In
its commitment to transform taxpayers' experiences, the Inland Revenue
Authority of Singapore (IRAS) continuously strives to deliver services with
innovation and agility in an ever-evolving digital landscape. This dedication
is underscored by the organisation's strategic embrace of Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) and Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
(DSAI) as the driving forces behind its transformative journey.
At the heart of IRAS’ digital transformation lies the
Inland Revenue Interactive Network (IRIN), a substantial in-house enterprise
system designed to navigate the tax administration process seamlessly. From a
user-friendly web portal employed by taxpayers to interfaces with external
partners, and back-end processing, IRIN epitomises the agency’s dedication to
efficiency and accessibility.
One of the key architects shaping the future of IRIN
is Jonathan Yap, a recipient of the IRAS Postgraduate Scholarship. As a Senior
Infocomm Specialist, he actively contributes to the development of the next
iteration IRIN characterised by the utilisation of cutting-edge technologies,
including cloud-native solutions and a microservices architecture. Jonathan is
currently pursuing a
Master of Science in Software Management at Carnegie Mellon University Silicon
Valley. He aims to deepen his knowledge and skills, with the
ultimate goal of delivering impactful technological solutions at IRAS.
At the forefront of Data Science and Artificial
Intelligence (DSAI) initiatives, IRAS leverages data analytics, behavioural
insights, and design to spearhead transformations and enhancements in
compliance strategies. Central to this pivotal role is Wu You, an IRAS undergraduate
scholar who started in IRAS as a Senior Analyst in the Insights and Solutions
Branch. Her responsibilities involved utilising advanced analytics to drive
impactful changes and developing an organisation-wide compliance strategy. With
a Master
of Science (Computational Science and Engineering) from Harvard University, she
currently serves as a Manager in the Infocomm Technology & Planning
Branch and is part of the ICT management team which oversees the
upgrading of the in-house enterprise.
We chat with Jonathan and Wu You to explore their
passion for their respective areas of work and gain valuable insights into how
IRAS is advancing the frontier of digital innovation in tax administration.
Tell us about your various roles. What aspects of your
job have been most fulfilling?
Jonathan: Navigating
various roles within technology, specifically in application delivery and
architecture, has been an enriching journey for me. Among these roles, serving
as a scrum master during the IRIN 3 Phase 2 – Stamp Duty project stands out as
the most fulfilling experience in my career at IRAS.
Being part of the team that laid the groundwork for
IRIN's new microservice architecture presented challenges and immense
satisfaction. We collaborated with the system user teams and took on the task
of reviewing existing system processes and workflows. This involved a
comprehensive revamp aimed at improving efficiency, enhancing performance, and
elevating the overall user experiences for both internal and external users.
The role not only demanded technical expertise but
also required a deep understanding of the intricacies of our existing systems.
Overcoming these challenges alongside the dedicated team fostered a sense of
achievement that has been instrumental in my journey at IRAS. The valuable
learnings from this experience have significantly contributed to my
professional growth, allowing me to apply newfound knowledge and skills to
various aspects of my work.
Wu You: In my early days as a data analyst, getting my model to
run and train successfully, after wrestling with bugs and syntax errors,
offered me a great sense of fulfilment. Over time, the fulfilment came not just
from coding, but also from creating. When I initially introduced search and
retrieval into our question-answering chatbot, I was already excited by the new
applications that could be built. When ChatGPT dropped and text generation
technologies advanced rapidly this year, I further introduced Retrieval
Augmented Generation to the team, and possibilities grew endlessly. The
continual progression of enhancing our tools and technologies is a source of
great satisfaction.
Are there any projects or initiatives at IRAS you’ve
participated in that standout to you?
Jonathan: My involvement in the IRIN 3 Phase
2 – Stamp Duty project is a notable example.
As a scrum master, I spearheaded a team of developers
responsible for implementing the Financial Module. Simultaneously, we were
tasked with laying the architectural foundation for subsequent project phases.
It was undoubtedly a challenging endeavour, but the skills and experience I had
accumulated in my previous roles equipped me to navigate the complexities
effectively.
Leading the team, my focus was on ensuring that the
Financial Module not only met the user's specifications but also operated with
optimal efficiency. This involved leveraging my technical expertise to
streamline system processes, enhance functionalities, and improve overall
performance. Despite the inherent challenges, the team’s collaborative efforts
resulted in the successful implementation of the module, setting the stage for
a more robust and efficient enterprise system.
The experience gained from this project has further
enriched my understanding of intricate technological challenges and reinforced
my commitment to driving positive change through technology within the
organisation.
Wu You: One standout experience was a
collaboration on fraud detection with the Suspicious Transaction Reporting
Office (STRO), also known as the financial intelligence unit of the Singapore
Police Force (SPF). Together, we set up data exchanges and built analytics
solutions to detect businesses that make illegal GST refund claims. It was like
being in a real-life crime novel but with more spreadsheets. I found myself
part of a multi-disciplinary team, including the investigation officers from
both SPF and IRAS, who shared insights that went beyond the realm of numbers
and charts. It was rewarding to witness our model successfully flag suspicious
entities and bring tangible benefits to real-world fraud detection efforts.
Interesting! Can you tell us how you plan to
contribute to technological advancements within IRAS in the future?
Jonathan: Having
observed IRAS's dedication to adopting new technologies and making strategic
transformations, I am motivated to leverage the knowledge and skillsets
acquired during my graduate programme to uphold and elevate these high
standards. Specifically, my focus will be on actively participating in
development projects aimed at creating and delivering IT solutions for both our
internal and external users.
In the rapidly evolving information technology
landscape, digitalisation stands out as a key driver in reshaping how
businesses operate. Drawing from my experiences and learnings gained during the
course of my graduate programme, I aim to bring new perspectives to the table
and enrich discussions surrounding the integration of digital solutions. I see
this as a crucial step in ensuring that IRAS remains adaptive and responsive to
the changing needs of our stakeholders.
Wu You: IRAS is currently migrating our IT
enterprise system from an on-premises monolithic architecture to a
microservices architecture on the government cloud so that we can improve the
scalability and agility of our services. It is a significant undertaking, and
I’m interested in how we can incorporate AI into the software development
lifecycle so that we can carry out our build and test processes more
efficiently.
That’s very ambitious! Finally, do you have any advice
for students seeking a tech career with IRAS?
Jonathan: For students aspiring to pursue a
tech career, my advice is simple: "Don't be afraid to try."
Embarking on a tech career can be challenging but
undeniably fulfilling. The essence lies in getting your hands dirty, diving
into real-world problems, and exploring the most efficient ways to leverage
technology for optimal outcomes. If you desire to take on new challenges and
seek a rewarding tech career, IRAS offers many opportunities.
Personally, I've had the privilege of trying various
roles at IRAS, each presenting a chance to push my limits and reach new
heights.
IRAS, as an organisation, places significant emphasis
on staff's career development and ensures that skills remain relevant in the
industry. The management at IRAS is supportive, actively aligning staff's
career passions and interests with their job scopes. This approach ensures a
meaningful and satisfying career journey for individuals who choose to be part
of the organisation.
Wu You: Tech is a rapidly evolving field, the more you know, the
more valuable and versatile you become. At IRAS, you will find this dynamic
nature of technology in all the ongoing transformations to our IT systems and
AI capabilities – you will never be short on challenging problems that are
cross-cutting and push the boundaries of what’s possible!