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.  

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

Financial Stability Group

The Financial Stability Group advises government on ensuring the stability of the UK financial system and through that the stability of the UK economy. We monitor new and existing risks to the financial stability of the UK and the global financial system, taking action to mitigate risks and combat these when needed.

We intervene directly to manage any public support for the financial services sector – including stewardship of (and exit from) the government’s interests in NatWest bank. We’re also responsible for ensuring that the financial authorities have the appropriate legal powers and resources to deal with future failures in the financial sector, as well as planning for future stability events.

The Group works with the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, the intelligence agencies and international partners, to develop and maintain systems to monitor assess and deal with financial stability risks.

The Group Management Services (GMS) unit is a small and friendly team, comprising a GMS Manager and two Personal Assistant (PA) and Business Support roles.  The team enables the Financial Stability Group to deliver its work by offering responsive and flexible administrative support, including PA services to the Group Management Team (GMT), office management and leading on the corporate responsibilities of the group. Being in the team means actively communicating across the Group, within the Treasury and with external stakeholders to continually maintain and improve our knowledge of best practice in providing this effective and tailored support. The team looks to help create the best possible working environment for everyone in the Group.

This role contributes to the functioning of a Group handling some of the most exciting policy challenges facing our country. Professional PA and business support is essential for the leadership team to be able to effectively engage with colleagues in the Group, the department and with external partners. We are looking for a self-motivated, flexible and adaptable individual able to handle changing priorities at short notice. You will be highly organised and meticulous across all aspects of your work and possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

Responsibilities for the role include:

Diary management

• Pro-actively co-ordinate and manage calendars daily for members of the leadership team
• Arrange meetings and appointments as requested, using professional judgement to line up meetings in the most well-organised way, resolve conflicts, negotiate and allocate time to priorities.

Meeting preparation

• Co-ordinate agendas and attendees, and collate briefings and papers where required

Mailbox management using Outlook

• Develop an efficient system for mailbox management to highlight priorities and filter messages. Actively monitor and help to manage inboxes by identifying and then dealing swiftly with urgent enquiries.

Travel arrangements

• Manage travel and accommodation and other associated duties (such as expenses) when needed.

Build collaborative working relationships

• Take the initiative to develop and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, and colleagues in the Group.
• Be an approachable focal point for the wider group. Being aware of processes in the wider Treasury and be able to share relevant information with the Group at pace.

Delivery of wider business support activities

• Working with the GMS manager, provide effective and proactive business support and cover to the wider group as part of the team and in line with processes agreed with the Group leadership team. Tasks may include: ad-hoc project support; organising meetings/events; assisting with recruitment; and other administrative duties.

You will also be expected to work flexibly and closely with others in the team to ensure consistent and effective support to the leadership team and Group as a whole. 

Person specification

As part of your role you will complete a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship with Paragon and you must be eligible for apprenticeship funding as outlined in the Apprenticeship Funding Rules (pg. 7-10).”

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.  

Required Skills, Experience and Behaviours:

1. Delivering at Pace - Ability to work independently and manage a busy workload to deliver deadlines and priorities under pressure.
2. Working Together - Ability to work flexibly and supportively as part of a team delivering collective outcomes.
3. Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.

The lead criterion is: Delivering at Pace

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, December 19, 2023 – 12:00- 12:45 - Click here to join the meeting

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,280, HM Treasury contributes £6,825 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 and Strengths.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 5th January 2024

Shortlisting: W/C 8th January

Interviews: W/C 22nd January

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.