Mike Falvey Question

My thanks to a loyal reader who pointed out a rather interesting note within the March 2010 accounts of Mike Falvey Associates (this being the same Mike Falvey who is Chief People Officer of HMRC).

On page 3 the note about turnover makes specific reference to "service contracts". Whilst the accounts show no turnover for year ending March 2010 the reference is interesting.

For why?

Falvey was Director General of Human Resources and Business Change in the Department of Communities and local Government from September 2007 to February 2010 (ie he was a civil servant for 2.5 years yet his company still refers to "service contracts").

The same applies to the accounts for the company year ending March 2011, when he was working for HMRC.

Why have such a note about service contracts if you do not intend to make use of it one day?

I should note that Falvey's accounts are abbreviated accounts, these put less information in the public domain.

Whilst the accounts must contain an abbreviated balance sheet and notes to the abbreviated accounts, they do not have to disclose turnover. In other words the fact that Falvey Associates did not disclose turnover does not necessarily mean that there was no turnover.


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HR Matters

I recently asked for input from HMRC staff about Dorothy Brown (HMRC's Director of HR Operations) wrt HMRC's ongoing promotion exercise that is causing angst amongst staff.

My thanks to a loyal reader who dropped me a wee note about the exercise, that adds some grist to the mill.

Seemingly this is the first major internal promotions exercise carried out within HMRC for a number of years. My loyal reader understands that there are around 500 AO to O grade promotions, and around 50 O to HO grade promotions.

Apparently a similar number of vacancies existed last year. However, most of these were filled by the transfer of staff who would otherwise have been made redundant.

Moving forward one year, I understand that HMRC have told staff that lessons had been learned and that this new round would be through a more streamlined system.

Staff would need to:

1 Complete an online application form, giving examples of those competences that "the lean machine" is looking for.

2 Provide a supporting statement from their manager.

3 Complete and pass an online psychometric test.

Once these stages were completed, those applicants who passed the test could then expect that their forms would be graded by a human being and any ties would be decided by reference to those online scores.

I am given to understand that around 4,000 applications were made.

Ironically HMRC's "professional" HR people eg Mike Falvey and  Dorothy Brown were overwhelmed by the response (so much for having their fingers on the pulse of their staff!).

Thus, having been overwhelmed, they decided to change the rules of the game (midway through), and set a cut off level of the top 1,500 highest scoring individuals who could expect their applications to be considered. Those below this level (even if they were more capable, but not used to timed tests) were cast to the wind.

I understand that Falvey et al are now burying their heads in the sand and ignoring questions and complaints about the handling/mishandling of the process.

A cynic might ask if Falvey has too much on his plate, what with being Chief People Officer and owner of Mike Falvey Associates?

As ever comments, opinions and further information are always welcome.

Thanks.

Tax does have to be taxing.

Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Taxwise.

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However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is TAXWISE?

TAXWISE is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Taxwise



Tax Investigation for Dummies, by Nick Morgan, provides a good and easy to read guide for anyone caught up in an HMRC tax investigation. A must read for any Self Assessment taxpayer.

Click the link to read about: Tax Investigation for Dummies

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Question About Dorothy Brown

My thanks to a loyal reader who has reached out to me, asking for input from HMRC staff about Dorothy Brown (HMRC's Director of HR Operations).

According to my loyal reader some HMRC staff are a tad "peeved" at how the ongoing promotion exercise is going in HMRC.

Would this be the same promotion exercise that I wrote about recently thusly?

"Around 500 or so Admin Assistant grade (the bottom grade) employees have been promoted by one grade to Assistant Officers.

I understand that they were picked by their managers and all they had to do was say yes, not a form in sight.  This of course has upset some who previously had to work very hard producing a CV of competences and be interviewed to get the same result, some very recently ."  

Anyhoo, I am given to understand that Ms Brown recently announced that at least half the applications made by staff would be rejected/binned halfway through the process. Apparently this has not gone down well.

Please feel free to contact me if you have further information/details about this.

