Senior Internal Auditor

Job summary

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.

HMRC are hiring four Senior Internal Auditors to join our award-winning Internal Audit team driving excellence at HMRC.

Are you a qualified and experienced internal auditor who takes pride in delivering exceptional assurance and adding real value? This is your opportunity to be part of a team that sets the standard for quality and impact.

As HMRC leads one of the largest digital transformations in government—one of Europe’s most ambitious projects—our Internal Audit function plays a critical role. We work across every area of the organisation, providing trusted assurance on governance, risk management, and controls. Our commitment to excellence has been recognised when we won the Public Sector Team of the Year Award with the Institute of Internal Auditors for delivering outstanding value to the organisation.

You will be supported by a team of experienced and highly respected colleagues who will share their knowledge and promote your development. The team will also value and learn from the experience you can bring to this organisation. We know that flexibility and work-life balance is important, so we offer flexible working along with the choice of working from home up to two days per week.

In return we offer:

• Ten days learning and development each year.
• An annual conference, each September, giving us a chance to get together and complete CPD learning.
• A critical role allowance to all our qualified Senior Auditors of £3,345. This is non-pensionable.
• For CIA holding candidates, you will be offered the opportunity to study towards the Chartered Internal Auditor qualification CMIIA, (subject to satisfactory performance).

We’re hosting a webinar for interested candidates on 27 January 2026 at 15:00. This is your chance to learn more about the role and ask any questions you may have.

Register your interest here:

• Senior Internal Auditor - Candidate Information Session - Tuesday 27th January 2026 -15:00

Job description

As a Senior Internal Auditor, you will:

• Lead end-to-end internal audit assignments, ensuring quality and professional standards.
• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders and external partners to influence decision-making.
• Act as a trusted advisor on risk, governance, and control frameworks to support strategic objectives.
• Communicate audit findings and recommendations effectively to senior management.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of audit plans and processes.
• Mentor and support trainee auditors, fostering professional growth within the team.

Person specification

We are looking for Senior Internal Auditors with:

• A proven track record of delivering internal audit reviews in medium to large organisations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach.
• Experience of building strong, positive relationships and influencing outcomes by engaging effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and confidently.
• Resilience and adaptability in navigating challenging circumstances.

Essential Criteria:

• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or qualified accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland, or CIMA).
• Completed logbook and relevant post-qualification experience.
• Proven track record of delivering internal audit reviews in medium to large organisations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach.
• Experience of building effective, positive relationships and influence outcomes by engaging effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and confidently.
• Resilience and adaptability in navigating challenging circumstances.

Desirable Criteria:

• Chartered Internal Auditor (CMIIA) qualification.
• Experience auditing large-scale transformation programmes or change initiatives.
• Ability to adapt quickly to shifts in business priorities and customer needs.
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring or managing audit professionals.

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:

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

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.

Qualifications

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or qualified accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland, or CIMA)

Benefits

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.

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

How to Apply

After submission of the first stage of your application, you will be invited to complete an online Literacy Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV covering your job history, skills and experience
• A 500-word Personal Statement covering:
  
  
  • What interests you about the role and what you would like to get out of it.
  • Recent evidence of skills and experience you have that make you suitable.

Please note that your application may be rejected if you exceed the word count as specified.

Please complete a separate statement (Max 250 words) for the Desirable Criteria where applicable. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at interview.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

At sift your CV, and your Personal Statement, will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview, candidates will be asked to do a scenario-based exercise and present their findings at the start of the interview. Details of the exercise will be shared prior to the interview.

Interviews will take place face to face in Manchester, London and Leeds (depending on candidate location). 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.

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

• 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.

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. 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: 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.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.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 : Sarah Morris
• Email : sarah.morris3@hmrc.gov.uk
• Telephone : 03000564699

Recruitment team

• Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.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 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.