Upcoming Live Chat - Let's talk applications!, Nov 20, 2025, 12:30.

Insider profil

Picture of Kris

Kris .

Estates Strategic Planning & Data Modelling lead

Ask me a question
Chief Finance Office

Keen to receive questions about

ApplicationsCareer DevelopmentCareer TipsEveryday LifeInterview AdviceRoleWhy usWork & Life with Us

Top Insider Advice

If there is one thing in my 20+ years in the civil service I have figured out it is you will never know if you don't try. Early on in my career I would never volunteer for opportunities, I wouldn't offer up answers or contribute to group meetings or working groups and missed the opportunity to apply for roles I would have loved to try my hand at. This was all through the fear of looking stupid or failing and how other people would view me. Not to say I have never failed as I have, be that in job applications or the approach I have taken to work tasks. The biggest thing I will share here is I have learned so much more from failing than I ever have from getting something right first time. The support from my colleagues during these times was surprising, there are so many great people who work across our government departments which fosters a great environment to be part of. Don't forget if you learn or take something way from an experience how can that be seen as a failure. Don't stop trying.

Read more advice

Career path

Estates Strategic Planning & Data Modelling lead

HM Revenue & Customs

Started 09/2020 to Present

Senior Digital Analyst

HM Revenue & Customs

From 02/2015 to 09/2020

Business Analyst

Department for Work & Pensions

From 02/2007 to 02/2015

Company

What do you like about your job and the company?

In my role no 2 days are ever the same, as someone who loves working in ambiguity and not knowing what the day is going to bring I relish the challenges my current position demands. My team at times are like a hub, we engage with colleagues across the department such as Design, Implementation, Projects, Finance, Property and Lines of Business to name a few. The engagement we have and insight/data we gather and develop to shape our planning assumptions, products and recommendations provide significant challenge but a great sense of achievement at the same time. The work we do feeds in to various boards and groups helping to inform key decisions made on the future of HMRC's workplace and workforce strategies, something that is a constantly changing landscape.

Other insiders

Hayley

Operations and Comm's Lead

Top Insider Advice

You will bring a unique perspective to a role as your experience will have been different from that of others. Don't be afraid to bring that to the fore, it is what makes you, you and brings a valuable contribution to a team. I wish I'd thought this more when I first joined the Civil Service!

Chris .

Top Insider Advice

Something that has helped me to move up in my career at HMRC is taking on new tasks from working on additional projects for the HO's in Customs to training new starters to the business. I actually wrote and delivered a training package for new starters when I was AO in Customs, I felt this not only increased my skillset but it also helped me to make sure that anyone starting in the same role as me learnt the job from the perspective of an AO. I have also taken on projects where I have led a group of people, for example, clearing an email inbox where we had a large number of emails. I delegated colleagues to cover particular time slots, making sure that the emails that had been waiting the longest for a response were dealt with first.

Viola .

Top Insider Advice

Identify your long term career aspirations, set specific goals and achievable goals to guide your progression Take advantage of training programmes, workshops, and seminars to enhance your skills and knowledge Take on new challenges - volunteer for projects or tasks outside your daily responsibilities Smile - build relationships with peers, leaders, mentors Prioritise your well-being, maintain a healthy work life balance, always set boundaries

Discussions with Kris
What support is available for career changers?
in Career progression·Thursday, November 3, 2022
1 response
52 views
What's the most rewarding project you've worked on?
in Career Tips·Tuesday, February 28, 2023
1 response
19 views
What do you think is unique about working here?
in Career Tips·Tuesday, March 7, 2023
1 response
19 views