Policy Adviser - Tax Admin Modernisation and Reform
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Policy Adviser - Tax Admin Modernisation and Reform
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This post can be based in London (1 Horse Guards Road), or Darlington (Feethams House).
Job Summary
HM Treasury
If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.
Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.
We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you!
Job Description
About the Group
Personal Tax, Welfare and Pensions
We work to build a tax and welfare system that supports the government’s goals of fiscal sustainability, economic growth, and fairness. We look after high-profile areas including personal taxes, labour markets, welfare, tax administration, pensions, tax avoidance, and savings. We also coordinate spending controls for HM Revenue & Customs, Department for Work and Pensions. The Group is responsible for over £400bn in tax receipts and £300bn in welfare spending, impacting the lives of millions of citizens across the UK!
Our work means that we are often at the centre of ministers’ decision making, and we play a significant part in the Budget and the Spending Review. We work closely with HMRC, DWP and Number 10, and with a wide variety of external stakeholders.
PTWP is a friendly, diverse, and inclusive Group, with a wide range of backgrounds and specialisms. We have an active ‘Wellbeing Plan’ focussed on learning and belonging.
About The Team
Tax Administration, Spending and Reform (TASR)
TASR is an outstanding, friendly, and diverse team of 16 people based across the London and Darlington offices. We are the Treasury team responsible for supporting HMRC in delivering Government priorities – from raising tax revenue to fund public services, to simplifying the tax system, and tackling tax avoidance and evasion to close the tax gap.
TASR’s work is of fundamental importance to the Treasury, the Chancellor, and wider government. We work closely with a wide range of HMRC and HM Treasury teams to deliver tax policy, and we also act as the spending team for HMRC, ensuring HMRC spending is sustainable and meets the government’s wider objectives.
We are seeking to attract diverse, skilled, and impactful people and are keen to encourage applications from candidates with various backgrounds and ranges of experience.
About The Job
Great policy making is about understanding what needs to change, what problems need to be solved, and supporting Ministers to arrive at the best solution. It means working out how we are going to make the changes or solve the problems, and then delivering on those plans. To do all this, we need to build relationships with Ministers, Civil Service colleagues, groups with expertise, and the public. You will need to demonstrate a range of skills, including strong problem-solving skills, the ability to clearly explain your thinking in writing and in person, and the aim to overcome challenges and see your ideas through.
The post holder will drive forward policy and advise Ministers on how to modernise the tax administration system. This will involve close collaboration with a range of HMRC teams to support detailed strategic policymaking in key areas: championing digitisation; making the tax system simpler and easier to use; and reforming systems to ensure the tax system is fit for the future.
Individual responsibilities will be agreed with the successful candidate, but key accountabilities will include:
* Lead for HM Treasury in driving forward reform of the system of HMRC’s late filing and late payment penalties, aligning with broader objectives. Work with HMRC leads to balance competing risks and pressures, ensuring delivery, operational, fiscal, and taxpayer challenges are considered by Ministers. Ensure ministers receive further advice on the penalties system including on whether further changes should be made.
* Lead efforts for HM Treasury to modernise HMRC's methods for acquiring and using third-party data to help close the tax gap and modernise the tax system, ensuring the strategy aligns with broader policy goals and supports upcoming consultations and legislative developments. Develop strategic recommendations informed by discussions with HMRC partners and historical data insights.
* Take a leading role on policy issues relating to HMRC's flagship "making tax digital" (MTD) program, which requires big changes to the obligations placed on taxpayers and the behind the scenes IT systems HMRC have to operate the tax system. Working with your line manager and colleagues, ensure Ministers receive high quality advice on the future of the program considering the wider fiscal and operational impacts. Play a supporting role in challenging and scrutinising HMRC spending and budgets on MTD to ensure the program represents good value for money.
* Play a leading role in the development new policy measures within the Tax Administration portfolio to meet Ministerial ambitions and collaborate across HM Treasury, identifying shared interest such as simplification and compliance. This is all to support Ministers’ key priorities for tax and HMRC; cutting the tax gap; improving HMRC customer services; and modernising the tax system.
* Take a lead role for HM Treasury in ensuring Ministers have a high-quality suite of tax admin briefing products – take lead responsibility for creating and maintaining an “evidence pack” of stakeholder views on tax administration reform, and ensure Ministers have high quality background, Q&A, and briefing packs for use in Parliament and with external partners. Take ownership for ensuring any public correspondence is responded to a high standard and on time. Support HMRC in drafting speech and announcement text, Parliamentary products, and government publications such as consultation documents and calls for evidence.
* Contribute to making TASR a great place to work. Work flexibly to help the wider team and department to respond to challenging, high-profile requests. Promote a vibrant, supportive and engaging corporate life in TASR, the directorate and the department.
