About the job

Job summary

Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey to become a highly skilled tax professional?

Tax is at the core of our nation's financial foundation. From day one, you'll take on professional responsibility, ensuring that the government can fund vital services like hospitals, schools, police, transportation, and defence. HMRC offers a vast world of possibilities. Following your successful promotion from the programme you can specialise in specific tax regimes and explore various areas of work, from managing relationships with major corporations to uncovering tax avoidance schemes and tackling fraud. You can be part of shaping new tax policies that impact our society.

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

As part of HMRC's Tax Specialist Programme, you'll join a group of highly skilled tax professionals who tackle the most challenging aspects of tax work. Along the way, you'll gain valuable experience, learning how to resolve tax disputes, lead teams, interact with senior business figures, and tackle complex tax issues. You'll play a vital role in our mission to ensure tax compliance and create a fair tax system.

How we will support you to become a highly skilled tax professional?

You will embark on an immersive learning journey with our in-house team through dynamic virtual sessions, while seamlessly blending face-to-face interaction with your local colleagues. Dive into engaging learning sessions each week, tailored to your schedule, offering you the flexibility to split and manage your time effectively. Craft your working week strategically, to foster collaboration and hone your professional skills as you navigate casework, projects, and various tasks. Be part of the vibrant office environment, attending in person at least three days a week for a well-rounded experience.

Further information around the job description and role responsibilities please click through to our TSP Gov.uk Page

Person specification

We need you to have potential to develop and achieve the skills required for this senior leadership role within 3-4 years. Given the complexity and significance of the work involved, we're looking for individuals with integrity, professionalism, and unwavering resilience. We want independent thinkers who can analyse and solve problems, confidently express their views, and take the initiative to deliver outstanding results. You'll also develop valuable skills in persuasion, influencing, and negotiation.

Meet one of our trainees: Michelle provides you with an insight into her role and what to expect through the programme.

Joining the Tax Specialist Programme

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 Ability.

Eligibility

To join the programme, you’ll need to have a 2:2 degree or equivalent (level 6 qualification) at application stage, or the expectation of a 2:2 degree or equivalent (level 6) before September 2024. Civil Servants who do not meet the academic qualification can apply if you were recruited through fair and open competition and have passed your probation period before September 2024.

Civil Servants at risk of redundancy will be able to declare this when applying for roles by ticking a box as part of their online application. Candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a role will then progress to the next Civil Service Online Test.

HMRC is fundamentally an office based organisation and this role is not suitable for permanent homeworkers. There is scope to work flexibly with the opportunity to work remotely 2 days a week to foster a sustainable work life balance.

Stage 1: Application & Online Tests

Applications for the programme close 23:55pm on 10th January 2024. The deadline for completing all 3 online tests is 11:30am on 12th January 2024. We recommend you have access to a desktop computer or laptop and somewhere quiet to do this.

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

• First Stage Eligibility Form - you will also be asked some additional questions about your qualifications.

• Online Tests - you are required to take the Civil Service Verbal, Numerical and Judgement Test.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you experience technical problems with your test, you must contact volumerecruitmenthmrc.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

It is vital that you check your answers in your first stage form before submitting. If you think you’ve made a mistake on a short application form (e.g. you’ve ticked the incorrect eligibility box), please contact volumerecruitmenthmrc.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk at least two working days before the vacancy closes. After this, we won’t be able to reopen your application.

If you contact us after or on the day of the deadline, we may not be able to assist you and you may not be considered for the role.

If you meet the minimum standard for each test your application will be put on hold for further consideration. Meeting the minimum standard is no guarantee of an invitation to continue the selection process. After the test deadline, we will review all scores from the verbal, numerical and judgement tests. We will consider the impact on protected groups, and the number of places available at the next stage. We reserve the right to increase the scores for all tests to manage the applications through to Stage 2. You will be informed if you have passed or failed the raised standard.

14 individual merit lists will be formed at this stage and progression to Stage 2 will be based on pass rates for each Regional Centre Location. These scores may vary depending on each Regional Centre location. You will only be allowed to select one location preference and this will be used throughout the recruitment process.

Banked Scores

If you have taken and passed the Civil Service Numerical or Verbal test within the last 6 months at HO level, your score for these tests will be carried over to your application. The Civil Service Judgement Test does not bank, and therefore regardless of if you have taken a Judgement test in the last 6 months, you must take the test again to be considered.

If you took your Numerical or Verbal test more than 6 months ago, or at a different grade, your score will not be used for this role and you must take it on this application.

You cannot retake the test once it has submitted, so it is important that you take your time and allow plenty of time for it to be submitted.

Stage 2 - Civil Service Online Test will open on 22nd January 2024 and will close 11.30am on 29th January 2024.

If you meet the minimum standard for the Civil Service Online Test your application will be put on hold for further consideration. Meeting the minimum standard is no guarantee of an invitation to continue the selection process.

14 individual merit lists will be reformed at this stage and progression to Stage 3 will be based on pass rates for each Regional Centre Location and these scores may vary depending on location. Every applicant will need to meet a minimum standard but not all will be successful in progressing to Stage 3. You will only be allowed to select one location preference and this will be used throughout the recruitment process.

Stage 3 - half day virtual assessment centre to be held between 26th February 2024 - 22nd March 2024. Further details to be shared to those who are successful.

Pay

If you are a current Civil Servant and a substantive SO, you will retain your SO grade and pay up to the maximum of the HMRC SO pay range. External candidates will enter the programme at the minimum of the HO salary band.

When you have successfully completed the course you will be automatically promoted to Grade 7, the salary will start at £54,439 (National) and £61,253 (London). 

If you are currently working for an OGD and would like to consider the impact on your pay when joining HMRC, please see the attached document "Pay on Transfer from OGD" for further information. (Please note the attached document could also be called “Combined T&C and OGD Pay English”) 

Reasonable Adjustments 

The Civil Service runs a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. 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. 

HMRC operates within the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). Candidates who tick the DCS box will be invited to take online test if they meet the minimum standard at stage 1. Please also remember to tick the DCS and/or Help Required boxes on your application form if you are applying under the DCS and/or seeking additional support.

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 volumerecruitmenthmrc.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Diversity and Inclusion

At HMRC we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues and creating an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve.

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. 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 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 

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. 

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. 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.