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Appointment details

Independent Advisor, HMRC Professional Standards Committee

Summary

• Organisation: HMRC Departmental Board
• Sponsor department: HM Revenue & Customs
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Public Administration
• Skills: Business, Commercial, Technology / Digital, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Time commitment: 4 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £3000 per annum
• Length of term: 2 years
• Application deadline: 11:55pm on 24 November 2024

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   8 November 2024

2. Application deadline

   11:55pm on 24 November 2024

3. Sifting date

   29 November 2024

4. Interviews expected to end on

   16 December 2024

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Appointment description

Independent Advisors use their skills and personal experience to contribute to the work of the subcommittees. They support the committee chair, the responsible Director General, senior officials and ultimately the Minister in the delivery of the government’s priorities for the department. Independent Advisors are experts in their field and provide sound judgement.

All Independent Advisors will:​

• adhere to the ethical standards outlined in the Seven Principles of Public Life​
• attend the meetings of the committee, contributing constructively across the full range of committee business.​
• act as a sounding board and critical friend to the committee chair and to the executive.​
• provide advice, help and guidance – making recommendations as to how to improve relevant plans and policies. ​
• draw on professional experience to strengthen the quality of advice provided to the Board and to the department. ​

Specific Duties and Expectations:​

You will specifically support, scrutinise and challenge the executive on the committee’s key priorities:​

• Service performance: ensuring that HMRC meets its service standards in telephony and post channels.​
• HMRC’s journey to becoming a digital 1st organisation, including publication of a digital transformation roadmap​
• End to end management of the customer journey which includes the importance of customer communications, guidance and education​
• HMRC’s services for customers who need extra help, including those who are digitally excluded​

The Committee will also focus on policy and process simplification, the journey for customers who are in a compliance check and how we can better support colleagues to improve service performance.

Organisation description

The Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs invite applications from suitably qualified and experienced individuals to take on the role of Independent Advisor for the Professional Standards Committee (PSC), a sub-committee of HMRC’s Executive Committee. ​

The PSC advises HMRC to support its goal of building trust in its work, the tax system, and the public perception of fairness. ​

The membership of the Committee includes two non-executive directors and the Executive Committee. Two new independent advisors are being sought to join PSC’s existing independent advisors to help shape HMRC by providing recommendations to its decision makers. ​

You can expect to provide input and advice on a broad collection of areas. The Committee focuses on the issues that impact the most on trust in HMRC; fairness, transparency and use of technology, offering critical challenge to HMRC’s approach to operational delivery, policy implementation and strategy. ​

You will have a role in supporting fair practice in the use of HMRC’s powers and safeguards for all HMRC’s customers, whilst being mindful of the potential impacts on specific customer groups.​

The Committee meets four times per year. Additional meetings may be called by the chair to address critical issues or to share knowledge and good practice.​

Committee meetings usually last for 3 hours and members can expect to spend at least the equivalent time in preparation for each meeting; follow up actions may be required.​

Further details of the PSC, summaries of the meetings and the Terms of Reference can be found here.

Person specification

Essential criteria

We are looking for 2 individuals with expert knowledge or experience in one or more of the following: ​

• ethical considerations in organisational use of data and technology​
• handling difficult issues of judgement that impact the public or third sector​
• providing tax related advice to large organisations, or institutions, as a member of the tax profession​
• working to make systems and processes more equitable and accessible for people’s needs, including for those who may need extra support​
• challenging organisational practices and principles in large corporate environments with a substantial customer base ​
• building and maintaining high levels of trust in regulated industries or enforcement environments​
• overseeing an organisation’s corporate responsibility strategy​

​

Candidates must be able to make a personal contribution to the work of the Committee and will need to demonstrate:​

• professional expertise and experience in ethical thinking and decision-making which support and improve standards and organisational outcomes​
• the ability to analyse information and exercise judgement across a broad spectrum of policy and high-level administrative issues​
• proven experience in building relationships, influencing decision-making and offering appropriate challenge at senior organisational levels​

​

As an active member of the Committee, you must be willing to commit the appropriate time to meet the requirements of the role (quarterly hybrid meetings). ​You will be expected to prepare accordingly to ensure you are able to play an active part in the Committee, provide sound judgment and use your expertise ​and experience to steer HMRC’s trust agenda. 

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

​Please note:  

Applicants must be independent from HMRC. Current HMRC employees are unable to be considered for this position. 

Overview of the application process

Shortlist and Interview​

The selection panel will be chaired by Jonathan Athow, Director General, Customer Strategy & Tax Design. The full panel will be confirmed prior to interview.Shortlisting is expected to take place w/c 25th November 2025, and all candidates will be notified of the outcome shortly thereafter. ​Interviews are expected to take place in person w/c 16th December and are expected to be held at 100 Parliament Street, London (full instructions will be issued prior to interview).​

Please note, dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. ​Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process. If you are unable to meet these timeframes, please let us know in your application letter or at the point of shortlisting.

Financial Probity Check​​

Candidates shortlisted for interview must complete a self-certification of their tax compliance and provide personal information required for HMRC to perform this check. ​​All data is handled with utmost confidentiality, and the results will only be shared with the vacancy holder. Appointment is conditional upon receiving a successful outcome.​

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

The selection panel will be chaired by Jonathan Athow, Director General, Customer Strategy & Tax Design. The full panel will be confirmed prior to interview.

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact scs.resourcing@hmrc.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. For this position, you will be required to have or obtain Security Check (SC) level. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or ten years in any one post. 

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.  

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at publicappointments@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

Contact details

Nigel Dominey at scs.resourcing@hmrc.gov.uk 

Attachments

• IA Professional Standards Committee Candidate Information Pack