About the job

Job summary

WMBC Assets is part of Customer Compliance Group, carrying out compliance activity, with an increasing focus on undertaking upstream work to close the tax gap for Inheritance Tax, Trusts, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), Pensions, Savings and Transfer of Assets Abroad.  These areas of the UK tax system have a diverse customer base, are governed by complex legislation and are reputationally sensitive. ​

Reporting to the Director of WMBC, this is an Tax and Operational delivery role with responsibility for delivering the compliance approach for these regimes and working across HMRC to design and deliver our approach to tackling risks and working with customers. ​

The post holder will be part of the WMBC Senior Leadership team and will play a key role in transforming HMRC’s approach to managing the compliance of customers with respect to variety of assets and regimes, working closely with other colleagues in WMBC and across HMRC to do so. ​

As a senior leader in WMBC/CCG, you will play a key role in leading and facilitating change to improve operational delivery and customer experience.  You should be comfortable working at pace in a complex, multi stakeholder environment with high levels of senior visibility.  You should be confident in bringing innovation into existing services and developing your team. ​

Job description

Key Responsibilities ​

• Inheritance Tax (IHT) ​
• Trusts ​
• Pensions ​
• Savings/ISA Compliance ​
• Stamps Taxes ​
• Delivery of compliance benefits from Pensions Transformation Programme ​
• Lead for SDLT approach as part of wider repayments control framework approach  ​
• Delivery of operational performance goals through effective, hands-on leadership, coaching and development of its senior leadership team members​
• Development of HMRC culture and values, ensuring inclusion and facilitating high levels of employee engagement; ​
• Effective risk management and corporate governance. 

Key Interactions​

• HMRC Senior Leadership Team​
• Wider Customer Compliance Group (CCG) Directorate​
• Customer Strategy and Tax Design (CS&TD) Directorate​
• Colleagues across Policy & Strategy teams​
• Transformation Project Teams​
• Pensions Programme Board​
• Direct line management of 5 x G6s ​
• Circa 400  people in the wider work area​

Person specification

We are seeking a strategic leader passionate about making a real difference. We want to hear from experienced candidates who are comfortable providing clear direction and support to teams in complex and reputationally sensitive environments. The role requires a leader who is adept at influencing policy, driving operational excellence, and fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion. The successful candidate will collaborate across HMRC, contributing to transformation projects and policy development to ensure effective compliance strategies.​

The successful applicant will need to demonstrate relevant experience and effective delivery of the following essential criteria.​

Essential Criteria:​

• Proven leadership in complex tax environments. ​
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational performance and innovation. ​
• Strong stakeholder management skills. ​
• Commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion. ​
• Adept at analysing and using qualitative and qualitative data to deliver stretching objectives​
• Excellent communication skills, ensuring the compliance voice is heard and position is understood when change discussions are taking place.​

Desirable qualifications and professional memberships:​

• Experience in policy development. ​
• Knowledge of HMRC's compliance strategies or knowledge of Tax. ​

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,000, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £20,250 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Application:​

To apply for this post, you will need to complete an online application by submitting the following:​

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.​
• A Statement of Suitability explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the criteria in the person specification.​

Your CV and Statement of Suitability should reflect your most relevant and recent skills and experience in relation to the role. Therefore, we recommend that each document is no more than two A4 pages long. ​

By not submitting a CV and a Statement of Suitability will mean we only have limited information to assess your application against the person specification. Please ensure both documents contain your full name.​

If you encounter any issues with your application or don’t receive an acknowledgement within 48 hours, please contact Robert Gavin at scs.resourcing@hmrc.gov.uk 

Shortlist​

An application pre-sift will be conducted by the SCS Recruitment Team followed by an in-depth review by the Vacancy Holder and Panel.​

The panel will assess and select applicants who demonstrate the best fit with the role by considering the evidence provided against the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application. The closing date for applications is 8th April 2024 and a shortlist decision is expected to be made by w/c 15th April 2024. All candidates will be notified of the outcome shortly afterwards.​

All shortlisted candidates will be offered an opportunity to have an informal conversation with the vacancy holder, Philippa Madelin. This is not an assessment phase but is an opportunity for each candidate to gain greater insight into the context of the role. This is optional, but highly recommended.​

Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS)​

Candidates applying under the Disability Confidence Scheme are guaranteed an interview if they meet the minimum criteria outlined in the person specification. 

This scheme works in conjunction with the Great Place to Work for Veterans, for former members of the armed services, and the Redeployment Interview Scheme for existing Civil Servants at risk of redundancy. Each scheme works in the same way.​

Use of Data​

As part of the recruitment process, we may share your data and assessment results internally with our SCS Talent team. ​

This will provide insight into how to support your development and wider talent management, should you be successful in your application. ​

If you do not want your data to be shared, please email Robert Gavin at scs.resourcing@hmrc.gov.uk ​

Assessments:​

If shortlisted for interview, you will be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE) and an Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA). ​

Assessments don’t result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for further exploration at interview.​

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to candidates if shortlisted for interview.​

We will send you a copy of any report for any assessment that you may have undergone as part of the recruitment process (where applicable).​

Interview:​

You will be asked to attend an interview for a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence. ​

We will also ask you to prepare a 5-minute verbal presentation. Details will be issued in advance of your interview.​

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing w/c 6th May 2024 and will be held via Microsoft Teams (full instructions will be issued prior to interview).​

Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible once all interviews have concluded.​

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run 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.