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Dheni Wiguna

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Team Leader of Stakeholders Management Team

Directorate General of Taxation

Government of Indonesia

Economics, Planning and Public Policy Program (’09)

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Please tell us about your career path so far. What is your area of specialization and how did you come to work in this area?

As a graduate from the State College of Accountancy (a school under the Ministry of Finance), I was assigned to work at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE) in 1996. DGCE was just forming the Audit Directorate at that time and I was assigned as one of the first-generation Customs Auditors. We were also first timers in conducting joint audits with the Directorate General of Taxes since 1998. Although I specialized in the audit sector, I also actively participated in other areas. For example, in 2014, Indonesia was the coordinator of the ASEAN Customs Enforcement and Compliance Working Group (CECWG), and I was appointed as a person in charge. Aside from that, in 2015, I was actively involved in the Reformation Team of Customs and Excise. I also had multiple opportunities to travel to other countries and represent Indonesia in various circumstances.

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In 2018, I was assigned as a Change Management Officer (CMO) at the Central Transformation Office (CTO) in the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Finance. In this office, we assisted our Minister of Finance in creating synergy among all units under the Ministry of Finance as most of the business processes in all units are related in the end.

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Since 2020 until now, I’ve been working for the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) as a member of the Dedicated Team of the Core Tax Administration System (CTAS). DGT is developing a new system that will affect some of the business processes of other units under the Ministry as well as units outside the Ministry, hence it is crucial that we approach the stakeholders to prepare them for the changes. This job is in line with my old job as CMO.

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You are currently serving as Team Leader of Stakeholders Management at the Directorate General of Taxes of the Republic of Indonesia. Please tell us about your main roles and responsibilities.

Stakeholders Management Team is part of the Change Management Team. The Directorate General of Taxes is adopting a new system that will affect stakeholders, not only taxpayers, but also internal units in the Ministry of Finance, such as the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and the Directorate General of Treasury, and external units such as banks, the Indonesia Investment Cooperating Board (BKPM), etc.

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I am responsible for ensuring that the stakeholders affected by the changes in the new system are aware of the changes, understand the changes, and enable their internal systems to be compatible with the new system.

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In your current capacity, what do you see as the main opportunities and challenges for Indonesia over the course of the next five to ten years?

As a tax officer, what I see as the main opportunities are the improved system, more accurate data, and less clerical burden. These hopefully can be achieved with DGT’s new Core Tax Administration System to increase the tax revenue and tax ratio. The main challenge lies in integrating this new system with the Customs and Excise domain, especially considering the new president's agenda to unify tax and customs authorities.

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What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your work? And what have been the most interesting or rewarding aspects of your career thus far?

One of the biggest challenges is ensuring that the stakeholders would be ready to adopt our new system to their internal system. This is far from an easy job. The process requires long discussions to determine which aspects to change. Subsequently, implementing these changes demands time, funding, and energy. Given the large number of stakeholders involved, ongoing coordination with multiple parties is essential to avoid overlooking crucial details.

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The most interesting aspect of my career has been the opportunity to experience working in three different units under the Ministry of Finance. This broad firsthand experience has provided insights into the ongoing changes within the Directorate General of Taxes and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, enhancing my understanding of their business processes and working culture. Similarly, my time at the General Secretariat under the Change Transformation Office has offered valuable insights into the Ministry of Finance's future direction.

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What led you to GRIPS? What is the most important thing you got out of your studies, and how has your experience at GRIPS prepared you for future endeavors?

I was lucky to be awarded a scholarship from the Ministry of Finance to study at GRIPS. I majored in public policy, a field highly relevant to government officers. Beside academics, the most valuable aspect of my experience was the network I built. GRIPS students are from various countries and I love to have friends from around the world. I love traveling and I like that when I’m in a new country, I have a friend who’s from there.

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During my time as a student, I was actively involved in the student organization, serving as a treasurer. By being active, I was able to build closer connections with my peers. Most of my friends were government officials and, after graduating, they now hold prominent positions in their respective countries. Interestingly, some have become counterparts in my work. As I still keep in touch with most of them, it is much easier for us to communicate regarding professional matters.

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Have you had any involvement, professional or otherwise, with Japan since your graduation?

Yes, I have visited Japan twice since my graduation. The first visit was in 2014 when, as a Customs Auditor, I participated in a two-week short course on Fraud Accounting in Yokohama. I also took the opportunity to visit GRIPS during my stay there.

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My second visit was in 2018 with my wife to Tokyo. This time, we wanted to revisit places that we used to live and visit during my time studying at GRIPS from in 2008-2009. We went to our old apartment, our oldest daughter’s kindergarten, supermarkets where we used to shop, Misato Station, AEON Lake Town, etc. Again, we also visited GRIPS. We had so much fun recreating pictures at the same places nine years apart.

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How do you maintain a balance between your work and the rest of your life? And what is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?

I think it is important to know your priorities, not just in terms of what activities you engage in, but also when you dedicate time to them. With so many things to do, it ultimately boils down to making time for what truly matters. If it matters, you will make time.

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My family is everything to me. When I’m not working, I love to go traveling or just hanging out or exercising with them. Sometimes, I also enjoy spending time with my friends, going cycling, hiking, or motor touring.

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What are some of your fondest memories of your time spent at GRIPS? And what do you miss about Japan?

My fondest memories of GRIPS, is first of all the warmth of the office staff, professors, and local students, who made me feel like family. They made me feel at home immediately, which also helped me greatly with my studies. The Student Office also helped me find a suitable apartment for me and my family. And their assistance with enrolling our oldest daughter in kindergarten was invaluable. I also value my friendship with other GRIPS students as it enriched my experience and made living there much more enjoyable. Also, the location of the campus was right in the heart of the Tokyo; you could really feel the atmosphere of a modern city.

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Living in Japan with my family remains one of the best experiences in my life. What I miss most are the opportunities for biking everywhere, enjoying picnics in the park with my family, the overall cleanliness, the punctuality, the humility of the people, and, of course, the delicious Japanese cuisine.

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If you could give one piece of advice to anyone considering studying at GRIPS what would it be?

Studying at GRIPS gives you opportunity to expand your network worldwide, as you will meet future leaders from various countries around the world.

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How would you like to maintain involved with the School? What do you expect from GRIPS as an alumnus and do you have any suggestions on how to further utilize the GRIPS alumni network?

I’d love to get involved with the school at every possible opportunity. On one occasion, I had the opportunity to accompany some GRIPS delegates when they visited Jakarta a few years ago. It was wonderful to catch up about school and Japan during their stay here. I also still actively interact with 2009 Indonesian GRIPS alumni through our WhatsApp group. And whenever I visit Tokyo, I make a point to stop by at the campus and reconnect with the Student Office staff, who thankfully still recognize me to this day.

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