Thanks.

As ever, comments and views are always welcome.

Tax does have to be taxing.



Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Taxwise.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is TAXWISE?

TAXWISE is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Taxwise



Tax Investigation for Dummies, by Nick Morgan, provides a good and easy to read guide for anyone caught up in an HMRC tax investigation. A must read for any Self Assessment taxpayer.

Click the link to read about: Tax Investigation for Dummies

HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Questions For Mike Falvey

Mike Falvey (Chief People Officer HMRC) has featured a few times recently on this site, and as such has prompted a loyal reader to advise me of this company that was formed in 2005:

Mike Falvey Associates

It's function?

 "Human resources provision and management of human resources functions".

I have three questions:

1 Is this the same Mike Falvey who earns at least £175K per annum as Chief People Officer of HMRC?

2 If so, please can HMRC/Falvey confirm that none of his salary was ever paid into this company?

3 If any salary was ever paid into the company; how much, when and why?

Thank you.

Tax does have to be taxing.



Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Taxwise.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is TAXWISE?

TAXWISE is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Taxwise



Tax Investigation for Dummies, by Nick Morgan, provides a good and easy to read guide for anyone caught up in an HMRC tax investigation. A must read for any Self Assessment taxpayer.

Click the link to read about: Tax Investigation for Dummies

HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

The Most Inappropriate Job Title In The Civil Service

My thanks to a loyal reader who sent me a link to a debate in the Commons on the 15th October about the closure of HMRC's nurseries; wherein Michael McCann MP stated the following about a certain Mike Falvey (Chief People Officer HMRC) who ironically featured on this site also on the 15th:

"It was, therefore, with some trepidation that I wrote to HMRC to find out its reasons for the proposed closures. I received a response from Mr Mike Falvey, the chief people officer at HMRC, who—for reasons that will become obvious—probably holds the most inappropriate job title in the civil service."

It would seem that Mr McCann is none too impressed with Falvey!

The full debate can be read here.

Tax does have to be taxing.



Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Taxwise.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is TAXWISE?

TAXWISE is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Taxwise



Tax Investigation for Dummies, by Nick Morgan, provides a good and easy to read guide for anyone caught up in an HMRC tax investigation. A must read for any Self Assessment taxpayer.

Click the link to read about: Tax Investigation for Dummies

HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Mike Falvey Responds To Guardian Leak

Last week the Guardian published an article about leaked documents that detail plans to change the working conditions of the country's 450,000 public sector employees (including those who work for HMRC).

HMRC was quick to react and a day later Mike Falvey, Chief People Officer (a rather clumsy title), wrote a response which a kind loyal reader sent me and which I have attached above. HMRC will send its proposals to the Cabinet Office by 19 October.

By happenstance I am advised that around 500 or so Admin Assistant grade (the bottom grade) employees have been promoted by one grade to Assistant Officers. 

I understand that they were picked by their managers and all they had to do was say yes, not a form in sight.  This of course has upset some who previously had to work very hard producing a CV of competences and be interviewed to get the same result, some very recently.  

The promotions, although first mentioned to staff at the end of the July, occurred around the time of the staff surveys on Friday 28^th September.

Tax does have to be taxing.



Professional Cover Against the Threat of Costly TAX and VAT Investigations

Insurance to protect you against the cost of enquiry or dispute with HMRC is available from several sources including Solar Taxwise.

Ken Frost has negotiated a 10% discount on any polices that may suit your needs.

However, neither Ken Frost nor HMRCISSHITE either endorses or recommends their services.

What is TAXWISE?

TAXWISE is a tax-fee protection service that will pay up to £75,000 towards your accountant's fees in the event of an HM Revenue & Customs full enquiry or dispute.

To find out more, please use this link Taxwise



Tax Investigation for Dummies, by Nick Morgan, provides a good and easy to read guide for anyone caught up in an HMRC tax investigation. A must read for any Self Assessment taxpayer.

Click the link to read about: Tax Investigation for Dummies

HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"