Review Officer - Birmingham Regional Centre - Arena Central

Review Officer – Birmingham Regional Centre – Arena Central 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.At HMRC we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues; an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve. We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us, and we offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career at HMRC accessible to you. Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.About HMRC Legal Group Across HMRC Legal Group we provide legal services to the whole of HMRC. This includes:The conduct of independent reviews of decisions made by HMRC which are requested by customers under the legislative provisions. The conduct of tribunal and civil litigation on a full range of services. Work on new legislation. Drafting of statutory instruments and other legal documents. Legal advice to ExCom and staff. We also provide technical accountancy and forensic services to HMRC, are head of the Compliance Accountants\’ and Insolvency Professions as well as handling Ministerial Correspondence and Freedom of Information requests for HMRC.The Teams specifically deal with the conduct of independent reviews of decisions made by HMRC which are requested by customers under the legislative provisions.Job description Review Officer duties include:Reviewing appealable decisions to ensure they are suitable for litigation in accordance with the Litigation and Settlements Strategy. Preparing clear recommendations for countersigning, using a structured review template, setting out points of issue. Consulting with customers by phone and written communication to ensure a clear understanding of their arguments before reaching a conclusion. Preparation of comprehensive letters to a high standard setting out all relevant law and review conclusions relating to a range of regimes, liability decisions and associated penalties. Consulting with key stakeholders to ensure decisions are defended in accordance with HMRC policy and tax law. Addressing all relevant arguments, evidence, case law (Identifying what Statute and case law is applicable), costs and consideration of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Listing of all evidence enclosures to support decision. Accurate and timely maintenance of Case Management System (CMS) and other relevant HMRC Systems. Ensuring customer computer records effectively safeguard all customer data. Collaborating closely with colleagues and management locally and nationally to meet key targets, and help improve our processes, sometimes through participation in project work. Manage individual caseload and gain extensions of time if applicable (working within 45-day target). Provide technical advice and assistance to customers and colleagues, supporting the delivery of Strategic Objectives and contributing to improving the UK business environment. Expected to develop a high level of knowledge, skills and understanding and work as part of an integrated customer-facing team but may also be asked to support colleagues in other parts of Review business and the wider HMRC. Candidate Awareness Session HMRC are hosting an information session on Wednesday 20th August , starting at 12:30pm to accompany the application process where you will be able to hear more about the vacancy. To join the session, you will need to register by completing the following form: Review Officer Candidate Awareness SessionPerson specification To be successful in this role the candidate will need to:Successfully complete Routeway and Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). Review appealable decisions to ensure suitable for litigation. Prepare comprehensive Review Conclusion letters and Templates to a high standard setting out all relevant law relating to a range of regimes, liability decisions and associated automated and manual penalties. Address all relevant arguments, evidence, case law and consider Alternative Dispute Resolution. Accurately and timely maintain Case Management System (CMS) and relevant HMRC systems. Manage own caseload working to 45-day review period and gain extensions of time if applicable. Develop a high level of knowledge, skills and understanding and work as part of an integrated customer-facing team. For Excise attend Tribunal as a witness for Restoration decisions reviewed and occasionally for other decisions varied at Review. Training Successful applicants will be required to complete a Training Assessment Period which will include completion of a Routeway and Quality Assurance Framework – Level 2. Substantive position will depend upon completion of both. Will revert to previous grade if unsuccessful. Further information will be provided to the successful candidate(s).Working Arrangements during training This is a demanding training programme and, to provide the best possible opportunity for you to succeed, working arrangements are fixed for certain stages as below:Trainees must complete the first 2-weeks training so annual leave will not normally be allowed in that time. Learning activities are scheduled throughout your training journey that are fixed and trainees must attend. We expect trainees to commit to complete the programme so we will not normally authorise applications for alternative internal posts during training. The duration of your learning programme will be between 12 months to 18 months. Trainees will be provided with the knowledge, skills, and support throughout the training to enable you to meet the required standard within 18 months. We will support you to reach the required standard of the training programme, however, should you fail to reach that standard, we will use existing standard policies for managing poor performance.Further Information HMRC welcomes 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 cannot guarantee that we can meet all requests to work flexibly, as agreement will be subject to business ability to accommodate, and any request to work a more flexible arrangement should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer. There may be a need to travel across the UK with occasional overnight stays being required and there may be a need for occasional travel for business purposes. This vacancy is only available at the specified locations, alternative locations are not available. Your office location is contractual so if you are successful, there is an expectation that you will attend that office location 60% of the time. You need to consider how you will meet this requirement before you apply and discuss any concerns with the vacancy holder before accepting any role.Linked vacancies This vacancy is part of a joint campaign for the same role in other locations. You can submit an application for any of the linked vacancies, but you will only need to complete the full application process for your first application. Your scores will carry across and you will be considered for all vacancies for which you have applied. You will only be invited to attend one interview.You can find all the linked vacancies that are part of this campaign by searching CS Jobs for the following keyword: LEGAL06RO Behaviours We\’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:Making Effective Decisions Delivering at Pace Communicating and Influencing We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:Making Effective Decisions Benefits Alongside your salary of £36,320, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £10,521 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 ServiceThings you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience.How to Apply You will be asked to complete:A basic application form, detailing your personal details and confirming whether you meet the eligibility criteria. Three online tests – Civil Service Numerical Test, Civil Service Verbal Test and Civil Service Work Strengths Test. Please complete these tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). A 750-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should be used to describe how your skills and experience would be suitable for the advertised role, making reference to the Person Specification outlined in the advert. A 250-word Behaviour statement on Making Effective Decisions. If you fail to complete the online tests and full application form before the deadline of 23:55 on 02/09/2025 your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the tests will be available when you are invited to take them. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.We reserve the right to increase the scores for all tests. You will be informed if you have passed or failed the raised standard.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. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Sift In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the Behaviour statement – Making Effective Decisions.At full sift the Behaviour statement and your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview. Pre-Recorded Interview If you have been successful in previous stages you will be invited to a pre-recorded video interview, where you will be assessed on the following Behaviours – Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace and Communicating and Influencing, as well as Strength based questions. Further details will be provided with your invitation.Technical Exercise The Technical Exercise is a stand alone exercise and will be an In-Tray Exercise. Details will be provided to candidates who are successful at reaching this stage. Further details will be provided with your invitation.Interview dates and times to be confirmed.Online Tests – Banked Scores When an applicant has a banked score they are not asked to retake the same test, providing it is:set at the same job level, and within the same system. Scores will be banked for six months, or until a new score benchmark is applied, whichever is sooner. This means that if a candidate applies for another vacancy at this grade they may not have to retake the test within that time, and their previous score will be used for the new vacancy.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: – 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