Senior tax manager
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Senior tax manager
Status
Live
Employment Type
Permanent
Work Arrangements
Hybrid
Salary
£42,665 – £42,665
About the Role
Senior Executive Officer (SEO) – Defra Group IR35 Lead
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Location: East Midlands, East of England, London, North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
Salary: £42,665 + employer pension contribution of £12,360
Contract: Permanent
Make an Impact Across Government
At Defra, our work shapes everyday life across the UK. From the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink, to the resilience of our food and farming sectors and the future of rural communities, we are committed to protecting and improving the environment while supporting a thriving economy.
Defra operates through a group model, delivering key corporate services to Core Defra and several arm’s length bodies, including:
Environment Agency
Rural Payments Agency
Natural England
Animal and Plant Health Agency
We are now seeking a highly capable Senior Executive Officer (SEO) to take on the role of Defra Group IR35 Lead — a pivotal position providing expert leadership, assurance, and guidance on off-payroll working (IR35) across the Defra group.
About the Role
This is an excellent opportunity to join Defra’s specialist Tax Team, part of the wider Compliance and Financial Accounting Team. The team plays a critical role in preparing statutory accounts for Defra bodies and supporting the consolidated Defra Group Annual Report and Accounts.
As the Defra Group IR35 Lead, you will be the central expert on IR35 policy, governance, and compliance. You will work closely with colleagues across commercial, HR, procurement, finance, project delivery, and senior leadership to ensure Defra’s off-payroll arrangements remain compliant, robust, and well-governed.
In addition to leading on IR35, you will also contribute to wider tax matters, including:
Taxable benefits
Corporation tax
VAT compliance checks
PAYE Settlement Agreement support
What You’ll Be Doing
In this role, you will lead and shape Defra’s approach to IR35 across the organisation and its arm’s length bodies.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading IR35 policy and governance across Defra and its ALBs, ensuring processes, guidance, and documentation remain accurate, compliant, and aligned with legislation and HMRC requirements
Providing expert advice on IR35 to a broad range of stakeholders, including commercial teams, recruitment teams, HR, project managers, and senior leaders
Overseeing IR35 status assessments, ensuring compliant tools such as CEST are applied consistently and supported by strong evidence
Monitoring compliance across a range of engagement types, including:
contingent labour
consultancy
professional services
managed services
Designing and delivering training sessions, guidance materials, and briefings to improve understanding of IR35 responsibilities across the organisation
Supporting assurance activity, including preparation for HMRC audits and responses to the cross-government Tax Centre of Excellence
Identifying and reporting risks, analysing compliance issues and presenting clear recommendations to senior stakeholders and governance forums
Acting as the subject matter expert for procurement and system developments, including the Synergy programme, ensuring IR35 requirements are embedded in policy, workflows, and controls
Assisting with PAYE Settlement Agreement activity, including data gathering and return checking
Supporting compliance on taxable benefits
Contributing to wider tax work across Defra and offering advice to other bodies within the Defra group
Liaising with HMRC, cross-government forums, and senior internal stakeholders with clarity and professionalism
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone with strong technical tax expertise, excellent judgement, and the confidence to work across a large and complex organisation.
Essential skills and experience:
Strong technical tax knowledge, particularly in IR35 and the practical application of relevant legislation and HMRC guidance
Experience of advising clearly on complex technical issues to a range of audiences
Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across teams and organisations
Excellent written and verbal communication
Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
High levels of accuracy and attention to detail
Effective organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage competing demands
Confidence in using IT systems and data to support assurance, analysis, and reporting activities
Behaviours Assessed at Selection
During the recruitment process, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles behaviours:
Delivering at Pace
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Changing and Improving
What Defra Offers
In addition to a salary of £42,665, this role includes a highly competitive Civil Service benefits package.
Benefits include:
Employer pension contribution of 28.97%
Learning and development tailored to your role
Flexible working options
A supportive culture that values inclusion and diversity
Access to the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
Working Arrangements
This post offers flexibility, with an agreed contractual workplace from one of the locations listed in the advert.
Successful candidates will be expected to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace, with the remainder worked flexibly from home, in line with Civil Service expectations.
Please note:
Your contractual location will be agreed before pre-employment checks are completed
Travel to your contractual workplace is your responsibility
Travel to non-contractual workplaces will be managed in line with departmental travel and subsistence policies
All duties must be carried out from a UK location
Overseas working is not permitted
About the Application Process
This vacancy uses the Success Profiles framework and will assess:
Behaviours
Strengths
Experience
As part of your application, you will need to provide:
A CV
Four behaviour statements
A skills and experience statement of approximately 500 words, demonstrating your suitability for the role and experience in similar responsibilities
Sift process
If a high volume of applications is received, an initial sift may be carried out using the lead behaviour: Delivering at Pace. Candidates who meet the required standard may progress to a full sift or directly to interview/video assessment.
Interview stage
Successful candidates will be invited to a video assessment/interview lasting approximately 1 hour 20–25 minutes. This will include a blended assessment of Behaviours and Strengths.
You may also be asked to complete a presentation or additional exercise relevant to the role. Further details will be provided if you are invited to interview.
Important Information for Applicants
Artificial Intelligence guidance
AI tools may be used to support your application, but all examples and statements must be:
Truthful
Factually accurate
Drawn directly from your own experience
Applications may be withdrawn if plagiarism is identified, including where AI-generated content is presented as personal experience.
Visa sponsorship
Defra does not hold a UKVI Skilled Worker sponsor licence and is therefore unable to provide Skilled Worker sponsorship for this role.
Security checks
Successful candidates will be required to complete:
A criminal record check
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks
Some London-based appointments may require a higher level of security clearance depending on the location.
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.
Eligibility
This role is broadly open to eligible individuals including:
UK nationals
Republic of Ireland nationals
Certain Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK
Eligible EU, EEA, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals and family members with appropriate status
Other individuals who meet the Civil Service nationality requirements
Full nationality eligibility rules apply.
Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility
The Civil Service is committed to recruiting on merit through fair and open competition. We value diversity and actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds.
Defra supports:
Disability Confident Scheme (DCS)
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Great Place to Work for Veterans
Inclusive recruitment for individuals with convictions and prison leavers, where appropriate
Reasonable adjustments
If you need support or adjustments during the application process, you should:
Contact the Government Recruitment Service as early as possible at defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in your application form
Additional Employment Information
Salary arrangements
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to join at the minimum of the pay band. Existing Civil Servants will be subject to standard level transfer and promotion pay rules.
Childcare vouchers
Please note that moving to Defra from another employer means you will no longer be eligible for childcare vouchers. You may, however, be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes.
Fraud checks
As part of pre-employment screening, successful candidates will be checked against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). Any applicant listed on the IFD will be refused employment.
Why Join Defra?
This is a chance to take on a visible, influential role in a department with real national importance. You will help shape policy, improve compliance, support better decision-making, and ensure Defra’s approach to IR35 stands up to scrutiny across government.
If you are a tax professional with strong IR35 expertise and are looking for a role where your knowledge will make a meaningful difference, this could be the ideal next step.
Contact Information
Job contact
Name: Jacqui Birch
Email: Jacqui.birch@defra.gov.uk
Recruitment team
Pre-employment checks
Final Note
Once this vacancy closes, the advert may no longer be available online, so you may wish to save a copy for your records.
Apply now to join Defra and play a central role in strengthening tax compliance and governance across one of government’s most important departments.
About the Employer
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government Department · In-House
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK government department responsible for protecting and enhancing the natural environment, supporting the food and farming sector, and sustaining the rural economy. Their work affects everyday lives through environmental protection, food quality, and agricultural support.
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