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

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 Team

HM Treasury implements financial sanctions in the UK, and Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (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 industry and guidance to help them follow the law. OFSI works closely with law enforcement, intelligence agencies and policy colleagues across Government and beyond to help ensure that financial sanctions are accurately understood, implemented and enforced. 

OFSI is a diverse and dynamic team of over 100 people, from a variety of backgrounds and professions. We offer an outstanding environment to broaden your experience and develop new skills, whilst working on some of the highest profile international issues the UK faces. We strongly support a good work-life balance and flexible working is actively encouraged.

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

About the Role

HM Treasury has the power to issue licences to allow activity to happen which would otherwise be prohibited by financial sanctions. Our licensing cases cover a wide range of industries, participants and policy considerations. We liaise with applicants and work with colleagues across Government to progress individual cases, identify trends, assess risks, and handle legal challenges. To carry out our work we need to analyse complex information and make policy considerations within the legislative framework. 

We are recruiting for two roles in our Licensing Unit, within the Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation. These are diverse roles that will provide opportunities for the post-holder to work on high-profile financial sanctions issues.

We are looking for people who have an attention to detail and a structured approach to managing their work, who have the right set of skills for the role, who demonstrate the values of our organisation, and who can demonstrate an ability to quickly develop an understanding of a complex and sensitive area. No specific experience is required, just motivation and interest to come and work with us!

Key responsibilities will include:

•    Interacting with licence holders and their representatives through clear written and oral communications; 
•    Responding to correspondence on closed applications, including Ministerial correspondence, complaints, press queries, Freedom of Information requests, litigation, queries from licence holders and applicants whose licence applications were refused, and other stakeholders;
•    Managing a portfolio of cases utilising case management and prioritisation techniques;
•    Completing amendment requests for licences after they have been issued;
•    Providing concise, accurate and timely advice, orally and in writing, to decision makers;
•    Developing operational policy and processes on a wide variety of licensing issues; and  
•    Quality assurance of licensing case management systems and processes. 

OFSI colleagues can be involved in a wide range of activities and can get to meet many different people and organisations. Owing to the nature of these posts, successful candidates will undergo Security Check (SC) security clearance before starting in post. 

You have the option of being based in our London, Darlington or Norwich offices 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 we do not have a role available for you to fill immediately, you can be kept on a reserve list for up to 12 months if you wish. You will be asked about this at the end of the recruitment process.

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 Aimee Langley, aimee.langley@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.  

You will be assessed on the following criteria:

1. Managing a Quality Service. Ability to work with customers to understand their needs and expectations. Creating clear plans and setting priorities which meet the needs of both customers and OFSI. Keeping colleagues and stakeholders fully informed of plans, possibilities, and progress.
   
   
2. Delivering at Pace. Ability to handle and prioritise a varied workload in a fast-paced environment, making, and then maintaining momentum over significant time periods on, your own cases whilst also leading wider project and policy work.
   
   
3. Making Effective Decisions. An ability to analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions, considering all options, including their potential benefits and risks.

The lead criterion is: Managing a Quality Service

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

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

Tuesday 19th December, 12:00: Click here to join the meeting

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

• Strengths

Behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £26,770, HM Treasury contributes £7,227 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: 07/01/2024

Shortlisting: 08/01/2024

Interviews: w/c 22/01/2024

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.  

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.