HM Revenue & Customs
Senior Audio-Visual Practitioner
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Stratford Regional Centre - Westfield Avenue
Job Summary
Discover what it’s like to work in a compliance role that makes an impact. Could you help us shape a stronger, fairer future? Your next career move starts here.
HMRC is the UK’s tax, payments and customs authority and we have a vital purpose: we collect the money that pays for the UK’s public services and help families and individuals with targeted financial support.
For more information about our Directorates, Lines of Business and some of our roles, please visit the FIS Careers pages [HMRC – Fraud Investigation Service, Civil Service Careers].
Covert Operations, Digital Exploitation (CODE) sits within HMRC’s wider Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) responsible for the department’s civil and criminal investigation work. FIS ensures that HMRC has an effective approach to taking on the most serious tax evasion and fraud.
Working across Law Enforcement and government, CODE provides investigative tools and covert techniques to front-line investigations and works with key partners to develop and provide access to new technology and systems to enable investigators to respond to serious and complex tax evasion and crime.
Cybercrime & Forensic Services (C&FS) provides critical support to FIS investigations nationally through the provision of important forensic services. From supporting warrant executions to the preservation and analysis of digital evidence. This is a unique opportunity to be responsible for critical elements of our Audio-Visual Forensic Service provided to HMRC’s investigation teams. You will ensure that all aspects of Audio-Visual Forensic work are carried out the highest standard, adhering to forensic strategy and principles, and meeting Forensic Science Regulator requirements.
Job Description
This is a unique opportunity to take a leading role in delivering and shaping critical elements of HMRC’s Audio Visual (AV) Forensic Service, supporting investigation teams across the organisation.
The role is responsible not only for high quality forensic delivery, but also for contributing to the governance, development and continuous improvement of AV evidence systems, equipment and workflows, ensuring they are applied consistently and compliantly across operational activity.
You will ensure that all aspects of Audio-Visual Forensic work are carried out to a high standard, adhering to forensic strategy and meeting the requirements of the Forensic Science Regulator and ISO aligned standards.
You will lead and develop junior colleagues, providing specialist guidance across acquisition, forensic analysis and presentation of evidence, while also supporting the effective use of AV systems and processes across the wider business. As well as providing consultant level services on Forensic Strategy and technical problem solving.
On-site operations, such as search warrants, are an important part in HMRC’s enforcement work, here the investigation teams will benefit from your experience dealing with frontline challenges and assisting with the forensic aspects of fast-paced operational work.
Person specification
The Responsibilities Of This Role Will Include
- Lead and manage the Audio-Visual Forensics team, setting direction, prioritising workload and ensuring delivery aligns with organisational objectives.
- Oversee the end-to-end processing of analogue and digital material, including acquisition, enhancement, editing and production of audio, video and photographic evidence for use within the Criminal Justice System.
- Provide technical leadership and expert advice on complex forensic and evidential issues, supporting investigators and senior stakeholders to make informed decisions under operational pressure.
- Contribute to the governance, configuration and effective use of AV evidence systems and platforms, including the Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS), ensuring data integrity, appropriate access, auditability and compliance with evidential standards.
- Manage forensic exhibits throughout their lifecycle, maintaining continuity, security and confidentiality at all times.
- Apply and actively promote Digital Forensic best practice, including compliance with ISO 17025:2017 and the Forensic Science Regulator’s Codes of Practice.
- Deliver evidence in court as a professional witness, providing clear, objective and defensible testimony.
- Act as a senior point of contact for AV forensic matters, maintaining effective relationships with investigators, operational teams and stakeholders.
- Operate effectively in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple concurrent priorities and ensuring delivery to required timescales.
- Contribute to the identification and implementation of improvements in AV forensic capability, systems and equipment, supporting efficient and effective service delivery.
- Support resource planning and the effective use of specialist equipment and systems, providing input into capability requirements, prioritisation and value for money considerations.
- Mentor and develop Audio Visual Forensic Practitioners, building capability within the team and promoting best practice across the organisation.
- Undertake additional duties appropriate to the role as required.
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Essential Criteria
- Degree in a relevant technical discipline e.g. IT, Forensics, Technology or equivalent strong demonstrable experience
- Experience leading an operational or technical team.
- Working knowledge of forensic audio and video techniques, from acquisition through to enhancement
- Ability to conduct and oversee analysis of audio and video evidence, producing reports suitable for evidential and legal use
- Experience presenting complex technical findings clearly to non-technical audiences, including senior stakeholders and court settings
- Practical application of evidence handling, continuity, quality standards, and relevant regulation (including FSR Codes of Practice and ISO 17025)
- Sound judgement and decision-making in high-risk or time-critical environments, with accountability for outcomes
- Full UK Driving Licence
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge of criminal justice procedures and relevant legislation, including IPA, RIPA, DPA, HRA and CPIA, with an understanding of disclosure obligations.
Training Requirements
Applicants will be required to be cleared by an occupational health assessment to be able to attend a Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST) course. Successful completion of the PPST is required to undertake duties away from the office for this role. Failure to pass and maintain the PPST certificate may affect receipt of the flexibility payment.
Further Information
This post attracts a Level 2 Flexibility Payment (FP) that is paid monthly with salary. This FP allows HMRC flexibility to change your work pattern, at short notice, to meet business needs. You will be expected to undertake periods of On Call. You will also be expected to work additional hours, at weekends and outside your normal working hours/days (including bank holidays).
In applying for a position and accepting the FP you agree that you can and will meet those attendance requirements. FP levels are reviewed annually – on a business need and personal basis – and may be subject to change.
Details of the Flexibility Payment can be found in the attached document.
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Licences
Full UK Driving Licence
We recognise that some people cannot drive due to a disability or underlying health condition and may not be able to meet this requirement. Where this applies, you can apply but will need to declare that you require a reasonable adjustment at the point you receive a provisional offer. The vacancy holder will then discuss your specific requirements to consider if this can be reasonably accommodated in this role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
Alongside your salary of £50,686, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £14,683 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
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 HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service
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 and Experience.
How To Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
- A name-blind CV including your job history and previous experiences. Please demonstrate your technical knowledge and experience within the skills and experience sections. Max 500 words per section.
- A 1,000-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement (max 1,000 words) should be used to describe how your skills and experience would be suitable for the advertised role, making reference to the essential criteria and person specification outlined in the advert.
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
In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the CV.
At full 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, you
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Skills