About the job

Job summary

 

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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. 

Flexible working options will be considered in line with business needs and will need to be discussed at the time of job interview.

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.  

The G7 Strategy and Policy Advisor role on offer sits in the Strategic Approach team within HMRC’s Intermediaries Directorate. An intermediary can be any person or entity, UK or offshore, that acts in some capacity between HMRC and its customers, in relation to any customer liability or entitlement to benefits.  

Intermediaries are a vital part of the tax ecosystem and play an increasingly important role in tax administration supporting compliance, customer experience and efficiency. Millions of taxpayers already rely on intermediaries to perform key functions in the tax system and new ways of working and digital advances are likely to increase their importance. The value intermediaries bring to the tax ecosystem is recognised in HMRC’s Tax Administration Strategy (TAS) which sets out a growing role for intermediaries, driven by technology and taxpayer choice.  

The Intermediaries Directorate will shape and drive the delivery of strategies and policies to support good intermediation. This will include the standards expected to ensure high levels of trust in intermediaries and the tax ecosystem. For some intermediaries it will include the design of the services HMRC provide, to ensure intermediaries can interact with HMRC: fulfilling their role and maximising customer experience. Intermediaries also have the potential to abuse their position in the tax system, both by engaging in tax evasion and avoidance and by unfairly exploiting our customers.

See what it’s 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

Tax software is widely used across almost all taxes, accounting for 87% of all digital submissions to HMRC; the only intermediaries with comparably wide usage and market penetration are paid tax agents, who also make use of software. We are currently in discovery phase to assess the most appropriate framework for standards, monitoring and enforcement to ensure quality outcomes from software.

The successful candidate will be working closely with key partners on a high-profile area commissioned by ExCom to produce effective measures to shape the future of tax compliance in the commercial software developers’ market whilst doing so in the context of developing an Intermediaries’ strategy and software strategy. The role will require a high level of engagement with diverse stakeholders within and outside of HMRC. This role requires a resourceful and forward-thinking individual, with a problem-solving mindset and the ability to merge divergent views into coherent and effective policy solutions. Working with the rest of the team, the policy and strategy lead will be responsible for influencing our strategic approach to software. There will be a degree of working in ambiguity and needing to work alongside a developing wider picture.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the small but growing Software Strategy and Policy Team. The team works across HMRC, wider government, and the professional representative body landscape and industry; to develop HMRC’s strategic approach to realising the full value of software intermediaries within the tax ecosystem.    

Some of the priorities on the team at present include:  

Designing and delivering a tax software strategy.  

Implementing an internal and external software forum.

Bridging gaps within HMRC to tackle tax software challenges ranging from compliance to Making Tax Digital in a joined-up way.

Developing research papers on artificial intelligence.

Developing a framework for co-creation with the software industry.

Person specification

Your role will involve the following aspects:

You will work collaboratively with key partners in Chief Digital Information Office and Customer Compliance Group to lead the setting direction of and implementation of software standards and an accompanying enforcement framework.  

The successful candidate will need to be confident and self-motivated in managing senior stakeholder relationships and must be able to work flexibly and effectively under tight deadlines against a backdrop of changing and challenging priorities to deal with complex and urgent issues as they arise.

The successful candidate will be working closely with a small team of G7s and an SO to deliver the software strategy of which software standards is a part.

You will contribute regularly to planning, prepare briefings and other updates on elements of the team’s work.

You will be expected to share responsibility to support development of this new team and colleagues.

Essential Criteria:

• The ability to work alongside a developing wider picture in an environment that is ambiguous and complex.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including confidence when working with and influencing external and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to gather and analyse information from diverse sources across HMRC, government and industry, to present complex information in an accessible and clear format.
• The ability to promote effective decision-making through high quality strategic advice all whilst testing/challenging emerging narratives.
• Policy experience, for example, writing submissions, briefing, and advising on policy decision making (this can include but is not limited to policy professional roles).

Leading and motivating others to follow the vision, inspiring and guiding others; delegating effectively; and making informed decisions.  

Desirable Criteria:

• An understanding of HMRC’s current software/digital/tech vision.
• Recent experience of working with industry.
• Knowledge of the tax software market and/or tax software used for tax compliance purposes e.g., filing, calculating etc.
• Experience of working on regulation or related policies, particularly involving digital goods and services.
• Experience of putting together investment bids or business cases.

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

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 complete a CV and Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Selection criteria will be a 750-word Personal Statement on suitability for the role where you should focus on demonstrating why you are suitable for the role, considering the job description, responsibilities and essential criteria. For the name blind CV you will be expected to provide details of your last four roles. Give a summary of what you delivered and any key achievements in each role.

The CV will be scored but only at full sift.

Sift

An initial sift based on Personal Statement may be held if a large number of applications are received. If your application progresses to a full sift, all sift criteria will then be considered.  

Interview

If successful at sift, the candidate will be invited to an interview where they will be assessed against the four competencies, associated strengths, and deliver a short 5 minute presentation on a topic to be confirmed when interview slots are released.

We reserve the right to raise the score required at any stage of the process in order to manage numbers.

Interview dates to be confirmed.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 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.

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

We’re 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 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.

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 

Additional Security Information

Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for CTC is 3 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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 you’ve made a mistake on a short application form (e.g. you’ve ticked the incorrect eligibility box), please contact hmrcrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk at least two working days before the vacancy closes. After this, we won’t be able to reopen your application.   

Please use the subject line to insert appropriate wording e.g. Please re-open my application - 344952 & vacancy closing date 08/04/2024. 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.

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.