Insurance manager wins tender to become Latvia's tax chief

A high-level insurance manager has won a tender to become Latvia's State Revenue Service's director-general, State Chancellery Director Martins Krievins, who chaired the panel assessing the candidates, told reporters Tuesday.

Ilze Cirule, who holds an M.B.A. from Riga Business School and has been heading the finance division at Gjensidige Baltic insurance company since 2012, was selected as head of the Latvian tax authority after three rounds of the tender.

Latvian Finance Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola is expected to interview Cirule on Thursday, and the government will decide her appointment on November 8.

Krievins said the candidate, who proved herself in the private sector, might offer a valuable insight into the public sector. He also praised Cirule's perspective on the revenue service's future.

Earlier, Cirule publicly expressed her support for reverse charging of value added tax (VAT) wherever possible, explaining that this would ensure greater financial transparency and help prevent tax avoidance.

Cirule is also determined to audit the efficiency of the revenue service's employees to make sure their roles are clear.

A new head was sought for the Latvian State Revenue Service since May 30 when its director-general Inara Petersone resigned. After the first tender failed to select a suitable person, Finance Minister Reizniece-Ozola offered the job to Inga Kolegova, the head of the State Environmental Service, who later withdrew her candidacy.

The government then decided to offer higher salary to candidates for the position and announced a new tender, which attracted 19 applicants. Endit