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About the job
Job summary
Would you like an exciting career crafting and developing key government policies?
Do you want to make a real difference to ordinary issues such as the price of a tank of petrol, how we administer income tax and welfare payments, or reducing the use of plastic packaging?
If you do, then Customer Strategy & Tax Design (CS&TD) is the place for you. We are looking for talented and enthusiastic individuals to join our friendly teams. Well help you develop your understanding of the relevant subject area to inform your thinking, as well as building your broader capability to help you develop your career.
Customer Strategy and Tax Design (CS&TD) sits at the heart of HMRC and lead on HMRCs strategy, policy, guidance, analytical, customer, business architecture and design functions. In CS&TD, we work to build a trusted and valued, modern tax administration system that brings in revenue for public services. Were responsible for the policy which underpins the delivery of VAT, Income Tax, National Insurance Contributions, Pensions, Business Taxes, Environmental Taxes and more. We have a wide remit, working in partnership with teams across the department and with the Treasury to develop new tax policies. Those policies help deliver government priorities, maintain the tax system and customs regime, and ensure that our legislation continues to achieve its intended outcomes.
See what its like to work at HMRC: find out more about us or ask our colleagues a question. Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Job description
We are recruiting across Customer Strategy and Tax Design policy teams to support our key priorities. Taxation and benefit issues are often high-profile, fast paced and politically sensitive so our policy roles offer the chance to work collaboratively across government departments, engaging with senior stakeholders, HM Treasury ministers and external stakeholders.
As an HMRC policy official you’ll be at the forefront of country-shaping events such as the Chancellors Budgets and represent HMRCs interests across Government, influencing and brokering effective outcomes. On a day-to-day basis you will evaluate and monitor the operation of existing tax policy and develop new policy options as the needs of our customers, and the Government, change. You will work closely with a range of partners to ensure these policies are deliverable on the ground and will deliver clear, succinct, and comprehensive proposals across complex and inter-related areas. Within this role, you will likely be involved in commissioning research, analysing data and information to build evidence to support policy development, working with lawyers to create and defend legislation, consulting external stakeholders, and supporting ministers with some of their priorities.
Our roles are high-profile and will require you to engage confidently with some of our most complex customers, our partners within HMRC, HM Treasury and other government departments but well support you all the way and offer you broad exposure to exciting, varied, and high-profile portfolios, in a supportive and collaborative environment.
If you are interested in learning more about Customer Strategy & Tax Design and the work we do, we are holding Policy Drop-in sessions on:
- 26 October 11:00 11:45
- 1 November 14:00 14:45
If you would like to attend one of these sessions, please contact Jennifer.lee1@hmrc.gov.uk with your preferred date and time to attend.
Key responsibilities
We are looking to fill a variety of policy roles in this exercise. If successful, your role will be in one of the Customer Strategy and Tax Design Directorates: Indirect Tax, Individuals Policy, Business Assets & International or Tax Administration. This list is not exhaustive.
Below are some examples of the type of work you may be involved in and what key responsibilities are likely to include:
Develop and deliver policies at pace aligned with HMRCs strategic objectives and government priorities, working in partnership with HM Treasury and other government department officials.
Undertake research and detailed analysis of policy options, including consultation with internal and external stakeholders.
Create new legislation to deliver your policies and facilitate its progress through Parliament including speaking notes for your minister, and Budget and Finance Bill documents.
Advise on the accurate application of HMRC policies, including briefing senior officials and ministers.
Draft and approve ministerial submissions and responses to Parliamentary Questions and replies to ministerial correspondence.
Working with technical, operational and compliance colleagues to deliver policy changes and identify areas for improvement to existing rules, processes and guidance for HMRC users, taxpayers and their advisers.
Some roles may also include line management responsibilities.
Person specification
We need results-orientated professionals with outstanding communication skills who can confidently engage with senior stakeholders, identify and analyse complex options, and design effective and innovative solutions. Successful candidates will be adaptable, able to respond to a constantly evolving environment, and will also need to be comfortable dealing with complex information, guidance or legislation.
