VAT - Partial Exemption Specialist/ Indirect Tax Manager, HMRC, Birmingham

Summary

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is one of the largest Government Departments and one of the country’s biggest organisations. Almost every individual and business in the UK is a direct customer of HMRC. We collect in excess of £500 billion a year in revenue from over 50 million customers across the UK.

We are an effective, efficient and impartial tax and payments authority with a vital purpose: To collect the money that pays for the UK’s public services and help families and individuals with targeted financial support.

We have embarked on a major transformational Programme to redirect more of our people and resources to compliance activities, modernising systems and re-engineering processes to become more customer focused.

About Customer Compliance Group (CCG), Indirect Tax Avoidance and Partial Exemption (iTAPE) and Large Business (LB)

HMRC’s Customer Compliance Group (CCG) is larger than most government department with c.25,000 colleagues in locations across the UK. It is at the heart of our transformation and is responsible for delivering the department’s high-profile and reputation-critical compliance activities. CCG has unparalleled scale, breadth and impact within HMRC and is also involved in critical cross-Government initiatives and priorities.

Tax evasion and avoidance, fraud and organised crime are among HMRC’s most high-profile issues. They require both internal and external engagement along with proactive management of the with their operations and policies. CCG is also responsible for HMRC-wide and cross-Government initiatives, requiring co-operation, influence and engagement beyond the department.

Large Business (LB) is a directorate within CCG and is responsible for the tax affairs of the largest 2000 businesses in the UK, dealing with highly technical tax matters and complex global businesses. LB has a well-developed strategic response to Partial Exemption (PE) providing expertise and capability building for all LB regions and supporting the wider CCG PE community.

The Indirect Tax Avoidance and Partial Exemption (iTAPE) teams provide consultancy, project leadership and technical advice on indirect tax avoidance, project-managed complex issues, and partial exemption casework across all HMRC business streams. The work consists of single cases and projects, and teams work across geographical boundaries. iTAPE also leads for HMRC on Indirect Tax Avoidance, working closely with Counter-Avoidance directorate.

Job description

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.

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 Partial Exemption Specialist role provides an excellent opportunity for you to be involved in-depth cases and projects, allowing you the chance to shape the LB response to this complex and significant risk. You will help bring about timely and evidence-based decisions that reflect the wider PE strategy. These roles are in a high-profile and dynamic area of the tax and will form a key part of the LB VAT response.

The CCG PE community seeks to work across directorate boundaries to best allocate resource to risk. We are looking for 3 Partial Exemption Sector Leads (PESLs) in iTAPE and 4 G7 PE specialists.

Successful candidates are likely to specialise in one or more of the 9 PE Sectors where they will be expected to co-lead HMRC response to the PE and business/ non-business (BNB). risks in the sector. However, the role is likely to also involve leading on other cross sector and directorate PE projects.

Successful candidates are expected to collaborate with Tax Directorate, and provide guidance and direction to staff in Large Business, Mid-sized Business including iTAPE, Public Bodies and other stakeholders to reduce the VAT Gap attributable to errors and misuse of the PE regime and associated issues including business/non-business (BNB).

The successful candidate will also be encouraged to develop their VAT knowledge and leadership/management skills through appropriate learning programmes.

With clear leadership you will engage with a wide range of colleagues at all grades, using your strong communication skills to establish facts and gather evidence and conduct compliance interventions. Along with a deep understanding of the tax affairs of your customer base and utilising your tax professional knowledge to identify risks, you will promote good compliance, and both prevent and respond to non-compliance.

Please Note: The role may involve an element of travelling with a possibility of the occasional overnight stay away from home.

At HMRC, 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 adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process.

Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities and Skills Required

As a Partial Exemption Specialist, you will play a role in the way we operate across the whole business area. You will do this by:

• Profiling and prioritise PE and BNB risks in their sector and liaise with key stakeholders e.g. Product and Process Owners, Senior Responsible Officer for risk themes, Customer Relationship Managers (CRMs), tax specialists, and other staff to ensure a coordinated approach.
• Challenging and drive forward key PE and BNB issues in the sector, including leading issues through the range of dispute resolution and litigation procedures which may be appropriate, working closely with Indirect Tax Product and Process Owner colleagues, Solicitor’s Office and Legal Services, and avoidance colleagues when required.
• Leading on building PE and BNB knowledge and capability in their sector across HMRC.
• Contributing to ‘upstream’ compliance work as part of the developing HMRC Compliance Strategy, understanding the scope of digital tools, and taking a lead in scoping risk areas in their sector in collaboration with operational teams.
• Collaboration with Indirect Tax Product and ‘Process Owner’ colleagues and engage with external stakeholders to promote compliance and identify opportunities for improvements to processes and guidance.
• Making considered, fully evidence-based decisions about the use of PE legal powers, working with Deductions & Financial Services, and play a major role in defending those decisions in Tribunal if required.
• Project manage significant sector casework to tight timetables, adapting for additional issues that arise during the process.

Essential Criteria

You are required to demonstrate experience of the following within your application:
• Evidence of working collaboratively with different stakeholders on strategic and technical issues across team and other boundaries.
• Be able to take a major role in resolving complex VAT issues, while considering the wider impact of decisions.
• Experience of supporting capability build by identifying knowledge gaps and taking steps to increase technical knowledge of self and others.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills.
• Self-motivated and highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver to tight timelines with minimal direction.
• Applicants are required to be fully VAT trained, having completed one of the Departments recognised internal VAT training programmes; (VAT Foundation, Basic VAT Training, Routeway, BDDP or equivalent), OR have proven experience of working in VAT as an advisor or in-house VAT specialist.
• You must have up-to-date knowledge of VAT legislation, and Partial Exemption or business/non business issues.

Behaviours

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

Leadership
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Tax Competency: Application of Tax Knowledge Level 3

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension