At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead impactful data analysis projects to shape HMRC's risk and compliance strategies.
- Company: Join HMRC's innovative Risk and Intelligence Service, transforming public service through data.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent career growth and ongoing professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in society by ensuring fair tax practices with advanced analytics.
- Qualifications: Expertise in statistical methods and coding, with strong leadership and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 58541 - 58541 £ per year.
About the job
Discover what it's like to work in a compliance role that makes an impact. Could you help us shape a stronger, fairer future? Your next career move starts here. As a Principal Data Analyst in HMRC's Risk and Intelligence Service (RIS), you will play a leading role in the UK government's digital transformation journey. You will harness advanced analytical techniques and emerging technologies to help shape HMRC's strategic approach to risk and compliance, ensuring the right tax is paid and safeguarding public funds.
You'll be part of the Government Digital and Data community, a collective of over 28,000 professionals transforming lives through technology. Your work will have real-world impact, enabling data-driven decisions that support citizens and contribute to a fairer and more efficient tax system.
We are looking for someone with a passion for analysis, a deep understanding of data's potential, and the leadership to drive change in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. This is your opportunity to join a forward-thinking, expert community and make a lasting difference.
Job description
HMRC's Risk and Intelligence Service (RIS) are looking for people with the experience and skills to join us as a Principal Data Analyst. You'll find excellent opportunities for career development in a collaborative and ambitious environment that empowers you to make a real difference in transforming lives through technology. You will be part of a team that uses data to deepen our understanding of how to ensure the right tax is paid, working with some of the most complex and comprehensive data in the country.
As a Principal Data Analyst in RIS, you'll be part of a team that leverages complex, large-scale data to generate actionable insights. Your work will directly support our mission to ensure the right tax is paid, using cutting-edge analytical approaches to protect public funds and improve outcomes for society.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership across a range of complex analytical projects, defining direction, governance and delivery approaches.
- Establish, champion and assure analytical standards and methods, ensuring appropriate use of statistical techniques, data modelling and coding approaches are used to solve complex business challenges.
- Lead the design and adoption of scalable, reusable analytical products to increase organisational capability, improve efficiency and support sustainable analytical delivery.
- Lead analytical quality assurance and continuous improvement, embedding robust governance and assurance practices.
- Champion data governance, quality and ethical use of data, setting and implementing standards across analysis and data management.
- Translate complex analytical evidence into clear recommendations that influence senior decision making.
- Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and partners, ensuring analytical investment delivers measurable outcomes.
- Build organisational capability through leadership, coaching and talent development to create a high performing culture that supports professional growth.
About the Risk & Intelligence Service (RIS)
RIS includes a range of specialist teams you could join, each using advanced analytics to solve high-impact problems:
- Data Analytics Team (DAT): Provides analysis and insight across all populations to identify risks and enable decision making across HMRC.
- Large Business Data Analytics (LBDA): Provide data analytical services to identify tax risks across large businesses at national and regional levels.
- Compliance Operational Insight & Risking (COIR): Provide analytical products and tools that strengthen HMRC's compliance strategies.
- Strategic Risking (SR): Develops strategic capabilities to ensure CCG and RIS is ready and able to support HMRC's compliance strategies.
- Data and Risking Service (DRS): Maintains and enhances Connect and Data Quality Services, delivering automated data and bespoke analysis to support analysts, caseworkers and wider business needs.
Person specification
As a Principal Data Analyst, you will lead innovative, high-impact analytical work that influences strategic decision-making and transforms how HMRC identifies and responds to risk. This role offers unparalleled variety and scope, with opportunities to work on meaningful projects, solve complex problems, and apply your expertise to real-world challenges. You'll collaborate with colleagues across HMRC and other government departments, contributing to a joined-up, data-driven approach to public service delivery.
As part of a supportive and forward-thinking profession, you'll also benefit from ongoing learning and development, access to professional networks, and opportunities to grow your career in a culture that values innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
You will bring:
- The ability to drive innovation by applying advanced analytical techniques and exploring new data sources to solve complex business problems.
- Strong judgement in shaping evidence-based recommendations, assessing options, understanding risks, and clearly communicating impacts to inform strategic decisions.
- A commitment to high-quality analytical standards, embedding reproducible, auditable, and efficient practices that deliver measurable value.
- The ability to build effective relationships across disciplines, working with stakeholders to understand user needs and deliver timely, relevant insights using agile approaches.
- Confidence in leading complex discussions and managing stakeholder expectations, particularly in high-risk or time-sensitive situations.
- Expertise in translating complex analysis into clear, compelling outputs that influence both technical and non-technical audiences.
- A proactive approach to continuous improvement, staying current with developments in data science, analytics, and emerging technologies to enhance organisational capability.
- A collaborative mindset, contributing to the analytical community and supporting HMRC's mission through strategic, data-driven solutions.
Data Analyst Training Programme
If you have completed HMRC's internal Data Analyst Training Programme (DATP) or previous iterations such as the Specialist Trial Period (STP), you do not need to do it again. If not, you will be expected to complete the final assessment from the DATP which is designed to help you build confidence and capability in the core skills needed for analytical roles.
If required, you'll take part in self-study, modular and work-based assessments aligned to the Profession framework, giving you regular opportunities to reflect on your progress and identify areas for development. You'll be supported throughout your journey by your manager, our dedicated learning team and business-based coaches and mentors known as Practical Training Officers (PTOs). We also encourage participants to self-assess their performance and seek support whenever needed to help them get the most from the programme.
The DATP could include several multi-day courses delivered in specialist training suites, and you may be asked to travel and stay for up to four days at a time. HMRC will cover travel and subsistence costs.
Data Analysts in the Civil Service are part of the Government Digital and Data (GDAD) profession - a community of experts driving digital transformation across government.
Essential Criteria:
To be considered for this role, your application must demonstrate evidence of all the following Essential Criteria:
- Applying statistical and analytical tools and techniques: Expert in the application of statistical methodologies and analytical techniques to resolve highly complex business problems.
- Communicating between the technical and non-technical: Ability to clearly communicate complex analysis to a range of technical and non-technical audiences, influence senior stakeholders, and manage expectations in high-profile or sensitive contexts.
- Developing code for analysis: Strong experience designing and implementing robust, well-documented and reproducible coded solutions using Python, R or Base SAS, with the ability to set and promote coding standards and best practice.
- Delivering business impact through data: Demonstrate using data and analysis to deliver measurable business impact, shaping analytical questions and developing scalable data products to support decision-making.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of 58,541, HM Revenue and Customs contributes 16,959 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. 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.
Principal Data Analyst - Belfast employer: HMRC
HMRC is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a supportive work culture where innovation and collaboration thrive. With flexible and hybrid working policies, generous leave allowances, and a commitment to continuous improvement, employees can achieve a healthy work-life balance while contributing to meaningful public service. Located in Birmingham's vibrant Arena Central, this role as an Operating Model Manager provides the opportunity to lead impactful change within a large organisation, making a real difference in how technology services are delivered.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Data Analyst - Belfast
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We think you need these skills to ace Principal Data Analyst - Belfast
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Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
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✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
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