About the job

Job summary

Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC. 

   

Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.

Are you looking for a challenging, interesting and rewarding role that allows you to grow your administrative skills whilst supporting Legal Professionals?  If so, continue reading to find out more about this fantastic opportunity to join HMRC - one of the largest and most dynamic IT infrastructures in Europe, and we are now one of the most digitally advanced tax authorities in the world. 

At HMRC we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues; an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve. 
 
We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us and we offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career at HMRC accessible to you. 
 
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.  

About SOLS: 

Across Solicitor's Office and Legal Services (SOLS) we provide legal services to the whole of HMRC. This includes: 

• The conduct of independent reviews of decisions made by HMRC which are requested by customers under the legislative provisions.
• The conduct of tribunal and civil litigation on a full range of services.
• Work on new legislation.
• Drafting of statutory instruments and other legal documents.
• Legal advice to ExCom and staff.

We also provide technical accountancy and forensic services to HMRC, are head of the Compliance Accountants’ and Insolvency Professions as well as handling Ministerial Correspondence and Freedom of Information requests for HMRC. 

Job description

This Team Specifically deals with: 

The provision of a full range of administrative support for our customers including our internal technical caseworkers, lawyers, accountants, review officers, and senior managers.  

There is a strong team working ethos in all teams and a variety of interesting and challenging work. 

We are looking for someone who: 

• Can manage their own workload and work to tight deadlines.
• Looks for the best ways to serve our customers, adhering to guidance and processes when completing work.
• Can adapt to differing business needs quickly.
• Can work independently but also as part of a team when the work requires it.
• Understands attention to detail and accuracy is priority when handling sensitive information.
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Is proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 

Person specification

You will need to be self-motivated, flexible and prepared to work across a range of duties, these could include: 

• Registering, updating and closing of cases on case management systems.
• Liaising confidently with internal and external stakeholders including the Tribunal service.
• Communicating accurately in writing to internal or external contacts and/or customers.
• Contacting customers by telephone and answering customer queries.
• Maintaining and updating various databases, spreadsheets, and audit trails.
• Updating performance data for management information.
• Being part of a, in-office rota system for postal cover.
• Photocopying, printing, and scanning documents.
• Arranging travel and accommodation.
• Room booking and arranging meetings.
• Inbox management of post received via digital methods.

Essential Criteria:

• Two GCSEs Grade 4 or above (Formally grade A-C if taken prior to 2017) in Maths and English (or equivalents), in England and Northern Ireland. 

Or 

• Two GCSEs Grade A-C in Maths and English (or equivalents), in Wales 

Or 

• Two Credit Standard Grades or National Qualifications level 5, in Maths and English (or equivalents), in Scotland.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,082, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £6,772 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 Strengths and Experience.

How to Apply

SOLS use the Success Profiles framework for its recruitment.  Your application will be assessed against the Experience elements of the framework. The Experience, and Strengths element of the framework will be tested at interview. 

Information below must match what you have put in the Experience section above.  

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following: 

• A CV, to include your job history covering the last 3 years (max 100 words per role). 
• A 500-word Personal Statement to include what you can bring to the role, what previous experience you have which relates to the job description/summary, and any other information you think may be of value.  Please utilise the full word count. 

Selection will be by sift and (if required) interview.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via: ubsrecruitmentexcellence@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.

Sift

A preliminary sift on the Essential Criteria will be conducted and only candidates meeting the criteria will progress. 

• Please ensure details of the essential qualifications (GCSE’s or equivalent) and the grades achieved are listed on your application form in the ‘Type of qualification’ section.  If these are not provided your application will not progress to a full sift. 

The CV and Personal Statement will be given a combined score. 

Candidates who are successful at the sift stage and progress to interview will be given further information about whether the interview will be online or in person at that time.  

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications. 

Interview 

The interview process will include Experience and Strengths

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. 

Full details will be provided to those candidates invited to interview. 

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed. 

Start dates may not be agreed straight away but this will be discussed further with successful candidates. 

Each location has the following vacancies: 

3 New Bailey, Manchester: 4 vacancies 

3 Arena Central, Birmingham OR Ty-William Morgan, Cardiff: 1 vacancy 

7 & 8 Wellington Place, Leeds OR Waterview Park, Washington: 3 vacancies 

1 Atlantic Square, Glasgow OR Erskine house, Belfast: 2 vacancies 

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

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.

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact the UBS Recruitment Excellence Team via ubsrecruitmentexcellence@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Diversity and Inclusion 

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success at HMRC, and we welcome applications from all people, from all backgrounds, with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. 

We’re committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues, and we want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential. 

Click here for more information on how we make this happen.

Interviews will take place face to face). Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers: 

Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.

Terms and Conditions 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations. 

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

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 had their employment continued. Any applicant’s 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.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band. 

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

Further Information

Please refer to job specification above. 

HMRC welcomes applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, taking into account our operational and customer service needs. We can’t 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. 

There may be a need to travel across the UK with occasional overnight stays being required and there may be a need for occasional travel for business purposes. 

This vacancy is only available at the specified locations, alternative locations are not available. 

Your office location is contractual so if you are successful, there is an expectation that you will attend that office location as required by the business. You need to consider how you will meet this requirement before you apply and discuss any concerns with the vacancy holder before accepting any role.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.