About the job

Job summary

The Investment Environment team is looking for a confident and experienced tax expert (formal qualifications an advantage but not necessary) to offer expert guidance to investors on the UK’s tax and financial offer and to help ensure government policies and processes in these areas support investment and business expansion. For example, you will be required to understand, explain, promote, and engage as a departmental expert on matters like capital allowances, tax credits for research and development expenditure, tax incentives in investment zones and free-ports, as well as other sources of financial support such as grants or business loans. You will also be required to understand the basic process an investor or business needs to go through when setting up in the UK. 

You will be part of a team of experts who also provide guidance to investors on migration, skills, and land planning. This role will require you to build relationships and work with colleagues in HM Treasury and HMRC. 

Job description

Investor support – providing expert support to investors by delivering information and guidance on the UK’s tax and broader financial offer. Your focus will be on ensuring that the investor or business understands how to best utilise the UK’s tax system and or the wider financial offer as it relates to the specific needs of that business. You will build and use your own expertise and networks to help resolve complex issues for business and work to remove barriers to their investments. 

Policy influencing – developing and providing subject matter expertise to DBT, including through advice to senior colleagues and ministers. You will build strong relationships with Whitehall stakeholders (including HM Treasury and HMRC) to help inform the development of Government policy in relation to the UK tax and finance systems for businesses. Identifying and reporting on barriers for both investors and domestic businesses will help you propose workable changes to policy and process to strengthen the UK’s attractiveness as an investment destination. 

Capability building – upskilling the global DBT network to enhance their awareness of the tax and finance environment in the UK, including how they support foreign direct investment (FDI). You will stay abreast of the UK tax offer and changes announced at fiscal events, to deliver updates, webinars, and training to colleagues on the benefits of the UK tax and finance systems as well as what the policy changes will mean for investors. You will also speak on behalf of DBT about the UK tax and finance environments for investors at various public facing investor events and may be asked to deliver training abroad.  

This role includes direct line management of one SEO and your support will be key to their development including as a credible deputy in your absence.  

Person specification

Essential criteria 

• A strong understanding of the of the UK tax landscape. 
• The ability to develop an understanding of the needs of business. 
• Excellent customer service delivery and an ability to resolve complex issues in a timely, accurate and professional way.  
• Strong written and oral communication skills - for private and public sector audiences at all levels of seniority.  

Desirable criteria  

• A relevant qualification in tax and finance e.g. Chartered Accountant, Chartered Tax Adviser.
• A good understanding of the of the UK business finance landscape.
• Experience of advising and working with businesses.
• Experience of building relationships across public and private sectors would be a distinct advantage. 
• Experience of the Whitehall policy making processes.
• Management experience. 

Personal attributes & skills 

• Your experience and expertise, as well as your values and behaviours are important. We are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic, hardworking, and have a positive can-do attitude.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,461 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception. 

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way. 

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:    

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages. 
• A Personal Statement of up to 750 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the Essential criteria.

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.   

Reasonable Adjustments 

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:  

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.  

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.   

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. 

Candidate Support 

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.   

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.  

Further Information

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.    
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. 
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.   
• New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.   
• Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty. Any applicant who has details held on the IFD will be refused employment.    
• A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.   
• Terms and Conditions are attached.  Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.   
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland and Access NI on your behalf. 

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.  

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk  

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk  

Vetting 

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5-years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.   

Feedback 

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 security 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.