About The Job
Great policy making is about understanding what needs to change, what problems need to be solved, and supporting Ministers to arrive at the best solution. It means working out how we are going to make the changes or solve the problems, and then delivering on those plans. To do all this, we need to build relationships with Ministers, Civil Service colleagues, groups with expertise, and the public. You will need to demonstrate a range of skills, including strong problem-solving skills, the ability to clearly explain your thinking in writing and in person, and the aim to overcome challenges and see your ideas through.
The post holder will drive forward policy and advise Ministers on how to modernise the tax administration system. This will involve close collaboration with a range of HMRC teams to support detailed strategic policymaking in key areas: championing digitisation; making the tax system simpler and easier to use; and reforming systems to ensure the tax system is fit for the future.
Individual responsibilities will be agreed with the successful candidate, but key accountabilities will include:
* Lead for HM Treasury in driving forward reform of the system of HMRC’s late filing and late payment penalties, aligning with broader objectives. Work with HMRC leads to balance competing risks and pressures, ensuring delivery, operational, fiscal, and taxpayer challenges are considered by Ministers. Ensure ministers receive further advice on the penalties system including on whether further changes should be made.
* Lead efforts for HM Treasury to modernise HMRC's methods for acquiring and using third-party data to help close the tax gap and modernise the tax system, ensuring the strategy aligns with broader policy goals and supports upcoming consultations and legislative developments. Develop strategic recommendations informed by discussions with HMRC partners and historical data insights.
* Take a leading role on policy issues relating to HMRC's flagship "making tax digital" (MTD) program, which requires big changes to the obligations placed on taxpayers and the behind the scenes IT systems HMRC have to operate the tax system. Working with your line manager and colleagues, ensure Ministers receive high quality advice on the future of the program considering the wider fiscal and operational impacts. Play a supporting role in challenging and scrutinising HMRC spending and budgets on MTD to ensure the program represents good value for money.
* Play a leading role in the development new policy measures within the Tax Administration portfolio to meet Ministerial ambitions and collaborate across HM Treasury, identifying shared interest such as simplification and compliance. This is all to support Ministers’ key priorities for tax and HMRC; cutting the tax gap; improving HMRC customer services; and modernising the tax system.
* Take a lead role for HM Treasury in ensuring Ministers have a high-quality suite of tax admin briefing products – take lead responsibility for creating and maintaining an “evidence pack” of stakeholder views on tax administration reform, and ensure Ministers have high quality background, Q&A, and briefing packs for use in Parliament and with external partners. Take ownership for ensuring any public correspondence is responded to a high standard and on time. Support HMRC in drafting speech and announcement text, Parliamentary products, and government publications such as consultation documents and calls for evidence.
* Contribute to making TASR a great place to work. Work flexibly to help the wider team and department to respond to challenging, high-profile requests. Promote a vibrant, supportive and engaging corporate life in TASR, the directorate and the department.
Person specification
We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.
* Making Effective Decisions: An ability to gather and analyse a range of complex and often incomplete information to support decision-making and produce evidence-based recommendations in a timely manner.
* Working Together: Strong collaboration and teamwork skills, with an ability to deliver through others, to influence senior stakeholders, and to work constructively and collaboratively with peers and teams who may have differing views to achieve a positive shared outcome.
* Seeing the Big Picture– Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and wider government priorities; ensuring these objectives are communicated to colleagues, and brought together when planning and completing your work.
The lead criterion is: Making Effective Decisions
If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.
Candidate Guidance Support Session
Candidate Drop-In Session
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role on Thursday 5th June at 1pm to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time.
Join the meeting now
At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria:
* Strengths
* Behaviours:
o Making Effective Decisions
o Working Together
o Seeing the Big Picture
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Making Effective Decisions
* Working Together
* Seeing the Big Picture
Alongside your salary of £41,630, HM Treasury contributes £12,060 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)
* Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
* Generous parental and adoption leave package.
* A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28%
* Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room
* Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving
* Access to a retail discounts and cashback site
* A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes
* A range of active staff networks, based around interests and diversity
Flexible Working Arrangements
HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.
At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.
The office working expectation is linked to the location of the role. If you apply to a post in a single location, then you will not be able to meet this expectation at any of our other sites or move your role to another location.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Recruitment Timeline
* Closing date: 22nd June
* Shortlisting: w/c 23rd June
* Interviews: w/c 30th June / 7th July
This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline.
If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.
Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.
Reserve Lists
You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form.
Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Those on the reserve list may also be approached for similar roles at a lower grade. If you are offered a role at a lower grade and choose to decline, you can remain on the reserve list.
Eligibility Statement
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.
Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)
To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. In exceptional circumstances, for example if you have been working abroad on a government posting, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case-by-case basis once the advert closing date has passed.
Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you. Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.
These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting. If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
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.
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.
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.
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
* Name : Poppy Robertson
* Email : poppy.robertson@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Further information
Complaints Process: Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment based on fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact HMT by email at: hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
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