About the job

Job summary

HM Treasury

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

About the Group    

The Public Services Group is at the heart of Treasury’s work to secure sustainable public finances and drive economic growth. We manage public spending of more than £250bn. across key public services and departments, including health, education, the criminal justice system, local government, housing, defence and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 
 
We do this by working with other government departments, ministers, and other Treasury teams to ensure that spending plans support high quality public services, help the economy to grow and provide value for money for the taxpayer.  
 
Our roles offer a range of opportunities to work with senior leaders in other government departments and on the frontline of public services and ensure the effective delivery of public services. 
 
The Group is committed to being an excellent place to work, with a relentless focus on good management, learning and development and continuous improvement in everything we do.  

About the Team

The Defence, Diplomacy, and Intelligence (DDI) team is an open and friendly team that looks at spending issues across international and national security policy. We work with the Ministry of Defence, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Intelligence Agencies, Cabinet Office and No. 10 on pivotal and often sensitive decisions supporting the policy and operational capabilities of the UK.

We primarily exist to drive for the effective and efficient use of taxpayer's money to deliver the UK's defence, security and diplomatic objectives. We also coordinate and lead on the Chancellor’s and other Treasury ministers’ briefing for the National Security Council and COBR meetings. We are also the Treasury lead for operational responses to any international or domestic security incidents.

 About the Job 

This is a fascinating time to join the team. The Ministry of Defence is reaching the end of a four-year Spending Review settlement, a general election is on the horizon, and debates about the right size and shape of the defence budget are gaining increased prominence – both in the UK and abroad. 

This fast-paced and exciting role is at the intersection of UK defence and spending policy and sits at the heart of the Treasury’s work on the c.£50 billion annual Ministry of Defence budget. 

We are looking for someone with strong analytical and policy skills to take on the role. You will take on a wide-ranging brief, working with key HM Treasury teams and across the MOD. You'll be leading on key elements of spending control, fiscal events, and military workforce policy on behalf of HM Treasury, and will have responsibility for the fundamental underpinnings of the defence budget.

We are a friendly and inclusive team, and work closely together. We strongly encourage people from different backgrounds and with diverse experiences to apply.

Key Accountabilities

• Developing and maintaining the live MOD budget model. This is a financial model covering over £500bn of Defence capital and resource spending. You will lead on modelling defence spending against our NATO targets to inform Ministerial decision-making, and assessing the affordability of the MOD's plan.
• Leading on financial oversight and control on MOD’s £50bn annual budget. This involves: close scrutiny of the in-year financial position, identifying and mitigating risks to the HM Treasury Reserve, and delivering Main and Supplementary Estimates.
• Conducting analysis and supporting negotiations during fiscal events (particularly the Spending Review). You will be advising Ministers and senior officials on a range of different scenarios.
• Leading on assessing the financial performance of MOD against their Outcome Delivery Plan. Working collaboratively with performance colleagues, Cabinet Office and MOD to ensure the Plan reflects appropriate objectives, contains measurable metrics and leading HMT inputs into senior reviews.
• Leading on all policy for the MOD workforce, including the annual pay round, wider reward structures, size of the Armed Forces and Civilian workforce and HM Treasury’s interest in the independent review of Armed Forces Incentivization.
• Negotiating of the MOD’s annual pay award for Armed Forces, leading on analysis, coordination with internal teams and MOD, acting as the HMT representative at ministerial evidence sessions, and developing recommendations to ministers
• Acting as the deputy to the MOD Spending Principal, which will involve responding to ad hoc and urgent requirements from the Chancellor and Chief Secretary across all aspects of the MOD budget.

The clearance required for this role is Security Check. Candidates with Developed Vetting clearance, or willing to undergo Developed Vetting clearance are also encouraged to apply

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Matthew Allen matthew.allen@hmtreasury.gov.uk 

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.  

1.    Making Effective Decisions – strong analysis skills, drawing together relevant data and evidence, and making robust and well-evidenced conclusions. You will want to demonstrate how you have worked with  environment.
2.    Delivering at Pace – ability to work autonomously and adaptably, prioritising competing tasks, and balancing short and long term priorities.
3.    Communicating and Influencing - strong communication skills, with an ability to persuade and influence others, including managing difficult stakeholders. 
 
The lead criterion is: Making Effective Decisions
 
If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria:

•    Strengths
•    Behaviours:
-    Making Effective Decisions 
-    Delivering at Pace 
-    Communicating and Influencing 
-    Seeing the Big Picture 

Interview Task/Presentation
Prior to your interview, we will contact you about a task/presentation that the interview panel would like you to complete as part of the assessment. The exact details will be communicated to you nearer the time. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,500, HM Treasury contributes £10,665 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 21st April 2024

Shortlisting: w/c 22nd April 2024

Interviews: w/c 29th April / 6th May 2024

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile. 

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Location-Based Reserve Lists 

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form. 

Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances. 

Eligibility Statement  

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information. 

Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.  

For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Security Check (SC) 

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  

Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  

If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.