Tax and Project Lead – 90191

Job Title/Position: Tax and Project Lead

Band/Grade: G7

Number of Vacancies: 2

Business Group: MoJ Tax Centre of Excellence

Directorate: Financial Management Control, Risk and Governance

Location: National

Hours: 37

Working Pattern: Permanent

Role Type/Team: Tax Centre of Excellence

Overview:

Working in the Tax Centre of Excellence (Tax CoE) offers a unique opportunity to shape, influence and deliver the direction of tax services at the heart of government. It is also an exciting and welcoming place to work, and you will be supported to reach your full potential and get the most out of a rewarding career in Finance.

This post will be working for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as part of the Tax CoE. The MoJ is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. We work to protect and advance the principles of justice. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society.

The Tax CoE was the first cross-government centre of excellence to be established and is a central resource for all departmental tax advice and services available to Government departments. The Tax CoE comprises teams from the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, and Department for Work and Pensions. The services offered by the Tax CoE and operating model can be found on the Tax CoE website on OneFinance.

This role also attracts a specialist allowance of £2,000. The specialist allowance is non-contractual and subject to annual review.

Role Purpose:

This is a specialist role to deliver an expert and professional tax advice service - producing, clarifying and advising on VAT/tax policy and compliance, interpreting and preparing guidance and providing clear communications on technical issues which are often challenging and complex in nature. Taking a strategic lead to how services are delivered, you will engage and collaborate with colleagues across government including HM Revenue and Customs and HM Treasury driving continuous improvements in tax compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead on producing, clarifying and advising on complex and challenging VAT and tax compliance, providing clear communications and guidance across government.
• Increase capability and upskilling by working as part of the centre of excellence, sharing best practice across the public sector, providing fit for purpose training and ensuring tax is considered at an early stage of the business planning process.
• Work collaboratively and leading by example across the Tax CoE teams on cross government and HMRC initiatives. Taking a strategic view on the Tax CoE delivery of cross government tax advisory services as well as delivering continuous improvement are key. You will play an integral part in driving forward the future operating model for the Tax CoE in line with the Government Finance strategic framework.
• Build effective relationships across a wide range of stakeholders, regularly communicating, establishing and maintaining a tax community across the sector and raising awareness of key tax issues.
• Lead projects to improve systems and processes in line with tax global principles, ensuring controls and best practice are in place to help maintain a strong level of taxation compliance across the government sector.
• Responsible for managing relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of future tax CoE aims and objectives.

Key Skills and Knowledge:

The Successful Candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• A strong working knowledge, track record, experience and understanding of either personal tax, business tax, or VAT.
• Successful track record leading on continuous tax improvements in both process and compliance including effective up-skilling.
• Confidence in challenging and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Good stakeholder and engagement skills with the ability to build and facilitate successful working relationships with both internal and external customers.
• Effective communication skills including the ability to translate complex rules into guidance that can be understood across the business and discipline.
• Ability to assimilate complex information from both internal and external sources and to provide accurate, complete and timely advice and guidance.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, delivering high quality work to demanding timescales.
• A willingness to develop further expert knowledge in Tax and VAT, Finance and government departments.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• A good understanding of tax and VAT within government departments and Oracle systems and accounting would be useful, but not a necessity.
• An experienced finance professional (qualification is desirable but not essential) but must be willing to extend skills and knowledge across taxation.

How to Apply:

To apply please complete the online application form. Applications will be sifted by a panel who will look at the Civil Service Behaviour framework and what is evidenced in your application. Should many applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Leadership. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses.

Candidates who are successful following the sift process will be invited to interview, where the behavioural elements and strengths will be tested further alongside other elements of the post. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates in advance of the interviews.

Travel:

A base location near or within the region will be allocated to the successful candidate, as set out below. The post holder is expected to meet their own travel costs to and from their base location. If required to attend a location other than their base location, post-holders may be entitled to claim some or all any extra expense (beyond the usual base location travel costs) in line with the T&S policy.

The successful candidate will be appointed to either one of the locations specified in the advert or, if nearer to their home, an alternative MoJ office location in the region which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed upon completion of pre-employment checks.

Training:

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks:

The opportunity to join employee run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.