Ministerial Correspondence Admin Officer
HM Revenue and Customs
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 4th October 2024
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Location
100 Parliament Street, London
About the job
Job summary
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.
At HMRC we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues; an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve.
We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us and we offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career at HMRC accessible to you.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.
About SOLS:
Across Solicitor's Office and Legal Services (SOLS) we provide legal services to the whole of HMRC. This includes:
- The conduct of independent reviews of decisions made by HMRC which are requested by customers under the legislative provisions.
- The conduct of tribunal and civil litigation on a full range of services.
- Work on new legislation.
- Drafting of statutory instruments and other legal documents.
- Legal advice to ExCom and staff.
- We also provide technical accountancy and forensic services to HMRC, are head of the Compliance Accountants’ and Insolvency Professions as well as handling Ministerial Correspondence and Freedom of Information requests for HMRC.
Job description
The team has a crucial role in influencing and quality assuring the writing style of the department as well as identifying key correspondence trends and building statistical data for stakeholders. The team also handles operational correspondence sent to the Treasury.
Person specification
Duties include:
- Team inbox management and post count
- Open, date stamp and count hard copy post
- Registering cases – including the task of creating and sending acknowledgements
- Action cases transferred in/out from other government departments
- Action urgent cases and chasing emails
- Update spreadsheets with new and updated contact and business information; share details with team colleagues
- Prepare draft packs up with returned draft letters for signature by Chief Executive and Director General’s, pass to the Officers to proofread and action
- Update and maintain spreadsheets with daily work delivery; host morning team meetings, liaising with team members to effectively allocate daily work
- Assisting executive officers with triaging cases in preparation for registration
Other work:
- Provide admin support to Officers, Quality Officers, Data Analyst and Operational Manager where appropriate
- Provide cover for the team on early/late rota
- Provide cover and support to the FOI and Policy teams which includes registering cases
- Support Private Offices with queries and any other work
- Liaise with business areas to coordinate a response within 15 days
- Ensure that phone calls/enquiries from MPs, taxpayers and business areas are answered promptly and effectively and escalated to Team manager as required
- Share any lessons learned with colleagues at team meetings or by email
Other Information
HMRC welcomes applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, taking into account our operational and customer service needs. We can’t guarantee that we can meet all requests to work flexibly, as agreement will be subject to business ability to accommodate, and any request to work a more flexible arrangement should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer
There may be a need to travel across the UK with occasional overnight stays being required and there may be a need for occasional travel for business purposes.
This vacancy is only available at the specified locations, alternative locations are not available.
Your office location is contractual so if you are successful, there is an expectation that you will attend that office location as required by the business. You need to consider how you will meet this requirement before you apply and discuss any concerns with the vacancy holder before accepting any role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.
- Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
- Family friendly policies.
- Personal support.
- Coaching and development.
To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Overview of selection process:
SOLS use the Success Profiles framework for its recruitment. Your application will be assessed against the Experience and Behaviour elements of the framework. The Behaviour and Strengths element of the framework will be tested at interview.
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
- A CV detailing work experience which should cover up to a maximum of your last 5 roles and other relevant experience
- A 250-word personal statement on what can you bring to the role and why you are suitable for the role
- A 250-word Behaviour Statement on Managing a Quality Service
- A 250-word Behaviour Statement on Making Effective Decisions
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
Selection will be by sift and (if required) interview.
In the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will assess the lead behaviour ‘Managing a quality service'.
Those applications progressing to a full sift will be assessed using the CV, Personal Statement (The CV and personal statement will be given a combined score) and Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service and Making Effective Decisions.
If an initial sift is not required, applications will be assessed using all elements of the application: Personal Statement and Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service and Making Effective Decisions.
Candidates who are successful at the sift stage and progress to interview will be interviewed online (TEAMs).
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
The interview process will include: Behaviours (Managing a Quality Service & Making Effective Decisions) & Strengths-based questions. Full details will be provided to those candidates invited to interview.
This is an example of a strengths-based question:
“It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?”
There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Start dates may not be agreed straight away but this will be discussed further with successful candidates.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: ubsrecruitmentexcellence@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – 370540 & vacancy closing date 04/10/2024’.
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact the UBS Recruitment Excellence Team via ubsrecruitmentexcellence@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Additional Security Information
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, candidates applying for posts in 100 Parliament Street must also obtain National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for CTC is 3 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the ‘location preferences’ section that you can travel to.
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Emdad Haque
- Email : emdad.haque1@hmrc.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : ubsrecruitmentexcellence@hmrc.gov.uk
Further information
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.
