About the job

Job summary

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The Student Finance Team is part of HMRC Customer Strategy & Tax Design group. 

This is a lively and exciting time for Student Finance as we modernise, transform and continually improve our processes so that they are fit for our customers future needs. Whilst making these changes, we must also ensure that an effective and efficient collection system is maintained, whilst supporting key changes to Higher Education policy. 

Our prime role is to facilitate the collection of student loan repayments via the tax system. The team works as part of a joint government service with the Department for Education (DfE), the Student Loans Company (SLC) and wider HMRC. The team collaborates closely with other Government departments to ensure policy changes are delivered as expected.

Job description

This is an amazing opportunity to join The Student Finance Business Design Team who are responsible for the overall design and maintenance of the HMRC student loan collection processes/system. 

As a Business Analyst (BA) on the team, you will have a key role in the delivery of change, whether as a result of changing policy or HMRC strategy! You will provide support to wider HMRC colleagues to ensure the delivery of the Student Loan collection process. You will work multi-functionally with internal and external teams such as IT suppliers, Student Loans Company, CDIO, PT Operations and KAI to solve problems by gathering evidence, analysing data, mapping customer journeys, developing business requirements and facilitating the delivery of change to existing processes. You will be able to lead aspects of work, building your knowledge of processes across a wide range of internal and external areas which support the student loan collection processes. You’ll have the opportunity to use your initiative and look for solutions in fast paced and exciting environment, working alongside areas who have differing priorities and objectives. The BA role is an integral function within Student Finance Team and provides an opportunity to support the business design lead in analytical work from inception to delivery.

Person specification

Analysing information from a variety of sources to identify the root cause of issues impacting the student finance process or the delivery of projects. 

Working with colleagues to draw and document conclusions to the wider team. 

Representing the team during online and face to face workshops to assist with the delivery of projects and the maintenance of student finance processes. 

Contribute to project delivery by raising risks and highlighting issues which may impact on delivery schedules. 

Take the lead during online and face to face stakeholder meetings to facilitate the planning and delivery of change. 

Gather and analyse data / evidence to draft change requests to CDIO in accordance with team strategy. 

Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to develop business requirements and ensure these are correctly represented on change requests. 

Leading and coordinating business readiness activity to ensure HMRC areas involved in student loan collection are in a position to implement change. 

Highly Desirable Criteria: 

Some practical experience of project work and/or delivery of change would be useful. Previous experience in business analysis would be an advantage, however full training around our business processes will be provided.

Benefits 

You will be joining a truly progressive organisation who will offer you ever chance and support that you need to excel in your career. We offer a range of training and development programmes for employees at every level to help ensure everyone meets their true potential. 

Our benefits include: - 

• Hybrid Working 3 days in the office. 
• Flexible Working
• Civil Service Pension up to 27%,
• 25/30 days Holiday plus Public
• Family friendly

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,092, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £9,474 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.

How to Apply

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

• CV including your job history and previous experiences.
• A 500-word personal statement.
• Separate 250-word statements addressing the specified behaviours.

Your CV is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

Your Personal Statement should be used to describe how your skills and experience would be suitable for the advertised role, making reference to the Person Specification outlined in the advert, providing evidence where possible.

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 

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the Personal Statement and Lead Behaviour - Changing and Improving. 

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or advanced straight to the interview stage. At full sift all behaviour statements, and your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview. 

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

Interview

During the panel interview, you will be asked behaviour-based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of, and you will be asked strength-based questions to also explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the job role. 

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. 

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

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 appointments will be made in strict merit order until the set demand is filled in each location. If successful, you will be informed which locations are available when we reach your position on the merit list.

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.

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.

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.