Jim Harra, Second Permanent Secretary, HMRC

Bio

Harra read law at Queen’s University in Belfast before joining the Inland Revenue in 1984 as inspector of taxes.

He then made a career move to become a civil servant working for HMRC, where he has worked in various roles. His first role, which he began in January 2009, was Director of Corporation Tax and VAT. 2011 was a busy year as he took on the role of Director of Personal Tax Customer Operations in March and Director Personal Tax Operations in October.

In April 2012, Harra moved into the role of Director General Business Tax. In October 2016, be became Tax Assurance Commissioner and Director General Customer Strategy and Design. Then in November 2017, he succeeded Edward Troup in the role of Second Permanent Secretary of HMRC.

Harra’s other life achievements include his appointment as a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2015 New Year Honours. He is also HMRC’s LGBT Champion.

Why did he make the power list?

Harra is 28th on the Accountancy Age Financial Power List 2018:

Following the retirement of Edward Troup last year, Harra assumes the post in HMRC at a time when the revenue authority is undergoing a significant transformation project. With Making Tax Digital fast approaching and Brexit negotiations ongoing, Harra has his work cut out to overcome the inevitable challenges that HMRC will encounter this year.

HMRC

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is a non-ministerial department of the UK Government that is responsible for collecting taxes, paying some forms of state support, and administering other regulatory regimes include the national minimum wage.

HMRC was formed by the merger of the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise in April 2005.

Find out who made numbers 31-35, 36-40, 41-45, and 46-50. You can also compare this year’s power list with those in 2016 and 2017.