Insider profil
Keen to receive questions about
Top Insider Advice
Make a difference in whatever you do. The roles in your career may change frequently or be quite stable. You may stick to one profession, end up working in a few or work in one you would never have expected to work in. Your best profession may not yet even exist! But whatever you do - make a positive difference. That difference can be to your customers, the public, the service you provide or the people you work with. It will be different in the roles you do - but make sure you change things for the better.
Career path
Lead Business Manager
HMRC - CDIO SAP Practice
Started 12/2020 to PresentHR Business Partner - Strategic HR Business Partnering role
HMRC HR CCG OD and Strategic Resourcing Teams
From 01/2019 to 12/2020Project Manager - Skills and Capability
HMRC HR CCG
From 10/2017 to 12/2018Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
The work of a management team is varied, so that no day is the same. Every element has its challenge - trying to recruit SAP Specialists, ensuring we have the capacity to meet demand and balance the books. It's never straightforward. Being trusted to deliver is fantastic. I need to always improve what we do, be innovative, see the risks, respond quickly and confidently to any set-backs and lead a fantastic team who have the confidence to use their skills. Developing my team is important to me, giving them space to learn, to try things and grow. Helping them to balance work and their own lives so they enjoy what they do, and work together is my way of working.
Greatest achievements
I've been lucky to work with and lead others, on huge change projects impacting everyone in HMRC and on modernisation programmes affecting the public. Whether it's working with others, leading them or supporting my peers, helping them to develop, learn, grow both professionally and as an individual is the achievement I'm most proud of.
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!
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!
Lubna
Tax specialist/Manager/Techical leader
Top Insider Advice
When I moved from Pakistan, I was told by many that the only jobs I can get is working in a shop as graduate careers aren't for us. The fact that I didn't take their word made such a difference. Self-belief is the first part of the equation and once you have that, top it up with doing your research and acting on it as actions make the most difference. There is a lot of material available for applications and what it takes to be a civil servant at HMRC. Have some time to read and understand it before applying. Lastly, overthinking is not your friend, so my advice is to do your thinking but DO NOT over think and take actions to make a plunge!
