Strategic Prioritisation & Insight Advisors

About The Job

Job summary

Discover what it's like to work in a compliance role that makes an impact. Could you help us shape a stronger, fairer future? Your next career move starts here.

These roles offer a unique opportunity to shape how HMRC tackles the UK's biggest tax compliance risks. The latest estimates show a £59bn 'Tax Gap' - closing this gap is the first of HMRC's strategic objectives.

Compliance Strategy Delivery (CSD) sits at the centre of Customer Compliance Group, shaping how we understand and respond to these challenges. We bring together strategy, insight and delivery to ensure HMRC focuses on the areas that matter most.

CSD is a small, high-profile Directorate where curiosity, creativity, challenge and collaboration are encouraged. Our work directly informs senior decision-making and drives real-world outcomes.

You'll join our newly formed Strategic Prioritisation and Insight (SPI) team. This is an exciting opportunity to help build a team from the ground up, working across Grade 6-led areas of Tax Risk Analysis and Strategic Prioritisation to influence HMRC-wide decisions.

Roles will support delivery across a range of priority projects. Working flexibly across different work areas, collaborating with colleagues from a range of disciplines to solve complex problems and produce high-quality analysis, advice and insight.

You will support delivery of projects that shape HMRC's strategic compliance priorities.

You'll bring together data, analysis and insight to answer critical questions such as:

• Where are the most significant compliance risks?
• What should HMRC prioritise to have the greatest impact?
• How can we improve the evidence that underpins these decisions?
  
  

Your work will help senior leaders understand risks, choices and trade-offs. This includes:

• Analysing complex data and evidence, understanding both its strengths and limitations

Translating analysis into clear, actionable insight for decision-makers

Developing options, evidence summaries and advice products that support clear recommendations

Developing the tools, methods and evidence we use to assess and mitigate risk

Communicating complex issues in a clear and compelling way

You'll be comfortable working with ambiguity, applying judgement and collaborating across teams to deliver high-quality outcomes.

Job Description

The job requires individuals to operate at the interface of policy, strategy and evidence. SPI includes two G6-led programmes on 'Tax Risk Analysis' and 'Strategic Prioritisation'. Postholders will: support and deliver projects across these programmes; produce clear evidence, policy or engagement products; work with senior colleagues and stakeholders; contribute to programme planning; and contribute to wider corporate, business and people objectives.

You will work in a collaborative inter-disciplinary manner. You will be allocated work according to both the fit to your professional skillsets plus projects that will provide stretch - with support in place to promote your learning and development. You will have opportunity to develop new skills by working across areas in a collegiate and supportive environment.

To illustrate our work, below a list of anticipated SPI projects. Successful candidates should expect to work primarily in one of these areas while also developing experience across the wider team.

• Provide support to strategic cross-HMRC compliance prioritisation by e.g. structuring evidence (provided by others), testing implications and developing business options that enable clear, defensible recommendations for senior decision-makers.
• Help shape, prepare and land cross-HMRC tax compliance prioritisation advice with senior audiences, turning agreed advice into clear, compelling and resilient messages.
• Support SPI's evidence function including accessing, interpreting and analysing data to support HMRC's strategic prioritisation function. For example, triangulating sources and quantifying scale and uncertainty in tax risk hypotheses using data from HMRC's management information systems models and existing structured analyses.

Support delivery and improvement of a residual tax risk model, including through stakeholder workshops, evidence gathering, quantitative inputs and clear explanation of what the model can and cannot support.

Support horizon scanning, evidence synthesis and strategic insight products that explain emerging risks, external trends, uncertainty and confidence for prioritisation decisions. For example, appraising 3-10 year macro-economic futures and trends in technology-enabled and AI-driven influences on the tax system.

We are also currently recruiting a number of vacancies in the team - these vacancies align with the SO posts. Candidates are welcome to apply for both G7 and SO roles, reference number 474108.

Person specification

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where everyone can thrive.

Key Professional Skillsets

Our roles are designed to bring together people with different professional backgrounds. We welcome applications from candidates with experience in policy, strategy, analysis, operations or related fields, and we encourage multi-disciplinary working across the team.

