Agricultural Principal Valuer

Job summary

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This role is part of HMRC Valuation Office, formerly known as the Valuation Office Agency. We have recently integrated into HMRC.

HMRC Valuation Office are the public sector’s property valuation experts and advisers with a vision to be a world-leading provider of public sector valuations. Our work is vital to the collection of over £60 billion of revenue which goes back into communities, touching every citizen and every business across England and Wales.

Job description

Role Overview

The role sits within the District Valuer Services (DVS), part of Chief Valuer Group (CVG).

DVS is the business stream tasked with providing a range of statutory and non-statutory functions. These are:

• Provision of advice on valuations and apportionments for national taxation purposes.
• Provision of valuations and property advice for Other Public Bodies (OPBs) to support their implementation of a wide range of regulatory and legislative functions.
• The delivery of government policies and estate strategies in situations where there is a property requirement related to the exercising of a public function and or public money is involved.
• This majority of the work is untied and undertaken on a contractual ‘earned funding’ full cost recovery charging basis. Some is fix funded.

This technical surveying role is based within the National Taxation sector. The National Taxation team provide valuations and advice for National Taxation purposes on behalf of HMRC.

You will report directly to the National Taxation Sector Head. This exciting opportunity will include leading and delivering high-profile complex casework for taxation purposes.

With a range of national complex agricultural casework to manage, you will provide technical guidance to clients and undertake case reviews with team members advising on valuations and sharing technical knowledge.

Key responsibilities

• Deal with a large complex portfolio of work requiring extensive agricultural experience of valuations for taxation purposes.
• Maintain and apply an advanced level of agricultural valuation surveying knowledge to casework activity, reviewing high profile or complex valuations and project management.
• Provide technical guidance and support to colleagues working on agricultural casework.
• Valuation of agricultural property for IHT casework is a key part of the role. The role requires the ability to advise caseworkers, Team Leaders and Unit Head plus HMRC, our client, on the correct application of these valuable reliefs in the context of the facts of the case.
• Manage all associated communication and engagement with stakeholders including DVS’ clients, taxpayers and their agents and collaborating with all internal stakeholders across DVS.
• Ensure the quality standards of recording of charging data are adhered to and undertake Quality Assurance audits on sample of cases ensuring timeliness standards.
• Manage the professional development of colleagues via coaching and mentoring and support individual colleagues within the team to ensure delivery of improved business results.
• Develop and maintain the ability to operate in a number of roles including acting as an expert witness with appearance before the tribunals, representing the VOA in Alternative Dispute Resolution cases and providing support to caseworkers acting in those roles.
• Undertake 100-day reviews and provide guidance / case progression advice to caseworkers and team leaders.
• Contribute to the successful delivery of team timeliness results on national taxation (HMRC) to meet or exceed SLA and KPI targets.

Person specification

We are seeking a highly motivated and technically skilled agricultural valuation professional with full RICS membership (MRICS or FRICS). Membership of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), or a clear commitment to work towards it, is essential.

The role requires excellent stakeholder engagement skills, the confidence to understand and appropriately challenge client requirements, and the ability to manage risk effectively. You will also be able to coach and support colleagues whilst maintaining awareness of the wider political, economic, environmental and legislative context.

Essential Requirements

• Qualification requirement of full RICS Professional membership (MRICS or FRICS).
• Full membership Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) or a willingness to work towards this.
• Full knowledge and understanding of Agricultural and Business property reliefs (APR & BPR) from Inheritance Tax, and how they are applied in practice to a huge variety of scenarios.
• Experience in UK agriculture and rural property market with a good background knowledge of farming systems in the UK regions, prepared to keep up to date with current farming developments. This includes thorough knowledge of the various agricultural tenancy codes and land occupation arrangements.
• Effectively manage communication and engagement with a range of stakeholders.
• The ability to understand and challenge the needs of the client in the exercise of delivery of high value/complex work.
• The ability to coach, support and provide feedback to individuals in order to improve their performance and achieve their potential.
• Identify, escalate, and mitigate/manage risks and issues appropriately, ensuring that these are raised at the right level to improve customer satisfaction and taxpayer experience.
• Possess an awareness of the wider political, economic, social, technical, environmental, and legislative agendas that impact agricultural valuations.
• Full UK driving licence is required - The successful candidate will be expected to travel and spend time in other VOA locations in connection with their role. This may include overnight stay and so a willingness to travel is essential.

Licences

Full UK driving licence is required.

Qualifications

Full RICS Professional membership (MRICS or FRICS).

Memberships

Full RICS Professional membership (MRICS or FRICS).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• You will be asked technical questions to assess your technical skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,342, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £17,191 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 that starts at 25 days, increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days and a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.

• 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.

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 Service

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply

If you can meet our person requirements above, we are keen to hear from you.

To apply for this post, you must complete an online application with the following:

A CV setting out your Job History and Full Qualifications

A Personal Statement (maximum 750 words), please outline your suitability for the role. Please pay particular attention to the ‘Essential Requirements’ and ‘Person Specification’ outlined in the advert when providing your answer.

Sift - 09/06/2026 - 12/06/2026

Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

We will assess you on your CV, Personal Statement and Memberships/Qualifications.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Interviews -29/06/2026

Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change. These will be confirmed should you be invited to interview.

Interviews are currently taking place using Microsoft Teams Video. We will provide more detail if you are shortlisted for interview.

We will assess you on the Behaviours listed in the job description, Strengths, Technical Questions and a Presentation.

At the interview, the panel can then probe further and ask applicants to provide further specific examples that show how they best demonstrate their skills.

Presentation

You will also be required to conduct a 5-minute presentation. Information on the presentation topic will be provided to you if you are shortlisted for interview.

Technical

As part of the interview you will be asked technical questions to assess your technical skills.

Application Hints and Tips

For more information on Success Profiles, tips on how to write a successful application and find out more about what’s involved in the application process please visit About the application process , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk).

Further Information

“Agricultural Principal Valuer” (Internally this job will be referred to as G7 Agricultural Complex Caseworker for National Taxation)

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.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact the UBS Recruitment Team via resourcingteamvo@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.

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.

Locations

As part of the application process, you will be asked to tell us which of the locations available you can work in. You will be able to specify up to 2 options. Please be aware that you can be posted to any location that you put in your preferences. If you would only like to be posted to one location, please confirm one location only.

Successful candidates must select one of the locations noted in this advert as their base office and will be expected to undertake regular travel to this location under HMRC hybrid working policy.

Transitional Sites Information

If your location preference is for the following sites, it’s important to note that this is not long-term site 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.

Newcastle & Swansea

These sites are:

• Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle

• Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea – moving to Sandringham Park, Swansea

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

A full UK Driving Licence is essential to this role. However, if you are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 and do not hold a full driving licence, we will consider your application. Please contact resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk before you start/submit your application with your details to discuss this further.

Terms & Conditions

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.

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.

Reserve Lists

If we have more successful candidates than available vacancies, we will hold a 3 month reserve list as standard. During that time, we may use the list to fill the same, or similar roles with closely matching essential criteria, without further testing of merit. Any appointments from the Reserve list will be made in strict merit order.

Concerns/Complaints

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the Central Recruitment Team at the following address: resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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 Service

The 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 Inclusion

The 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).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Rob MacKay
• Email : rob.mackay@hmrc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : VOARecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned. 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 web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…