About the job

Job summary

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.  

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 - International Group 

Do you want to advise ministers on promoting and protecting the UK’s economy and its competitiveness internationally in a fast-changing environment?  If so, read on!

International Group provides opportunities to work on areas including - spending control on international development, trade policy, climate change, health, cooperation on Ukraine, economic security, financial sanctions and tackling illicit finance.  We also manage economic relationships with Europe, US, China and other advanced economies and emerging markets.

We build relationships with external and international partners and represent the UK in a range of international groupings and institutions, including the G7, the G20, the International Monetary Fund and at some of the Multilateral Development Banks. We also analyse international comparisons and the wider global economic context, including for fiscal events.  Although international travel is an important part of some roles, it is not required for every role in the group and will be specified if required.   

About the Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI)

OFSI sits within HM Treasury, has been operational since March 2016 and in its first six years quickly established itself as a world-leader in financial sanctions, a key area of financial, foreign and national security policy. It remains front and centre of an unprecedented financial sanctions response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

HM Treasury implements financial sanctions in the UK, and OFSI fulfils this role on its behalf. It leads on the implementation of UN and UK financial sanctions and domestic terrorist asset freezing, providing a high-quality service to the private and charitable sectors, and guidance to help them follow the law. It works closely with law enforcement, intelligence agencies and strategic policy colleagues across Whitehall and beyond to help ensure that financial sanctions are accurately understood, implemented and enforced. OFSI has important partner relationships in the regulated financial services sector, the primary implementers of financial sanctions, and is an integral part of the sanctions community worldwide.

Robust enforcement of financial sanctions helps to maintain the integrity of, and confidence in, the UK financial sector, a priority for the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. OFSI has strong powers, including to impose monetary penalties, and is in the front line in the fight against this serious crime.

OFSI is a diverse and dynamic team of over 130 people, from a variety of backgrounds and professions. We strongly support a good work-life balance and flexible working is actively encouraged.

You can read more about OFSI on our gov.uk page here: https://www.gov.uk/ofsi

About the Job 

Are you interested in economic crime and foreign policy? Are you excited about turning complex foreign policy demands into operational reality? Would you like to work in an area of growing strategic importance, within a friendly team which is always developing new processes and seeking to improve the way we do things? If so, read on!

OFSI’s Head of Enforcement Strategy oversees our increasingly high-profile efforts to act appropriately against all breaches of financial sanctions.  This critical role will place you right at the heart of some of the UK's highest-profile international issues. You will lead the large team responsible for investigating and assessing breaches of sanctions and for taking action on established breaches which can range from issuing warning letters to imposing substantial civil monetary penalties. 

You will oversee the team’s efforts to work through the unprecedented numbers of potential breaches, many of them complex, reported to OFSI since the introduction of a fresh wave of Russia sanctions in 2022.  You will also develop our efforts to be more proactive in our enforcement, commencing cases where we perceive a need.  You will collaborate with all of OFSI’s other teams, but most particularly with Intelligence and Licensing colleagues and with our partners in wider Treasury, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department for Business and Trade, law enforcement and regulatory bodies.  You will also need to coordinate with these partners across Government to ensure financial sanctions policy takes account of enforcement realities.

You will need to be a visible, inspiring and inclusive leader of a team based across two HMT sites –  Darlington and London. As part of OFSI’s senior management team and, alongside the other E2s, Deputy Directors and Director, you will play an important part in OFSI’s day to day management, future planning and efforts to make OFSI an even better place to work.

Evidence of success in enforcement or investigation is essential. We are looking for people who have the right set of skills for the role and who demonstrate the values of our organisation. We also want individuals who are motivated to come and work with us, and who can demonstrate an ability to quickly develop an understanding of a complex and sensitive area. We are also looking for evidence of good judgment and the ability to take decisions, including around prioritisation of casework and innovation for efficient delivery.

OFSI has a strong team ethos that encourages working closely with each other. There will be chances to create and lead on projects which help to shape the future orientation of sanctions regimes.

Owing to the nature of these posts, successful candidates will undergo Security Check (SC) security clearance before starting in post. The post holder will then be expected to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance once in post.

You have the option of being based in our London or Darlington office when you start with us. You’ll be asked to specify which of these office locations you would like to be based at when you submit your application.

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: beth.davies@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you 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. Substantial enforcement experience in sanctions or similar field (Experience)
2. Ability to analyse and accurately interpret data from various sources to support decisions, presenting reasonable conclusions from a wide range of complex and sometimes incomplete evidence (Making Effective Decisions)
3. Ability to create an environment where people feel safe to challenge and know their voice will be heard, making changes which add value and clearly articulating how changes will benefit the business (Changing & Improving)
4. Ability to deliver timely, quality outcomes, through providing the right resources to do the job, reviewing and adjusting performance expectations and rewarding success. Ensure everyone clearly understands and owns their roles, responsibilities and business priorities. (Delivering at Pace)

The lead criterion is: Substantial enforcement experience in sanctions or similar field. 

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,160, HM Treasury contributes £17,323 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: 30th July 
• Shortlisting: 31st July - 2nd August
• Interviews: 8th & 9th August 

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. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Developed Vetting (DV), however candidates will initially join HM Treasury on Security Check (SC) vetting in the first instance. 

To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants typically need to have lived in the UK for the past 10 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed.

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 developed vetting (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.