£20,000 per annum 20 days/year
About the appointment
Introduction
The HMRC Board is chaired by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and oversees the department’s performance, delivery and strategy. It provides challenge and advice on HMRC strategy, performance, risk and capability. ?
The Board is advisory and does not have a role in operational decision-making, tax policy or individual taxpayer matters.? ?
Non-executive directors use their skills and personal experience to contribute to the work of the Board.?They support the Minister, the Chief Executive and the executive in their leadership of the Department. ?
Non-executives exercise their role through influence, scrutiny, challenge and advice about delivery and transformation. ?
Non-executives also chair or otherwise participate in one or more sub-committees of the Board as needed to support the delivery of HMRC’s delivery and organisational priorities. ?
We are looking for a non-executive director to join the HMRC Board with additional responsibility as Chair of the Closing the Tax Gap Committee.
Appointment description
Non-Executives are expected to contribute to the work of HMRC in the following areas:?
- Independence: provide independent perspective and assurance, including advice to the Permanent Secretaries, on the capability of the Department.?
- Strategy: constructively challenge and contribute to the development of strategy and business planning, including the setting of key objectives and targets.?
- Performance: scrutinise the performance of the organisation in meeting its goals and objectives and monitor the reporting of performance and impact.??
- People: provide advice and support to the Department on strategic people policies, people processes, workforce planning and talent management. ??
- ?Governance: ensure that governance, internal control and risk management systems are effective and capable of delivering relevant, accurate and timely management and financial information to the Board.??
- ?Connect: connect the Department to people and organisations who can provide different perspectives, opinions and expertise which will assist in furthering the business of the Department. Participate in the cross government non-executive network and share best practice so that HMRC can learn from the experiences of comparable organisations.?
?The Non-Executive Directors will??:
- adhere to the ethical standards outlined in the Seven Principles of Public Life??
- attend the meetings of the Audit & Risk Committee, contributing constructively across the full range of the business of the Audit & Risk Committee?
- act as a sounding board and critical friend to the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive??
- support and challenge other members of the executive team on risk management, programme management and the implementation of the department’s business plan??
- scrutinise, challenge and support the department’s performance in relation to its objectives, commitments and strategy??
- advise on the effectiveness of plans and programme management arrangements.
The Closing the Tax Gap Committee monitors performance of all aspects of how HMRC manages compliance, tackles non-compliance and addresses the customer debt balance. ??
It monitors the compliance baseline yield target and progress towards additional revenue targets, scrutinises operational compliance strategies, and makes recommendations on any additional steps that could help close the tax gap.??
To do this the Committee supports, scrutinises and challenges the executive on the committee’s key priorities:??
- Investment in modernisation: reviewing the systems and processes needed to better support tax compliance.??
- Workforce: examining the size and capability of our workforce and its contribution to compliance performance and additional tax revenues??
- Operational policy changes: reviewing the possible policy levers with which to contribute to addressing compliance risks ??
- Debt Management: reviewing workforce expansion and systems modernisation, which will contribute to additional tax revenues
Person specification
Essential criteria
Candidates must be able to demonstrate, and will be assessed against, the following criteria:?
- Experience: a strong understanding of the UK tax system and a track record of operating at senior levels in a major tax focussed or complex organisation within the private, public or voluntary sectors. Experience of the issues faced by taxpayers, employers, agents and intermediaries engaging with the tax system is also desirable.
- Knowledge: a clear understanding of the work, priorities and challenges of the organisation and the context within which it operates. ?
- Relationship Building: ability to build strong stakeholder relationships, including with Ministers and Senior Government officials and external stakeholders. ?
- Communication: strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, accept challenge and constructively challenge others in discussions with clarity and respect.?
- Judgement: effective decision-making skills with the ability to critically analyse a wide range of information to make clear and objective evidence-based recommendations to support the delivery of the organisation’s objectives. ?
- Collaboration: ability to work closely with the executive board and other key stakeholders, providing support, constructive challenge and assurance as appropriate.?