Senior Policy Adviser - Full Time

United KingdomSalary: 45,544 - 55,157 per yearEmployment: FlexibleCategory: PolicyPosted: 2026-08-26Valid to: 2026-09-10Employer: HM Revenue and CustomsJob summaryDiscover 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.Our team is rapidly growing as we invest in new technologies and capabilities, and we are in search of enthusiastic individuals who can help us in achieving our mission. We are continually improving the service we give to our customers and, in line with this, we are creating a new response and management team within the HMRC Fraud Prevention Centre. The Fraud Prevention Centre (FPC) is a strategic capability within HMRC Security, designed to safeguard customers and the organisation against identity-related fraud and emerging threats. Protection, Detection, and Response, all underpinned by advanced threat intelligence and customer support. The Centre operates across multiple functional areas, including Proactive Protection, Customer Support & Response, and Strategy & Advisory, to deliver a holistic approach to fraud prevention.Job descriptionYou will play a leading role in the day-to-day delivery of HMRC’s identity policy and standards service within the Fraud Prevention Centre (FPC), reporting to the G7 Implementation Lead. Collaborating with senior leaders and partners across HMRC, you will help define, maintain, and improve the policies, standards, principles, and guidance that support the management of identity, access, and fraud risks. The role covers identity fraud prevention, identity verification and assurance (IDVA), and identity and access management (IAM), ensuring requirements are clear, proportionate, and capable of being translated into practical delivery across services, channels, customer journeys and enabling technologies.You will function as an authoritative source of advice and good practice, helping policy owners, security, risk, assurance, implementation, and service teams understand and apply identity-related requirements. Working closely with the G7 Implementation Lead, you will support the implementation and embedding of identity-related change by identifying gaps, delivery barriers, and risks, and by providing evidence-based advice, challenge, and recommendations. You will also help maintain FPC and IDVA as a recognised centre of expertise for identity policy, standards and governance, supporting HMRC’s contribution to wider security, risk, compliance and cross-government identity standards activity, and helping ensure identity, assurance, access and fraud prevention requirements are reflected in relevant frameworks and governance products.Person specificationEnsure identity policy, standards and guidance are clear, current, and usable by leading the delivery, maintenance and continuous improvement of defined products covering IDVA, IAM and identity fraud prevention.Translate policy intent, standards and emerging requirements into practical delivery expectations that can be applied across projects, services, customer journeys, and live operational processes.Support the G7 Implementation Lead to embed identity fraud-related change into delivery and live operations, including readiness activity, adoption tracking, capability-building, and transition to business-as-usual.Provide authoritative, evidence-based advice and constructive challenge to help stakeholders make proportionate, risk-based, and defensible decisions.Strengthen stakeholder understanding and ownership of identity, access, and fraud prevention requirements, identifying gaps, blockers, or escalation points where requirements are not being effectively understood, implemented, or evidenced.Strengthen governance, assurance, and reporting by producing clear briefings, guidance, risk summaries and evidence of progress, adoption, risks, issues, and early benefits.Represent the identity policy and standards perspective in working groups, project discussions, governance forums and wider standards activity, preparing analysis, evidence and recommendations that help influence HMRC and cross-government standards and ensure identity, assurance, access, and fraud prevention requirements are reflected in wider security, risk, compliance, and governance frameworks.Essential CriteriaStrong understanding of identity policy, Identity and Access Management digital identity assurance, identity fraud prevention principles, standards, and governance. Experience developing, maintaining, or owning policy, standards, guidance, or assurance products in complex environments.Knowledge of relevant identity, access management, cyber security, and assurance standards, such as NIST 800-63, NIST 800-53, UK DIATF and Government Counter Fraud Standards, with the ability to apply them proportionately in FPC and IDVA policy, governance, assurance, and delivery contexts. Ability to interpret technical , policy, risk and operational requirements and translate them into clear, practical standards, guidance, and delivery expectations.Ability to use evidence, risk information, assurance findings, and management information to identify gaps, support implementation, track adoption and recommend improvements..Desirable CriteriaFamiliarity with fraud prevention and cyber security identity assurance, or IAM frameworks and how they support proportionate policy and standards decisions.Experience supporting policy development, governance, assurance, or standards adoption within a regulated, security or public-sector environment.Relevant professional accreditation or equivalent experience in identity, security, information assurance, risk, data protection or change delivery. (Understanding of digital identity technologies (e.g., MFA, federation, zero trust) and their relevance to practical policy implementation.Any additional notes included in a ‘Further Location Preferences (optional)’ field within the application form, will not be considered. Office ClosuresIf your location preference is for one of the following sites, it’s important to note that these are not long-term sites for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, NewcastleTelford Plaza, Telford - moving to Parkside Court, TelfordTrinity Bridge House, Salford - moving to an alternative office in Manchester/ SalfordYou will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.Knowledge of security policy and applying it within a delivery environment. Analysing data to develop guidance. BenefitsAlongside your salary of 45,544, HM Revenue and Customs contributes 13,194 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).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.To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRChear from our insiders or visitThinking of joining the Civil ServiceThings you need to knowArtificial intelligenceArtificial 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. If you have any queries about the assessment, or require any reasonable adjustments, please contact talentacquisitionteam@hmrc.gov.Government Security Profession Career FrameworkGovernment Digital and Data Profession Capability FrameworkYou will be asked technical questions on the following topics:Knowledge of security policy and applying it within a delivery environment.Analysing data to develop guidance.Interviews will take place via video link. Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - ‘Please re-open my application - [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.Sponsorship We have assessed this role against both Home Office and HMRC criteria and we are unable to offer sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa. The HMRC app can help you with your applicationThe HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store. If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. UK: Technical support with HMRC online services.Reserve ListA 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 account.Criminal Record CheckApplications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.Hybrid working at HMRCHMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time). Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.Technical SupportIf you are experiencing problems that cannot be resolved by our ‘help’ section, then technical support is available. Additional Security InformationPlease note in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.Terms and Conditions Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.Diversity and InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Contact point for applicantsJob contact : Name : John MooreEmail : john.moore1@hmrc.gov.ukRecruitment teamEmail : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk . Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles.If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.