An inspector calls...

[Baggybooks]

I was just wondering, like you do, how does someone become a compliance officer?

When I have 'visits' I usually wonder "How on earth did you get this job?".

Do they have to have certain qualifications or levels of experience before they're let out in the real world?

:roll:

Helen

I dont know but our old compliance officer was just a chartered insurance broker and the person in charge at the minute is our finance director as far as i know neither of them have any special qualifications to be a compliance officer

[Baggybooks]

No - I mean the official VAT and IR inspectors - not internal ones.

[GJP104]

HMRC has a recruitment scheme:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/talent/inspector.htm

I'm considering it for when I graduate (from uni) in 2009.

[Baggybooks]

Thank you!

[GJP104]

You're welcome.

My current tutor is a part time lecturer/part time tax advisor, and she was glad she managed to get some of the group interested in tax as a career. I suspect that she's a touch disappointed that I'm seriously considering working for HMRC. There is something that feels vaguely treacherous in wanting to be on that side of the fence.

Having said that, I have a strong sense of idealism and would be the type of person who ensures that others pay exactly the appropriate amount of tax: not a penny more or less. I know that's the theoretical goal of all tax advisors, but I can see myself saying it and meaning it.

How long do you think that will last?

[Baggybooks]

I was curious after a recent inspection. There were two inspectors - one was really on the ball, but the other was very lacking in their knowledge.

This person wasn't a trainee, but did not have practical experience - from a working environment.

I would have thought that some practical experience, even if on a limited scale, would be required.

Helen