Service aims to improve use of tech as part of transformation programme

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HM Revenue and Customs has is offering an annual salary of £100,000 for a new head of operations who will assist the department’s Fraud Investigation Service to make better use of technology.

The tax collection agency formed the Fraud Investigation Service five years ago, bringing together its criminal investigation directorate and specialist investigation directorate under a single leader.

But HMRC said increased focus on tax evasion and serious organised crime prompted by the Panama Papers and heightened ministerial interest had seen the introduction of “new and refreshed” top-level cross-government governance structures, such as the new Economic Crime Delivery Board. The department said the situation meant leadership capacity needed to be enhanced.

HMRC said the new head of operations role, which is a Senior Civil Service pay-band 2 post, would take responsibility for all FIS operational activity, reporting to director Simon York. The successful candidate will also directly line managing a group of five deputy directors with operational delivery responsibilities.

The department said the role had accountability for a wide range of business outcomes, including many that were “the highest-risk and most complex” within the department, such as “threat-to-life situations requiring live-time operational decision-making”.

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FIS director York said the service was currently modernising its capabilities to tackle serious fraud, as part of wider transformation work at HMRC, such as its hubs programme to move staff to 13 regional centres. The anti-fraud unit is also intent on “making better use of digital tools”, he added.

“This is key to building on our commitments to use the full range of civil and criminal capabilities to tackle the most significant threats to the tax system so that HMRC’s operational response delivers on the ambitions set out in our Serious Fraud Strategy,” York wrote in the head of operations candidate information pack.

“Serious organised crime and economic crime matters have also grown in national and international prominence, driven by a greater level of public interest and renewed government focus. This is why I am creating a new role of head of operations, to oversee and deliver on this ambition and am looking for a dynamic and experienced leader to drive and deliver on our strategy.”

York said the head of operations would play “a key role” in connecting the work of the directorate to that of the wider department and the current-cross government approaches to tackling serious organised and economic crime.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for an engaging and dynamic individual to work alongside me and pay a critical role in securing our success in this largescale operational delivery role,” he said.

Applications for the head of operations role are open until 11.55pm on February 28. The advertisement suggested the successful candidate could be based in London, Manchester or Nottingham.