Research Economist

Description:

As a Research Economist, you will undertake research to contribute to and support the work of CenTax. The job will include a variety of tasks providing excellent preparation for doctoral programmes in public economics or a career in quantitative analysis of public policy.

Your primary responsibility will be to conduct data analysis at the UK tax authority’s secure research facility, HMRC Datalab, which is located in Stratford, London. Access to the data requires obtaining accreditation of ‘secure researcher’ status and demonstrating absolute commitment to upholding HMRC’s processes to ensure taxpayer confidentiality. As part of the CenTax team, you would benefit from our existing data access and infrastructure built up over many years of research. This is by far the most comprehensive access to UK tax data of any research team.

As well as data cleaning, validation and analysis, you will contribute to research designs, prepare and deliver presentations to academic and policy audiences, and edit academic papers. There will also be opportunities for co-authorship of papers and reports where this is merited by significant independent intellectual contribution.

About You

Candidates must have:
 

• Completed (by start date) Master’s degree in economics or other quantitative social science
• Ability to comprehend and apply complex technical information about the tax system
• Excellent quantitative data analysis skills including experience or training in analysis of large datasets
• Ability to conduct data cleaning and validation efficiently and with excellent attention to detail
• Excellent practical proficiency in the use of R
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Ability to plan, prioritise and manage own workflow efficiently, including via communication with other team members
• High level of initiative and desire to make independent intellectual contribution to projects