Overview
Senior Threat Strategy Advisor (TBML) – International – Belfast
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.
HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) tackles the most serious fraud, evasion and organised criminal attacks against the tax system, using a wide range of approaches, skills and capabilities including civil and criminal investigations.
HMRC plays a significant role in tackling economic crime, delivered through its unique function as a tax authority, law enforcement agency and anti-money laundering supervisor. HMRC’s investigation, asset recovery and anti-money laundering powers complement and support the activities of the broader government agenda.
Exploitation of the UK’s financial system has consequences for tax compliance and society’s perception fairness. Taking robust action when exploitation is identified, including through sectors HMRC supervises under the Money Laundering Regulations and criminal investigations, ensures there are consequences for those actions.
In FIS Economic Crime, we work across HMRC and the wider law enforcement community, using a unique blend of skills and expertise to recover the proceeds of crime and protect the UK against the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing, putting illicit finances at the centre of operations.
Our operational teams tackle the financial aspects of cases to deter, disrupt and remove assets from tax fraudsters, sending a clear message that crime doesn’t pay. This includes recovering the assets of crime using criminal and civil powers, taking action to ensure businesses in supervised sectors comply with money laundering and terrorist financing regulations and the post-conviction management of offenders.
Targeting and tackling the financial benefits of tax crime is a powerful approach in disrupting attacks on HMRC. Using our unique set of powers (including confiscation at the conclusion of a criminal trial, civil recovery tools, insolvency or taking control of goods to satisfy an outstanding debt) to achieve maximum impact, we take the profit out of tax crime and return monies to the Exchequer, ensuring funding of vital public services.
Job description
This is a key role in an interesting and high-profile part of the department which is at the forefront of disrupting international illicit finance threats.
The roles will include (but not limited to):
• Working with and through operational teams across the Fraud Investigation Service (FIS), Risk and Intelligence Service (RIS), and the Fiscal Crime Liaison Network (FCLN) to deliver an effective and impactful response to disrupting international illicit finance threats;
• Supporting the International Illicit Finance Threat Lead(s) in the development, implementation, and delivery of a coordinated strategic response to key domestic and international illicit finance risks within HMRC, and across other law enforcement government agencies and international partners;
• Providing clear and concise briefings including key actions, drafting and preparing lines to take on current strategy plans for internal and external engagements;
• Creating and delivering capability products to public and private sector both domestically and internationally to raise awareness of international illicit finance threats.
• Working closely and in strong partnership with the Fiscal Crime Liaison Network (FCLN) to understand the illicit finance picture in the UK and globally;
• Understand the current successes and challenges with HMRC ‘s illicit finance international strategy/approach, and leading on those next steps;
• Supporting a co-ordinated HMRC response to HMG led commissions and briefings;
• Cultivating and furthering strong partnerships with public and private sector partners both domestically and internationally to increase awareness of all Illicit Finance priority threats in HMRC;
• Working closely with Threat Leads, and subject matter experts to understand where continuity and impact can be achieved in the short, medium and long term with international partners; and
• Delivering bespoke capability building training to partners domestically and internationally on HMRC led illicit finance related topics.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
• Strong leadership, and excellent interpersonal skills and experience of working collaboratively with a wide range of international and domestic stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
• Demonstrate a high level of communication skills – both written to produce high quality briefing documents for senior leaders, and verbal, using good interpersonal skills to influence others.
• A good understanding and/or a willingness to learn what illicit finances are, what opportunities there are to improve intelligence and/or data collection, to help identify and improve operational activity domestically and internationally.
• Strong IT skills including using MS Teams, Excel, PowerPoint and Power BI.
Other Information
• Must already hold or are willing to undergo a minimum of Security Check (SC) vetting status.
• One of the roles will require the willingness to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) vetting status.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £44,110, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £12,778 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
• An anonymised CV (max 750 words) including your job history and outlining your skills and experience. Your CV will be scored against the experience required as outlined in the advert
• A 750-word Personal Statement, clearly demonstrating how you meet the Essential Criteria, providing examples of past achievements and what you and your experience can bring to the role. The Personal Statement will be scored.
• Separate 250-word examples for three Behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together and Communicating & Influencing.
(Please see the attached document for guidance on Behaviour Writing and refer to the link for the Success Profiles found lower in the advert under “Things you need to know”).
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
Sift
In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the lead Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture.
Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift where all behaviour statements, your CV and your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
During the panel interview, you will be asked to deliver a 10-minute presentation on Illicit Finance Threats.
You will be asked Behaviour-based questions and there will also be an ‘in-tray’ exercise to assess your experience.
Further information will be supplied to applicants who reach this stage of the recruitment process.
Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
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: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.
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 team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@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, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) 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 SC is 5 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.
Additional Information
We are looking into ways to enhance the applicant experience.
As part of our legitimate interests, we are testing the use of new technologies such as automation and/or Artificial Intelligence in the assessment for CV, personal statement and behaviour statement.
Please note that for this specific vacancy, this testing may run in parallel with our standard assessment process and will not influence or determine the outcome of your application in any way. You can read the Civil Service Jobs and HMRC Privacy Notices for more information about our lawful basis for processing your personal data and HMRC’s use of AI.
If you don’t want your data to be used as part of the trial, please send your Application ID and the Vacancy Reference to talentacquisitionaiteam@hmrc.gov.uk
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.
Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.
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
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- 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)
- 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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