Essential Criteria:
You do not need previous experience in Policy/Government to apply for this post. Instead, we are looking for candidates who are able to demonstrate experience of the following:
- Developing and driving forward solutions whilst bringing others with you
- Building and maintaining effective relationships, including with senior leadership and external stakeholders
- Quickly developing a strong grasp of the end-to-end requirements of a piece of work/project
- Considering a range of options for creatively solving problems, assessing the implications and risks of each option and taking into account wider strategic objectives
- Excellent communication skills, with an ability to engage, influence, and advise senior stakeholders, basing advice on the analysis of incomplete or complex informaion.
Desirable Criteria:
- Tax expertise, and/or an ability to grasp complex guidance or legislation
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Find more about HMRC benefits in ‘Your little extras and big benefits handbook’ for further information or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
All Criminal Record Checks applications are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a 1000 word Personal Statement this will be used to assess candidates against the experience element of Success Profiles.
Your Personal Statement must refer to the essential and desirable criteria outlined in the advert, describing how your skills and experience make you suitable for the advertised role.
We recommend you provide evidence of the criteria using the STAR or WHO format: these acronyms stand for: Situation Task Action Result and What How Outcome.
Please note, desirable criteria will only be used if there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied, after the initial consideration of essential criteria.
You will also be asked to submit an anonymised CV covering your job history, and skills/ experience that are relevant to the advertised role.
The CV is for information only and will not be assessed as part of the selection process.
If you pass the minimum standard at sift stage, you will be invited to a panel interview.
If a large number of candidates are successful during the sift stage, we reserve the right to uplift the minimum requirement to progress to the next stage. This doesnt affect candidates who have opted to participate in the disability confident scheme. Interviews will be based on Strengths and Behaviours, including:
Communicating and Influencing
Making Effective Decisions
Candidates who pass the sift stage will also be asked to complete a written assessment, which will assess ‘Communicating and Influencing’ and ‘Making Effective Decisions’. This will need to be completed before the panel interview takes place. Further details on the written assessment will be provided to candidates invited to interview, however you should anticipate being asked questions about your written assessment during the interview.
Please ensure you refer closely to the Success Profiles guidance.
This is an example of a strengths-based question: It is often said that the customer’s needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?.
There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
Further information on the recruitment process can be found in the candidate pack.
Interviews will take place via video link in January and early February.
After interview, successful candidates will be placed on a multi-location merit list and will be posted in merit order according to their preferred location. A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for our policy roles. Appointments from the reserve list will be made in strict merit order.
Eligibility
To check that you are eligible to apply, review this eligibility information
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need, so please review the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the location preferences section that you are able to travel to.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition, or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a reasonable adjustment or a change to be made so that you can make your application, review this information on reasonable adjustments, and contact hmrcrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible.
Diversity and Inclusion
At HMRC we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues and creating an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. Were committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues here at HMRC. We want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential at HMRC.
For more information on how we make this happen, review this information on our culture and values
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible after considering operational and customer service needs. We cant guarantee that we can meet all requests to work flexibly, as agreement will be subject to business ability to accommodate, and any request to work a more flexible arrangement should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer.
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
The Civil Service runs a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Locations
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
Security Update
For more information on the level of security checks we will carry out, review this information on security checks
Further Information
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application/s will be withdrawn from the process.
Duplicate applications for the same vacancy will also be withdrawn.
Transferring into HMRC from Civil Service If you are currently working for an Other Government Department (OGD) and would like to consider the impact on your pay when joining HMRC, please see the attached document “Combined T&C and OGD Pay English, found at the bottom of this advert. Further information on staff transfers can be found on gov.uk
Problems during the application process
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
If you think youve made a mistake on a short application form (e.g. youve ticked the incorrect eligibility box), please contact hmrcrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk at least two working days before the vacancy closes. After this, we wont be able to reopen your application.
Please use the subject line to insert appropriate wording e.g. Please re-open my application – 316170 & vacancy closing date 8/11/2023. Please note that we cannot amend or re-open your application if you have submitted your full application in the interests of fair and open recruitment.
For reasonable adjustments queries or requests, please see details within reasonable adjustments section above.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Tegan Birch
- Email : tegan.birch@hmrc.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hmrcrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
