Insider profil
Keen to receive questions about
Top Insider Advice
It is important to keep trying. Not everybody will make it first time, I did not when applying for Tax Professional Training, but I was put on a reserve list and called up later. Many do not make it first time but they do make it second time round. The process for recruitment can be long, but do not get disheartened, this is to give everybody the best chance of being accepted. If you can, get feedback and consider it for future applications. Feedback will often point our your weak area that can easily be improved with a bit of practice. If you do get on a training programme, be aware that though tough, they want you to succeed and will do everything they can to support you in achieving the end goal. Do say if you need extra support, they cannot provide it unless you tell them you need it. I am dyslexic and they took this into account for exams providing computer rather than writing and also extra time for reading.
Career path
Customer Compliance Manager
HMRC
Started 10/2021 to PresentPetroleum Tax Inspector
HMRC
From 07/2017 to 10/2021Customer Compliance Manager
HMRC
From 09/2013 to 07/2017Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
Within HMRC I am lucky to work with a very diverse group of colleagues. This provides a constant opportunity to learn about the best way I can engage and support my colleagues which also feeds into the great relationships that can be built with colleagues. As a disabled member of staff I have always been impressed with the support I get from both my manager and colleagues so that I can do my job without worrying about problems. Though I deal mainly with groups in Finance, this still leaves a lot of variety as there are so many different fields and and approaches across my customers. From international branches to household named groups. I am constantly learning from my customers and no meeting is ever the same and always brings up new challenges. I get a great feeling of accomplishment form building honest relationships with my customers, especially when I can influence their approach to tax. I am constantly learning different approaches to achieving this, learning both from customers and colleagues. which enables me to constantly learn and improve.
Greatest achievements
Petroleum Revenue tax is a very specific tax applying only to oil & gas extraction from oil fields approved before March 1993. This had very high tax rates (75%) with the intent it would be repaid to help cover the costs of decommissioning the fields. Owners of the fields changed a lot over the intervening years and this makes for very complex calculation for tax repayment that need to follow strict rules. I created simple flow charts for the ownership changes, providing a much simpler method for identifying how repayments would flow back and ensuring much simpler calculations that could be easily completed in the flowchart to ensure correct allocations. I checked an existing calculation prepared the old way and managed to spot a minor error in the calculation that would have resulted in HMRC repaying £100m tax which was not correctly due. It also meant that future tax repayments would be calculated correctly and it was easier to check and follow the calculation to spot any similar errors.
Sue
Operational Lead
Top Insider Advice
I have been very lucky in that I have almost always been given a role (or applied for one) that I have enjoyed in HMRC (or earlier departments). If you show that you are keen to learn and willing to listen, then you will find that opportunities will present themselves to you and you will progress in your career. When I was told that I would have to undertake taxes training in 2005, I was horrified. Having been trained in National Insurance and done various management roles, I thought that tax would be just too hard for me and that I wouldn't pass the exams. However, I committed wholeheartedly to the training programme. I studied hard and passed all the exams first time - even though my daughter was still a baby so I was constantly exhausted as well as having to travel to London once a week for 18 months for my tutorials!
Terry
Business Support Team Manager
Top Insider Advice
It can be a very daunting experience starting work for a new employer, no matter what your age or experience. On my first day in the office (having never worked in an office before) I dressed in full suit and tie, only to find my colleagues were in smart casual dress. This was 33 years ago and now a simple question could be asked on a platform such as this. Then there are the ways things can sometimes be explained incorrectly, it's not anyone's fault. Generally no one is specifically trained in dealing with the diverse nature that working/office life can bring. Rest assured HMRC is a great place to work and One of HMRC's Values is that we are innovative, We are committed to continuous improvement and to developing ourselves. Another is that we are professional, We partner with others and collaborate within and across teams to achieve great results.
Liz
CDIO Borders & Trade Recruitment and Workforce Lead
Top Insider Advice
Always be yourself, it you make a mistake then admit it, we are only human. Listen to the views of others around you. Treat staff how you would like to be treated but bear that everyone is individual and treat them accordingly.
