Data Scientist (Modelling Analyst)

This is an exciting opportunity for senior analysts to join the Analytics Team—one of four specialist Data Science teams in HMRC’s technology area. The team builds innovative data science solutions that solve real business problems by exploiting HMRC’s rich and complex datasets. As HMRC’s Centre of Excellence for Predictive Analytics (PA) and narrow Artificial Intelligence (AI), the team uses machine learning techniques to build robust, ethical, and high-performing models that support better decision-making and improve targeting. The role also involves helping HMRC make better use of underutilised data and developing new insights through modelling, advanced analytical methods, and innovative data extraction approaches.

Projects span a wide range of operational areas, including supervised ML for risk targeting, linking disparate datasets to identify potential fraud or non-compliance, extracting insights from non-standard data sources, and developing analytical dashboards and applications. You will work closely with subject matter experts and operational teams, applying the right analytical techniques to deliver evidence-based recommendations. You will also help scope, design, and deliver high-quality analyses using project-based working, while providing advice on advanced analytical techniques across HMRC and wider government.

Person specification

We are looking for experienced, proactive data scientists who can contribute to HMRC’s growing portfolio of AI, ML, and predictive analytics projects. You will bring strong technical expertise, practical experience of applying modelling techniques, and the confidence to work with stakeholders across the business to deliver meaningful insight.

You will:

Build and deploy supervised ML models that improve targeting and decision-making across HMRC.

Link and manipulate complex, disparate datasets to uncover relationships, patterns, and insights relevant to fraud, error, and compliance.

Apply advanced analytical and modelling techniques, selecting the right methods to answer specific business questions.

Prepare, manipulate, and analyse large datasets using robust coding practices and reproducible workflows.

Use innovative methods to extract and process data from various sources, including unstructured formats.

Develop insights and communicate them clearly through dashboards, apps, or written reports (e.g., using R Shiny or similar tools).

Use project-based working tools to plan and deliver high-quality analytical outputs.

Collaborate with operational and policy colleagues to ensure your analysis supports strategic and operational priorities.

Provide advice, guidance, and peer support to colleagues on the use of advanced analytical techniques.

Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a commitment to professional development in AI/ML, statistics, and broader data science techniques., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions, During the panel interview, you will also be asked to provide a five-minute presentation on “My use of a Data Science technique that had impact”. NB: You can talk to pre-prepared slides (on paper or via your own laptop) or give a solely verbal presentation.

You will be asked questions on how you fulfil the essential criteria.

You will also be asked questions based on the Civil Service behaviours Managing a Quality Service and Making Effective Decisions to explore your approach to project delivery.

Interviews will take place face to face at Three New Bailey, Salford, M3 5FS. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility

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 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]’.

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.

Reserve List

A 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.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

Criminal Record Check

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.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC 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 Adjustments

We 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., 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: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful 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 .

See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks., * 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)
• 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, 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 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.

Do you have a Master's degree?, To be successful in this role, you must meet the technical requirements for Government Digital and Data (Data Scientist) roles and hold qualifications suitable for later badging into either GORS or GSG.

You must demonstrate:

• Strong coding skills to prepare, manipulate, and analyse large datasets using reproducible, high-quality data science practices.
• Proven experience applying advanced analytical or machine learning techniques to deliver meaningful insights and predictive models.
• Ability to choose and justify appropriate analytical methods, including when to apply AI/ML approaches.
• Track record of delivering high impact analysis that informs strategic or operational decisions.
• Experience of planning and delivering analytical projects with robust quality assurance while in a complex organisation.
• A numerate degree meeting GORS or GSG eligibility, demonstrating strong quantitative capability., * GORS framework (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-operational-research-service): eligibility is a minimum 2i numerate degree or Masters with at least 50% numerate coverage.
• GSG framework (https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/government-statistical-service-and-statistician-group/gss-careers-and-learning/joining-us/): eligibility is a minimum second-class degree in “a numerate discipline, computer science or IT equivalent which demonstrates core statistical skills.”

Please get in touch with the vacancy holder if unsure about any elements of eligibility or technical frameworks., A numerate degree meeting GORS or GSG eligibility, demonstrating strong quantitative capability., 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. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

Alongside 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.

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.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

Discover 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. With 50 million customers, 60,000 colleagues, and over £600 billion collected to fund UK public services, HMRC’s data and digital environment is vast, complex, and full of opportunity. The Data Science team sits within HMRC’s Chief Digital & Information Office (CDIO) and delivers innovative analytical and machine learning solutions that address real operational challenges. As part of this team, you will contribute to high-impact work that directly improves HMRC’s effectiveness and customer outcomes.