Insider profil
Keen to receive questions about
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
Career path
VAT Policy - VAT Reliefs, Financial Services and Insurance Premium Tax
Hmrc
From 12/2024 to 03/2025Company
What do you like about your job and the company?
I am given numerous opportunities to continue learning, with various avenues available for exploration and growth at any time. I appreciate the ability to make decisions and have control over my work, along with the flexibility to manage my time and maintain a healthy work-life balance. I enjoy financial independence and benefit from the financial perks that come with the job, such as discounts, dental insurance, gym memberships, health coverage, and eye tests. I feel a strong sense of purpose and impact, contributing to meaningful work that positively affects our society and country.
Greatest achievements
In my Compliance role, I ensured customers adherence to tax compliance paying the right tax at the right time and managed tax risk. These responsibilities honed my analytical skills and attention to detail. Driven by a passion for public policy, I sought opportunities to transition into a Policy role. I engaged in training, seminars, and job shadowing to gain a deeper understanding of policy development and implementation.
Lesley
Business Management Unit Higher Officer
Top Insider Advice
Try different areas. Don't stick to one
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!
Sandra
Tax Investigator
Top Insider Advice
I've been a Civil Servant for 34 years, starting as an AO in what was DHSS, processing benefit claims. This was a real baptism of fire, dealing with desperate people and desperate situations and exposed me to parts of the population that were a long way from my life. I learned good people skills from this and a real focus on how important good customer service is-doing what you say you will and still having to deliver even when things are difficult or unpopular. This gave me a good grounding for moving onto National Insurance in a compliance role for business and individuals. HMRC merged in 1999 with NI and that was the start of my accidental career. I'm proud to have worked my way up from the bottom as I believe it made me who I am. Whilst no against direct entrance programmes, gaining experience within different grades and roles creates a rounded person.