You should be able to demonstrate capability across, or depth in at least one of, the following key professional skillsets:

• Evidence into strategy and improvement - Experience collaborating with stakeholders to apply evidence and business insight to strategy, prioritisation and decision-making. For example: Responding to political, economic and organisational contexts; Applying judgment to complex decisions and uncertainty; Providing senior advice and recommendations including business recommendations from data and evidence; proposing recommendations when evidence is incomplete.
• Applied quantitative data analysis and insight - Working with management information systems or large quantitative databases. Understanding approaches to and the strengths and limitations of using quantitative data in strategic decision-making - including knowing when and how to triangulate with qualitative evidence. Experience in appraisal and/or modelling techniques. Experience in analytical assurance.

Macro-economic trends and horizon scanning - Using structured futures and foresight techniques e.g. environmental scanning or scenario planning. Analysing and applying macro-economic trends to strategy contexts. Experience applying forward looking insight into strategic decision making that impacts policy, strategy, direction or decisions.

Essential Criteria

• Clear communication skills, including the ability to explain complex or technical issues clearly to non specialist audiences and produce concise written analysis, advice or briefing material.
• Ability to work effectively with others, collaborating with policy, operational and analytical colleagues. This includes to understand different perspectives and support shared outcomes.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use or interpret quantitative and qualitative evidence, identify key issues, explain risks, and provide insights.
• Sound judgement, including the ability to distinguish between evidence, interpretation and judgement, and to be transparent about assumptions and uncertainty.
• Ability to deliver at pace, managing competing priorities, working to deadlines and escalating risks or issues early.
  
  

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working in a tax, economic or fiscal policy context, or in a strategy, prioritisation or investment decision making function.
• Experience in policy, strategy or analytical roles. (For existing civil servants: membership of the Policy Profession and/or any Analytical Profession e.g. economist, statistician, social or operational research. For external candidates: equivalent professional credentials).
  
  

Further Location Information

Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a 'Further Location Preferences (optional)' field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application.

Office Closures

If your location preference is for the following site, it's important to note that this is not long-term site for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations (opens in a new window)

This Site Is

• Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
  
  

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
  
  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,544, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £13,194 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.
  
  

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

How To Apply

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

• A name-blind CV including your job history, qualifications and previous experiences. Your CV should cover your recent and relevant job history, detailing your responsibilities and key achievements and experience of the three key professional skillsets outlined in the person specification.
• A 750-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should clearly demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria. Please provide impact, outcomes and results where applicable in your examples.
  
  

Please evidence any Desirable Criteria where applicable (up to 250 words max). This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy holder where candidates have the same score at interview.

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

After submission of the first stage of your application, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test and Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass these tests, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended) and ensure you allow sufficient time to complete and submit the final stage of your application after submitting your online test.

The deadline for both the test and the application is 7th September at 23:55.

Sift

At full sift your CV and 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, your experience and behaviours will be assessed, in order to determine your suitability for the role.

You will give an experience based presentation. Further details will be provided prior to interview.

Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Online Tests - Banked Scores

When an applicant has a banked score they are not asked to retake the same test, providing it is:

• set at the same job level, and
• within the same system.
  
  

Scores will be banked for six months, or until a new score benchmark is applied, whichever is sooner. This means that if a candidate applies for another vacancy at this grade they may not have to retake the test within that time, and their previous score will be used for the new vacancy.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@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 .

Exceptionally, candidates who are not successful at this grade may be considered for appointment to similar roles at a lower grade where the eligibility criteria are met. If this applies, we will contact you directly.

The HMRC app can help you with your application

The HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.

If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.

Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.

How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account

Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You'll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services .

Reserve List

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.

Merit List

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.

Criminal Record Check

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.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

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 team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@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.

Will you require a reasonable adjustment during the online tests? The tests required for this vacancy do not have a time limit. You don't need to ask for additional time. If you need any other adjustment, you can find further information in the Reasonable adjustment guide for online tests (opens in a new window). If you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to assist prior to the vacancy closing.

Technical Support

If you are experiencing problems that cannot be resolved by our ' help ' section, then technical support is available. You will receive a reply in 2 working days.

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. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to.

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 (opens in a new window) .

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.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

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

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK .

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) 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.

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).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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 : CSD Recruitment Team
• Email : csdrecruitmentandworkforce@hmrc.gov.uk
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk
  
  

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk . Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.