Tax inspector

You'll need to apply for a place on HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Tax Specialist Programme and have one of the following:

• a degree in any subject, minimum second class
• an equivalent award like a professional accountancy qualification

Further information

You can find out more about working in taxation from Civil Service Careers.

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• knowledge of economics and accounting
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• maths knowledge
• the ability to work on your own
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• analytical thinking skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• meet the Civil Service nationality requirements

Your day-to-day duties might include:

• examining business accounts
• visiting businesses to interview board directors, lawyers and accountants
• investigating suspected fraud
• offering specialist advice about tax
• negotiating settlements
• representing HMRC at appeals tribunals
• considering and applying tax law to cases
• leading a team of caseworkers and administrative staff
• managing relationships between HMRC and customers

You could work at a client's business or in an office.