What does the role involve?
As a Systems and Data Auditor, you’ll use your curiosity and investigative skills to provide systems audit and analytical support to Compliance Caseworkers.
By accessing, analysing and understanding customers computerised systems, software and data, you’ll establish audit trails and relate these back to their accounts. This helps with identifying and addressing irregularities or non-compliant behaviour.
You will often be visiting taxpayer premises, this could be at a convenience store, customs warehouse, or landfill site, or wherever their business is based.
Training
This is a specialist role in tax compliance where you’ll be provided with a fully supported training programme, compromising of an 18 month systems audit routeway and completion of a Quality Assurance Framework (QAF).
Our training focuses on building your skills as a Systems and Data Auditor to understand how businesses work across numerous tax regimes.
The training includes a mix of online learning, face-to-face sessions and mentoring from colleagues. As the training progresses, you’ll begin work on real cases, with support from experienced colleagues.
For the first 12 weeks, you’ll need to work full-time hours, even if you’re a part-time worker, or on any other kind of flexible working arrangement.
How we work
Our Systems and Data Auditors provide evidence and reports upon which lawful decisions are made regarding the correct amount of tax to collect.
We’ll train you to understand the legislation, guidance and procedures that you need to do your work professionally. You’ll learn how to work within the governance of GDPR to handle data, establish the facts and make and record fair, lawful and impartial decisions.
This is why it’s important we work in line with the Compliance Professional Standards.
Rianne’s story
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- [Text on screen: Systems and Data Auditor. People. Purpose. Potential]
- [Text on screen: What is a typical day like?]
- [Rianne, Systems and Data Auditor, HMRC] There’s no real typical day for me in this role, so it could start with a meeting with the caseworker to discuss the risks of a case, but more often than not I’m out on visits, and that’s where the real element of variety comes from in the role. We cover a broad scope of industries on those visits, so it could be that one day I’m attending an independent takeaway, or a beauty salon. The next day I could be going to a customs warehouse or a multi-million pound landfill site. There is a real variety, and the hours that I will attend those businesses can also vary, so I plan it around their operating hours. So one day I could be going in the morning or the next day I could be going later on in the evening. The visit is a crucial part of the role, and that’s because it is where we extract the data from their systems, but it is also where we get a real insight of how the business actually operates, and when it does come to the analysis stage, that insight is invaluable. I like to carry out the analysis in a quiet area where I can really concentrate. Which is perfect because our offices facilitate that. There is planned out quiet zones where I can go and complete the work that I need to do, or if I know I’m going to be working from home one day that week, then I’ll schedule the work to be completed that day instead.
- [Text on screen: What skills do I need for this role?]
- [Rianne] Being able to make sense of lots of different pieces of information from multiple sources is important in the role as it’s something we do every day. Being able to communicate really clearly, complex matters, that’s both verbally and written. We have a lot of discussions with caseworkers and other people that have an interest in cases, and also write reports on the findings we’ve obtained from the data. Those reports make up a part of the audit trail, and if you find that you’re organised and methodical in the way that you work, that will really support you in that element of the role.
- [Text on screen: Why should I consider joining?]
- [Rianne] Systems and data are industries at the moment that are getting a lot of attention in the news, and this is because as technology is advancing, those industries are just expanding. The training that’s on offer here is incredible, and the skills you’ll learn are readily transferable. Because the directorate is always evolving, as technology is advancing, there’s new projects that are coming up all the time for you to be involved in, and there’s always new areas that you can develop in. There’s a real culture of learning and sharing expertise and support from colleagues. The support from managers is amazing, they’re always trying to help propel you forward in your career. I think the opportunity that’s on offer is incredible, and it could really help you take your career in a new direction.
- [Text on screen: People. Purpose. Potential.]
Konrad’s story
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- [Text on screen: Systems and Data Auditor. People. Purpose. Potential.]
- [Text on screen: What’s the most common misconception about your role?]
- [Konrad, Systems and Data Auditor, HMRC] What’s the most common misconception about my role? Well, because the role involves processing and analysis of transactional data, I think a lot of people may think of the role as limited to working in front of a screen. While there’s certainly an element of that, we also need to acquire said data, and that involves a lot of travelling and visiting work. We need to inspect the systems used by our customers and get the data at the source, so I’m usually out visiting every week. I think it’s a very exciting and crucial part of the job, as it helps me to get to know the businesses and inform my approach to working the data. And it helps to break up my week, giving it a bit more variety and flavour. Some may believe it’s a very techy job which requires background in IT or data science, but a great part of it is that you learn everything on the job, you are provided with full training. All you need is the right aptitude and an open and absorbent mind.
