sector benchmarks and risk indicators.
• Develop and pilot benchmark models, peer-comparison tools and risk indicators using data authorised by the IRC.
• Design a repeatable process for identifying and prioritising potential corporate income tax underreporting cases.
• Advise on data-cataloguing and data-sharing with agencies such as the National Statistics Office, PNG Customs Service and the Bank of PNG.
• Prepare standard operating procedures, templates, user guidance and case-selection guidance.
• Deliver a structured capacity-development plan with coaching, case studies and competency checks, then present findings and a handover roadmap.

Required profile

• Advanced tertiary qualification in economics, tax administration, statistics, data science, accounting, public policy or a related discipline.
• Substantial experience in tax administration, tax intelligence, industry benchmarking, compliance-risk management, audit case selection or econometrics within a revenue authority.
• Demonstrated experience with classification frameworks such as ISIC or PNGSIC, sector risk profiles and financial-ratio analysis.
• Experience transferring capability through coaching and training with government counterparts; PNG, Pacific or comparable revenue-administration experience is highly desirable.

Required skills

• Strong quantitative and diagnostic skills, including working with incomplete tax administration data and documenting assumptions and limitations.
• Experience designing standard operating procedures, technical guidance and analytical tools.

Applicants submit a single document containing their cover letter addressing the selection criteria and their CV, applying directly through Abt's online application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted; the closing date is 30 November 2026.