Tax Litigator

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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.

Roles are currently being recruited in Manchester, Glasgow, Portsmouth and Stratford.

For all other locations, successful candidates will be placed on a reserve list for future job opportunities.

Are you someone who enjoys challenge, exercising sound judgement and making a real impact? If so, have you thought about joining HMRC Legal Group as a Grade 7 Tax Litigator? It may surprise you, but you don’t need to be legally qualified to join HMRC Legal Group. We need Tax Professionals too! This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast paced litigation team, to work alongside skilled professionals across Legal Group, Policy and Technical Teams to deliver a first class litigation service. In return, you will gain varied, rewarding work, strong professional development and the chance to build your profile in a respected, supportive and inclusive environment.

As a Grade 7 Tax Litigator in Legal you will be responsible for handling complex tax appeals and undertaking advocacy in the First-tier Tribunal. We will support you with your professional development, through our Taxes Routeway learning to Grade 7 level and our comprehensive suite of litigation skills modules. This routeway learning and litigation modules, will give you a fantastic set of skills to undertake litigation for HMRC’s Legal Group.

You will be expected to develop a high level of knowledge, skills and understanding and work as part of as fast-paced Litigation team but may also be asked to support colleagues in other parts of HMRC Legal Group and the wider HMRC. Advocacy is an important part of being a litigator and successful candidates will be expected to advocate in the Tribunal. Tax Litigators are also expected to lead on projects and wider pieces of work which support HMRC Legal Group and wider HMRC.

Specific duties include:

• Working a wide range of standard and complex / challenging tax appeals that require an in-depth analysis of the issues and the ability to be able to research and interpret the relevant legislation underpinning the decision.
• An ability to understand and interpret large amounts of information, drawing conclusions on litigation strategy and legal risk.
• Making detailed written submissions to the Tribunal outlining HMRC’s case.
• Presenting hearings at the FTT (in person or via video) and/or supporting colleagues who are presenting at the FTT.
• Undertaking application hearings before the FTT.
• Working to and complying with Tribunal Directions.
• Ensuring the Decision Maker is kept up to date at all times, especially if they are to be called as a witness.
• Checking the Decision Maker’s witness statements.
• Identifying and collating bundles of evidence for hearings and managing bundle preparation.
• Attending case conferences, face to face and by telephone.
• Liaison with and coordination of paralegal support.
• Robust organisation and management of litigation caseload including file management, management information systems and processes.
• You will be a strong leader with the ability to work independently and at pace to lead wider projects in a well-structured and organised manner, impacting across HMRC Legal Group and wider HMRC.

Person specification

Grade 7 Tax Litigators are well rounded professionals with experience in managing a portfolio of cases containing complex tax issues. They are effective managing and resolving disputes. They will be tax or legal professionals, who typically have the following skills:

• Experience of working on complex tax issues or legal issues - This role requires litigators to manage a portfolio of complex appeals. As such, the panel are looking for clear evidence of the candidate’s experience of handling complex legal or tax matters.
• Communication skills; have excellent written and verbal communication skills. This role requires litigators to advocate complex litigation appeals before the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber). As such, the panel are looking for clear evidence that the candidate has the communication skills (written and oral) to undertake this role.
• Working Under Pressure; Litigators are often required to balance competing workloads and pressures, including Tribunal deadlines. The panel are looking for evidence of notable workload management and prioritisation of tasks.

Essential Criteria

For this post you must be a confident and skilled tax professional or litigator and hold the relevant tax or legal qualification (defined below).

Qualifications

It is an essential requirement that candidates have the following – A legal qualification and already be qualified as a solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive, or have completed LPC, SQE 1 and 2 or BPTC/BVC (or equivalent in Scotland or Northern Ireland) or A tax qualification (Direct or Indirect Tax), or already have passed one of the following HMRC tax qualifications in any regime e.g. Employer Compliance, Corporation Tax, Income Tax, VAT or Customs (ITC, ITS1, IDP, AIC or BDDP) or external equivalent (CTA/AIIT etc.). Successful candidates may also demonstrate that they have completed the Legal quality Assessment Framework (QAF) to at least level 3 or have successfully completed the Legal Practical Assessment Framework (PAF).

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. 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.