At HMRC we have a vital purpose. We help people pay the correct amount of tax and provide financial support to families and individuals. We make sure money is available to fund the UK's public services such as hospitals and schools, answering around 50 million calls and handling 15 million items of customer correspondence every year.
Our services support customers on behalf of the entire department, dealing with a broad range of different and complex customer enquiries.
This is a great chance to start your career with HMRC and we offer real opportunities to progress and develop your career with us or the wider Civil Service if you choose.
We're striving to be the best customer service organisation in the UK, and we need enthusiastic people to help us achieve this.
See what it's like to work at HMRC : find out more about us or ask our colleagues a question .
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert. In this frontline customer service role, you'll be handling inbound and outbound calls, assisting customers, and providing vital administrative support where it's needed most.
You will also have the opportunity to enrol onto our Level 3 Apprenticeship Programme, which is a fantastic way to earn whilst you learn and gain a formal qualification as part of your day-to-day role.
What you'll be doing:
- Answering inbound calls and making outbound calls to assist customers.
- Managing casework and data processing using various IT systems.
- Occasionally engaging with customers face-to-face when required.
- Adapting to urgent tasks, which may involve traveling at short notice.
- Communicating effectively and working independently in a dynamic environment.
Kick-start your career with full training and support, no previous experience is required. All we ask if that you bring your enthusiasm, a helpful attitude, and a willingness to learn. From day one, you'll be part of a friendly and supportive team that's invested in helping you grow and reach your full potential.
You can find out more about what it's like working in Surge and Rapid Response Team on the Civil Service Careers website .
Question and answer sessionWe will be hosting a virtual event where you can find out more about the application process and what it is like to work in SRRT.
This will take place on
Tuesday 13th January at 2:00pm. Please visit Surge and Rapid Response Team Recruitment Campaign Q&A to book your place.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Person specification-
Need for flexibility - Are able to travel nationally or abroad, sometimes at short notice, including overnight stays. (The Surge and Rapid Response Team will pay for all travel and accommodation associated with work related activity). Flexibility is a contractual requirement for this role.
Before applying for this role, please consider if the following requirements are suitable to your personal circumstances as they are a contractual requirement for this role.
ApprenticeshipAs a Surge and Rapid Response - Administrative Officer, if you select to complete an apprenticeship, there is an expectation you will progress this in accordance with the completion date determined by the Apprenticeship Programme and achieve a pass or above at End Point Assessment.
Withdrawal from the programme would only be considered in exceptional circumstances and HMRC reserve the right to manage your performance and conduct on your apprenticeship, in line with HMRC internal policies.
Any training requirement and your probation period will run concurrently. If you do not successfully complete your probation period required as a condition of your role, your employment with HMRC may be terminated.
Your manager will provide you with, if they have not already done so, further details about any training required, as part of your role.
Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
BenefitsAlongside your salary of £28,016, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £8,116 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.
- Coaching and development.
To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders .
Things 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. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Ability.
To help you prepare, below is a rundown of what to expect during the selection process:
- Eligibility form
- Application form
- Civil Service Customer Service Test
- Civil Service Verbal Test
- Video interview
To help you prepare for your interview, please watch this video: https://youtu.be/CyR41pq06Mw
Artificial 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. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Eligibility & Application formThis role is not eligible for 'skilled worker' sponsorship.
The Home Office has specific rules around eligibility for sponsorship, including a minimum salary requirement of £41,700. In some cases, the minimum can be reduced to £33,400 (via 'tradable points') but this role pays below both amounts and therefore is not eligible.
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via:
csgrecruitmentqueries@hmrc.gov.uk- Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application -
442746 Surge and Rapid Response - Administrative Officer Multi location (529R) vacancy closing date 19th Jan 2026. To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Please ensure that any technical issues with the test are reported -
with supporting evidence - prior to [
08:00] on [19/01/2026].
There will be no extension to the deadline for completing the test, late applications will not be accepted. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24 to 48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is
14:00 on 19/01/2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your
application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the tests will be available when you are invited to take the tests. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
After submission of the first stages of your application you will be invited to complete a Customer Service Skills Test (CSST) and Civil Service Verbal Test (CSVT). If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.
Online test - system outage There will be two scheduled outages on Sunday 4 January 2026:
-
1:00pm to 2:00pm (up to 1 hour)
-
4:00pm to midnight (up to 8 hours)
All online tests will be affected, and candidates will not be able to access tests.
Applications 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.
Interview If you are invited to an interview, you will be asked questions based on the
behaviours listed below to explore in detail what you are capable of.
Behaviours:
- Managing a quality service
- Delivering at pace
- Communicating and Influencing
You will receive an interview link and guidance pack via email and will have 7 calendar days to record and submit your interview.
If a high number of applications are received, we may implement an interview approach whereby if you fail to achieve the minimum standard on any of the questions, the assessors will not mark the remainder of the interview. If your responses consistently demonstrate the required level in these areas, we will continue with a full evaluation.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 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.
Transitional Sites For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations .
If 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.
These sites are:
- Waterview Park, Washington - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
- Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
- Trinity Bridge House, Manchester - moving to an alternative office in Manchester/ Salford
You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.
Leeds Locations Moves Adjustment Payment will be available for this role, provided the successful applicant is a current HMRC colleague in Bradford and meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the HMRC's Moves Adjustment Payment guidance.
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).
Reasonable AdjustmentsWe want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact the UBS Recruitment Team via
csgrecruitmentqueries@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.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to.
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 ConditionsCustomer 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. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process. Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
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. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
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.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-for-hmrc-information-for-applicants
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via csgrecruitmentqueries@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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window) .
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .
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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
Apply and further informationThis vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicantsJob contact :
- Name : Volume Recruitment Team
- Email : csgrecruitmentqueries@hmrc.gov.uk
Recruitment team- Email : csgrecruitmentqueries@hmrc.gov.uk
Further informationAppointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles.
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via csgrecruitmentqueries@hmrc.gov.uk. 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.
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.