Open Source Data Analyst

Job summary

Our Open Source Data Analysts need to have a passion for data analysis, and an inquiring and questioning mind. The ability to understand and solve problems is essential. You ll use a range of analytical techniques to gain an understanding of unfamiliar and complex issues, identify a relevant information and put it into context when making sound conclusions.

These exciting posts are within the Open Source Data Analysis team, part of Risk Insight & Analytics within the Risk and Intelligence Service. The Open Source Data Analysis team uses a bespoke cloud based private network and a variety of tools that enables the team to access all areas of the web, identify relevant data and analyse it.

Our Data Analysts use techniques from a range of analytical disciplines to combine, understand and visualise web derived data within a business context. We provide robust Open Source data analysis in a suite of products tailored to business needs and that can be used to inform business decisions and policy. Our analysis enhances the way the department understands, identifies and tackles risk to revenue.

Our ability to safely and legally search the internet to capture, analyse and exploit Open Source data from all areas of the web places us in a unique position to offer a different perspective and insight on issues that impact on tax compliant behaviour now and in the future.

About HMRC

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. We are one of the UK s largest organisations, with around 66,000 employees, collecting over £605 billion in tax revenue.

About the Risk & Intelligence Service (RIS)

RIS collects, integrates and analyses one of the largest and most diverse range of data and intelligence in the world. This enables HMRC to understand and manage risks associated with non-compliance with the UK tax system.

See what it s like to work at HMRC:find out more about us or ask our colleagues a question. Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Job description

The team has three core functions:

• Horizon Scanning: Identification of broad trends in web technologies, e-commerce and digital developments that impact on the department s strategic objectives.
• Data Insight: complex data collection, interpretation and analysis of compliance populations and/or specific elements of serious non-compliant behaviour to inform tactical and operational decision making.
• Social Media Insight: analysis of social media platforms, their use and growth, the sentiment and language used across them and the compliance behaviour exhibited in reaction to changes in HMRC s approach to compliance and/or legislative change.

We work with our stakeholders and customers to understand their requirements, develop and deliver bespoke solutions and suggest new ideas to support them. Employing analytical skills to design and deliver products that inform a diverse customer base within HMRC.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities

As an Open Source Data Analyst you will have an inquiring and questioning mind. Able to quickly assimilate and make sense of complex subjects and data.

The successful candidate will:

• Be proficient in using applications to manipulate multiple data sets. For example, using Excel to merge, analyse and consolidate data using pivot tables, functions and charts.
• Be comfortable in learning to use new tools and work with large datasets, including unstructured data, government, public and commercially available data.
• Be a good communicator, able to work with multiple customers to understand their requirements, balance conflicting demands, provide progress updates.
• Be adept at explaining and simplifying technical analysis in a manner that enables others to understand and act on analytical outcomes.
• Have excellent organisational and strong literacy and interpersonal skills, able to work as part of a wider team and individually taking responsibility for delivering high quality analytical products.

Desirable Experience

• Practical experience of using any of the following tools and languages to analyse and manipulate data is desirable: R, Python or similar.
• A background in formal mathematics and / or statistical training (statistics, mathematics, pure sciences, computer science).
• Undertaken technical analytical roles and practical experience of data analysis or intelligence.

Technical skills

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

• Technical Presentation