- [Text on screen: What kind of data do you work with?]
- [Konrad] What kind of data do I work with? Well, you get to have a glimpse into all sorts of businesses, they can be retail outlets, beauty salons, convenience stores, restaurants and hot food takeaways, even landfill sites, you name them. One day you may find yourself trying to piece together information contained in a restaurant till with the figures from their credit card terminal and online takeaway records. And the next you jump into high vis gear and safety boots to extract records from a waste processing site to understand what comes in on trucks, how much of it and how often. There’s also opportunities to get involved with customs and international trade compliance checks to understand how goods are being moved through a warehouse. At all times we have one objective in mind, to build an audit trail from the point of a transaction being entered in a business system to its declaration to HMRC.
- [Text on screen: What other projects or work can you get involved in?]
- [Konrad] Because data is such a huge point of focus for organisations, there’s scope for us to apply the skills we develop towards our internal processes. So projects can involve development of internal tools and resources that would help automate certain tasks and contribute towards our productivity and efficiency. There’s composing or developing process specific guidance and documentation. There’s refining our internal processes to ensure our work is compliant and relevant. And making use of internal departmental data to provide insight into our performance and knowledge, and as you grow into the role and get more experienced, there’s training, coaching and mentoring opportunities, to support our peers and help them grow.
- [Text on screen: People. Purpose. Potential.]
Josh and Pooja’s stories
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- [Text on screen: Systems and Data Auditor. People. Purpose. Potential]
- [Text on screen: As a trainee, what support can I expect?]
- [Josh, Trainee Systems and Data Auditor, HMRC] The support which I’ve received has been fantastic from my team, my manager, other onboarding managers and the other trainees from across the country who I started with at the same time. Everyone’s been really welcoming and happy to help. I’ve also been working through and enjoying the robust training involved for this role, which has provided me with the background and understanding needed to help me assist with visits with my colleagues. From the training groups that I’ve been involved in everyone has their own strengths and is always happy to help and share their knowledge as well.
- [Text on screen: What experience do I need to be a Data Analyst?]
- [Josh] I’ve been in HMRC for over five years and my previous role before S and DC was in line management. I never had much previous data analysis skills so this was a big change for me. I never fully knew what an auditor was or done before I applied for this role, so this was a leap which I’m glad that I took. My previous understanding of an auditor was someone who worked with data, which sounded a bit boring, who was auditing systems and financial records. Someone who needed lots of qualifications and was an IT expert with computer qualifications. These preconceptions of mine were completely wrong. I understood the basics of IT, I had analysed some data at university many years ago and through some managerial reports. I was attracted to the role though as I wanted something different, I wanted to push myself to try something new and the idea of going out and visiting customers at their businesses or at their business premise was something which interested me, and I knew that it could break up the normal day to day work.
- [Text on screen: How is a day in the life of a trainee auditor?]
- [Pooja, Trainee Systems and Data Auditor, HMRC] I begin my day by going through the audit routeway, which tells me what are the learnings I need to complete. Throughout the day I dive into tasks guided by my mentor. I try to do a couple of exercises which are relevant to the course, to sharpen my skills and to absorb new knowledge. I also try to connect with peers through teams meetings and engagement meetings. Each day is a step forward, building competence and confidence in my role.
- [Text on screen: Was the training material relevant to your course?]
- [Pooja] Training sessions use pre-reading study materials from Kallidus and Civil Service Learning. Most of these courses have training videos and watching them before the course helps to focus more. Recently, I was given the first case by my manager and by using the training material, I was able to reconcile the data and do the analysis.
- [Text on screen: Are the trainers supportive and engaging?]
- [Pooja] I found all the trainers have good subject knowledge and are delivering the topics with excellent pace and by using the time effectively. They all are very approachable and helpful. My trainer provided different types of exercises during and after the session, and we are given sufficient time to practice and gain confidence. I recently had one of the classroom sessions which was about bookkeeping. Previously, I had no idea what exactly it is, but with good support and guidance which I received from my trainer, I feel confident now.
- [Text on screen: People. Purpose. Potential.]
“The support which I’ve received has been fantastic, from my team, my manager, and the other trainees from across the country. Everyone is welcoming and happy to help with a real collaborative feel.”
Pooja
Systems and Data Auditor
Working arrangements
Our Systems and Data Auditors work between 7am and 8pm Monday to Saturday, up to 37 hours each week.
The role involves frequent travel within your region, and occasional travel outside your region, including overnight stays.
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