Job Description

Overview

The role is for a Tax Specialist in the MOJ Tax Team which is part of the cross-government Tax Centre of Excellence (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.

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.

The Tax CoE was the first cross government centre of excellence to be established and is a central resource for tax advice and services available to the public sector. The Tax CoE is comprised of teams from the Ministry of Justice, Home Office 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

As the VAT Manager you will provide expert and professional advice on all aspects of VAT and other indirect taxes (customs duties and environmental taxes) to the MoJ core departments and its Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) to ensure compliance with legislation and HMRC guidance.

You will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders across the business to develop and deliver a VAT strategy that mitigates tax risk for the department and its ALBs.

You will manage the VAT team, providing them with technical support on complex areas as well as HR management.

You will support delivery of cross government tax compliance projects and initiatives, engaging and working in partnership with colleagues from other government bodies, including HM Revenue and Customs and HM Treasury, communities and networks.

Key Responsibilities

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities.

• Lead and support the team on advising on complex, sensitive and challenging tax issues, providing clear communications and guidance to maintain a strong level of tax compliance across the MoJ.

• Develop the VAT Strategy ensuring compliance across the organisation, sharing best practice across the wider Tax CoE.

• Lead and action continuous improvement and ensure robust processes/controls operate to give assurance on tax compliance. Identify innovative/ creative ideas and solutions, including digital where appropriate.

• Provide VAT Subject Matter Expertise and be the Decision Maker for the tax design and delivery of Synergy, ensuring the new system is compliant with tax legislation in both the common and local design phases.

• Ensuring VAT professional and expert services are delivered, prioritising and deploying resources to ensure service standards are delivered.

• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to enable effective partnership working across the MoJ organisation, Tax CoE and wider government department sector

• Actively contribute to the Tax CoE delivery and development of tax services and programme of work with an ongoing focus on continuous improvement.

Key skills and knowledge

The Successful Candidate will be able to demonstrate:

Essential Criteria:

• A strong working knowledge, track record, experience and understanding of VAT and the nuances that apply to government departments (Section 41). (Technical)

• Lead an organisation's tax management, compliance and assurance activities. Carefully manage complex, sensitive and challenging tax issues. (Leadership)

• Successful track record leading on continuous tax improvements in both process and compliance including effective up-skilling. (Developing self and others)

• Confidence in challenging and influencing senior stakeholders. (Communicating and Influencing)

• Good stakeholder and engagement skills with the ability to build and facilitate successful working relationships with both internal and external customers. (Working Together)

• Effective communication skills including the ability to translate complex rules into clear and helpful guidance that can be widely understood. (Communicating and Influencing)

• Ability to assimilate complex information from both internal and external sources and to provide accurate, complete and timely tax advice and guidance. (Technical)

• Ability to manage competing priorities, delivering high quality work to demanding timescales. (Leadership)

• A willingness to develop further expert knowledge in VAT, Finance and government departments. (Developing self and others)

• Engaging and collaborative team member. (Working together)

Desirable Skills and Experience

• A good understanding of VAT within the public sector and Oracle systems and accounting would be useful, but not a necessity.

• Previous management experience (desirable but not essential).

• Knowledge of the other indirect taxes (desirable but not essential).

*Please note that whilst we don’t assess or score ‘desirable’ criteria, we may consider evidence provided that demonstrates meeting the desirable elements of the role, only after essential criteria is assessed and where there is a need to differentiate between closely scored candidates.

Application Process

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.

Please refer to the Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which can be found here, to complete this application: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

Application Stage

Civil Service Behaviours

The following G7 Civil Service Behaviours are essential to this post and will be assessed upon application:

• Leadership (lead behaviour)

• Communicating and Influencing

• Working Together

• Developing Self and Others

Specific Technical Skills and Experience Required

This role requires an in depth understanding and working knowledge of VAT, specifically relating to VAT in a government departments.

In addition to the Civil Service Behaviours above, at the application stage you will also be required to provide:

• Answers to two technical questions consisting of a maximum of 250 words per question summarising how you meet the technical requirements for this role.

• Provide a CV detailing your job history and experience in VAT in the public sector.

*Please note the behaviour and technical skill in brackets against specific essential criteria points above. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate these essential criteria within the application behaviour and technical responses.

Professional Competencies / Requirements

• An experienced finance professional who meets the Government Tax Professional definition and/or Fully qualified with CTA, CCAB or ATT.

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.

If we receive a large volume of applications, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Leadership and the technical questions.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Interview Stage

Candidates who are successful following the sift process will be invited to a virtual interview.

At interview you will be assessed on behaviours (noted below):

• Leadership (lead behaviour)

• Communicating and Influencing

• Working Together

• Developing Self and Others

You will also be asked to deliver a presentation on a topic that will be shared in advance of the interview. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates in advance of the interviews.

For further information please feel free to contact Joanna Turner at Joanna.Turner@justice.gov.uk