Trainee Intelligence Analyst - Higher Officer - Croydon

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. Are you naturally inquisitive with a passion for problem solving? Are you a critical and creative thinker? Do you want to make a difference, tackling serious and organised crime and non-compliance as part of a cross-government Intelligence Analysis profession and community? If the answer is yes, then we would love to hear from you!

We are looking for motivated people with the skills and aptitude to join us as a trainee Intelligence Analyst. You can look forward to receiving our highly regarded training programme (recognised by the Cabinet Office's Professional Head of Intelligence Assessment), the support of a mentor, and excellent potential for career development.

About the team

Intelligence Assessment (IA) forms part of the Analysis function within HMRC's Risk and Intelligence Service Directorate. IA provides HMRC with dedicated and professional intelligence analytical expertise, delivering high quality products to customers across the department and wider government.

What is Intelligence Analysis/Assessment?

Intelligence analysis is the detailed examination of intelligence. It's 'identifying and fitting together the pieces of the jigsaw'. Intelligence assessment adds a layer of judgement to this analysis, adding the "so what?" to provide an understanding of the overall picture, even when some of the jigsaw pieces are missing.

Job description

As an Intelligence Analyst Higher Officer, you will be part of a dynamic environment making use of your passion for problem solving, ability to learn new skills, and naturally inquisitive nature. In this role you'll identify, collect, interpret, and evaluate all relevant intelligence and information with accuracy and perception, and quickly gain an understanding of unfamiliar and complex issues to identify key information to make sound conclusions, despite information gaps and inconsistencies. You'll have the opportunity to work across lines of business with staff of all grades. You will learn to utilise and exploit all available information sources and subject matter knowledge whilst working within the confines of legal process and structure. For this, you will need the ability to connect with customers and be comfortable having autonomy over your workload, negotiating product requirements and deadlines. We'll train you in analysis, assessment and tradecraft and help you develop the ability to use structured analytical techniques and use your creative and critical thinking. You will provide your independent, evidence-based opinion in written assessments and oral briefings to help clarify HMRC's most serious risks and threats. Under RIS Intelligence Assessment's current operating model, your role will be flexible and may require you to work on continuous assessment of a specific topic and to produce strategic as well as tactical assessments or undertake other taskings, according to need. As part of your role, you may be required to occasionally travel away and stay overnight from your home office location.

Person specification

You will produce assessments that respond directly to customer requirements and inform their decision-making. You'll work with experienced colleagues to communicate findings and judgements that have emerged through your work. You'll develop logical and concise written and visual communication of intelligence assessment using the structured analytical approaches, tools, and techniques. This will include visualisations when your findings are best conveyed in graphic form. You'll become confident in the clear and concise verbal delivery of intelligence assessment to different audiences and proactively seek guidance on the most appropriate format for delivery of assessment. Co-operation, co-ordination and challenge will be central to your approach. You will develop a network of subject matter experts and understand the importance of drawing on partners to support analysis and assessment. You will ensure that engagement is managed appropriately and according to security-handling procedures.

Professional Trial Period

A condition of employment is the satisfactory progression through the 12-month (adjusted pro-rata for part-time working patterns) Professional Trial Period (PTP). Successful applicants will be conditionally appointed for the duration of the PTP. Throughout this PTP, your progress against a set of pre-defined assessments for HMRC Intelligence Analysts will be evaluated and marked. You will need to pass the training examination process as well as meet the general standards of the PTP. The PTP and your probation period will run concurrently. If you do not successfully complete your probation period and/or the PTP, your employment with HMRC may be terminated. Applicants who pass their probation period but fail the PTP may be offered alternative, less specialised roles within HMRC. The decision on whether you are offered one of these roles will be based on several factors including performance, behaviours, and location, and it may be at a lower grade. The structure of the training programme includes several multi-day courses. Not all courses can be delivered in your home office location, so you may be required to travel and be away from home for up to a week at a time.

Join us on a webinar

To find out more about the role and the application process, you can join a 45-minute webinar session via Microsoft Teams. There will be a short Q&A session at the end.

Additional security information

This role requires the successful candidates to hold or be willing to hold Security check (SC) clearance.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: You will be asked to assess a fictional operation to provide insight and recommendations to the panel. Full details will be provided if you are shortlisted.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,682, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £10,916 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.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply

The assessment process for this vacancy comprises of 3 stages:

• Online tests/Application
• Pre-recorded Strength questions
• Interview

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

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.

Technical Support

If you are experiencing problems that cannot be resolved by our 'help' section, then technical support is available. You will receive a reply in 2 working days.

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.

Nationality requirements: Open to UK nationals only.

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. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities.