86096 - Senior Tax Specialist Tribunal Caseworker

Number of jobs available 1 1

Detail of reserve list 1 12 Months

Region 1 West Midlands

City/Town 1 Birmingham

Building/Site 1 54 HAGLEY ROAD, BIRMINGHAM ASC BIRMINGHAM, B16 8PE

Grade 1 SEO

SEO

Post Type 1 Permanent

Working Pattern 1 Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working

Role Type 1 Operational Delivery, Tax Inspectorate, Tax Profession

Selection process:

Stage 1 - Sift

You will be expected to provide a statement of suitability of no more than 1000 words and an anonymised CV to evidence how your skills, experience and achievements demonstrate your suitability for this role against the essential criteria outlined on the job advert.

Stage 2 – Interview and Assessment

If you are successful at sift, you will be be invited to attend a 2-hour combined assessment which will take place in-person in Hagley Road, Birmingham. 

The combined assessment will consist of 3 parts:

Part 1: a 1-hour tax evaluation written exercise.

Part 2: a 10-minute presentation, followed by discussion on some aspect of tax appeals. You will be given the presentation brief and topic in advance prior your interview.

Part 3: Behaviour and Strength based questions.

Please see below "Application form stage assessments" for more information. 

Ministry of Justice

HM Courts and Tribunal Services

Job Title: Senior Tax Specialist Tribunal Caseworker

Grade: SEO

Location: Birmingham, 54 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 8PE

Appointment Term: Permanent

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice. We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice.If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

About the role

The Senior Tax Specialist Tribunal Caseworker supports the effective administration of the First- tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) by providing specialist knowledge of tax compliance and appeals regimes, undertaking a range of complex casework and assessment activity to advance Tribunal appeals based on the holder’s knowledge of tax compliance work and the Tribunal’s protocols.

You’ll be working closely with judiciary, the tribunal’s registrar and other members of the tax tribunal caseworker team, as well as the tribunal’s administration teams, you’ll undertake a range of case management work in line with delegated judicial functions. You’ll be part of the Legal Operations structure but will work to directions from the registrar and the tribunal’s judiciary.

You’ll carry out proactive management of appeals and support other team members, the registrar, judiciary and the administration team by identifying any barriers or risks to effective case progression in general and on particular appeals and developing interventions or actions to resolve these, liaising with a range of key stakeholders and the public. This will involve communicating effectively with a wide range of appellants, and respondents, many of whom are unrepresented but others may be represented by friends or family through to Kings Counsel.

You’ll undertake tax appeal casework that is of a more complex or high-profile nature which will require effective decision making on the management of complex and grouped appeals, specialist applications, disputed applications, jurisdictional issues and dealing with non-compliance of the parties within delegated authority. You’ll also be expected to provide, or devise, specialist training for other team members and to align their activities to contribute to wider organisational priorities.

The role does not involve line management responsibility for staff.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate knowledge or experience of the appeals regimes in direct or indirect taxes (or ideally both), this could be as an accountant or tax adviser, a lawyer, other advisor (such as Citizens Advice Bureau or Tax Aid) or officer assisting or acting for a party to an appeal or other relevant experience of the tax appeals regimes or functioning of the Tax Tribunal.

The post holder will need to have an understanding of, and remain alert to, emerging issues and trends which might impact upon the Tribunal and the numbers or types of appeals and be able to develop, implement, maintain and review systems and services to ensure delivery of professional excellence.

You will be expected to demonstrate your understanding of the tax appeal system, developed through your track-record of working in a tax related area in your current or a previous role.

You will need to provide evidence of the below essential criteria at both sift and interview stages:

• Knowledge of direct or indirect tax (or ideally both) appeal regimes.
• Familiarity with tax enquiry and compliance regimes.
• Understanding of the application and use of the Procedural Rules of the Tax Tribunal.
• IT proficient with the ability to learn and adapt to different technologies, software packages and resource material.
• Experience of work in tax tribunal appeals.

This operational role will require the successful applicant to be mainly office based, in Hagley Road, Birmingham.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. HMCTS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs and are agreed prior to appointment. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum. Existing Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed on the salary minimum of the pay band or with an increased salary of 10% on their existing base salary (restricted to the new pay band maximum), whichever is the higher. Existing Civil Servants moving at the same grade will retain their existing remuneration package.

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.

For a full outline of the role, please refer to the attached role profile.

The job holder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.

Additional Information 1

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

A nnual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

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.

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices . You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles . Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com );
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk );
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here )

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity .

Interviews are expected to start week commencing 3rd June 2024 (subject to change).
Interviews will be held in person, in 54 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 8PE Birmingham.

To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why. 

For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:

• You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
• You were studying abroad
• You were living overseas with parents

In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.

Success Profiles

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance .

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.

Application form stage assessments

Experience

CV

Statement of Suitability - 1000 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

Behaviours

Making Effective Decisions

Communicating and Influencing

Seeing the Big Picture

Managing a Quality Service

Technical Skills

There will be a 1-hour tax evaluation written exercise during your interview to test your technical knowledge in direct and/or indirect tax appeal regimes.
You will be given the option to choose questions between, direct or indirect tax appeal regimes or both. You will also be given a scenario, to enable you showcase and demonstrate your understanding of the application of the Tribunal Rules.

You will have the option to submit your answers on paper or digitally via email using your personal device.

All relevant information and documents will be provided to you on the day of your interview.

Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.

Additional Assessment(s)

Presentation

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

· nationals of the Republic of Ireland

· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service