About the job

Job summary

About 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 Spending Group is a high-profile and rewarding place to work.  We help the Chancellor decide what to spend £1.2 trillion a year on and ensure government delivers value for money for the taxpayer. We are responsible for reporting to Parliament and the public on how taxpayers’ money is spent. We drive forward improved outcomes and efficiency in public services and make sure value for money is at the centre of decision-making through better evaluation, data and analysis.  

We advise on overall government policy on public sector pay and pensions, the biggest single driver of public spending. We collaborate with and directly support departments to deliver the Government Finance Function strategy, building finance, debt and risk capability across government and developing the management information, tools and frameworks to better understand and ensure value for money. 

About the Team - General Expenditure Policy (GEP)

GEP sits at the heart of HM Treasury's Public Spending Group. We are a friendly and inclusive team, responsible for reporting to the Chancellor and Chief Secretary on spending control, covering around £800bn of public expenditure. We work closely with Strategy Planning and Budget Group, the Fiscal Strategy Group, spending teams and No.10 to manage risks and ensure Ministers have advice on future public spending strategy and on options for funding new priorities, both at fiscal events and as they arise throughout the year. We also work with other government departments to monitor the real-world impact of spending, to ensure that outcomes for citizens are placed at the core of decision making. The team is also the custodian of the Green Book and Major Project appraisal.

In GEP, we cover a wide range of areas, including spending strategy, analysis, in-year spending control, Green Book and major projects, public value and performance budgeting. Over time, responsibilities in the role may expand to cover other priorities, and candidates will be expected to be amenable to taking on new responsibilities, subject to overall capacity constraints.

About the role

This is a central and fast-paced role within GEP’s Capital Spending Unit. You will be at the heart of the Budget and spending review when spending choices are critical to the government’s macroeconomic and fiscal strategy, advising ministers on the impact of decisions on the country’s infrastructure. You will have opportunities to influence a wide variety of policy areas, gain insight into the fiscal policy decision-making process, and have significant exposure to senior officials and ministers.

You will be key to the allocation of multi-year capital budgets across government in the Spending Review (over £115bn per year) from economic and social infrastructure to R&D. It would therefore suit a policy official with strong analytical capabilities or an analyst with experience of spending policy.

The post holder must become comfortable with numbers and analysis, demonstrate good problem analysis and strategy skills, be well organised, a good communicator, and have good attention to detail. 

Strong analytical skills and experience using Excel would be valuable. Basic knowledge of economics and/or public spending would be useful but can also be acquired on the job.   

Key responsibilities are likely to include:

1. Supporting GEP’s analysis of capital spending and owning the capital model to inform decision making. You will be expected to provide high quality analysis and advice on capital spending decisions for fiscal events and you will take ownership of the excel models used to inform capital spending allocations at spending reviews. You will collaborate with Treasury colleagues to build a picture of spending choices and use this to develop your own analysis and scenarios, based on an understanding of the objectives of our spending strategy and the key trade-offs. This will involve updating the spending model and designing tables to clearly frame choices for Ministers. Given close working with Ministers, some analysis is often produced at high pace.
2. Supporting GEP planning and preparation for the next spending review. This will include analytical work to inform big strategic decisions on capital investment and allocation (e.g., on the overall level of investment, and distribution of distribution of investment across different areas, i.e., net zero, defence, and social infrastructure); as well as designing the right process for delivering a future spending review across Whitehall based on lessons from SR21.
3. Monitoring and responding to delivery and financial risks across the capital portfolio. This will include working with spending teams and the IPA to escalate risks and providing the secretariat for the Senior Capital Steering Group – the forum which brings together Spending Directors and Deputy Directors to oversee capital allocation and delivery.
4. Managing core briefing and correspondence for the Capital Unit. This will include engaging across the spending community, inputting to senior official and ministerial briefing, and when needed working with Press Office to respond to media queries.
5. Act as a GEP account manager. This means working with the relevant HM Treasury spending team responsible for a specific department (a Spending Team is a team in HMT that monitors and advises on the spending of another government department, for example the Transport Spending Team is responsible for spending by the Department for Transport). You will need to ensure GEP’s position is fully represented in advice to ministers on major departmental spending decisions, including that in-year spending risks are handled effectively and that recommendations represent value for money. You should be committed to engaging openly with all teams in HM Treasury and beyond.
6. Support the leadership of the analysis effort across GEP team. Help to cultivate a strong, collaborative culture, and support planning and resourcing decisions, feeding into cross-unit spending analysis.

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

Monday 11th December at 12:30: Click here to join the meeting

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 Ryan Bennett (Ryan.Bennett@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. Ability to use data to draw conclusions and make reasoned recommendations and undertake robust quality assurance of analysis done by others to advise senior officials and ministers. (Making Effective Decisions)
2. Ability to work independently under high pressure while remaining calm, including the ability to proactively deliver work through others to short deadlines. (Delivering at Pace)
3. Ability to build trust and strong working relationships with people who may have different priorities and perspectives. (Working Together)

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. 

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 appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

Friday 1st December 2023 12:30 - 13:00 Click here to join the meeting

Tuesday 12th December at 17:00: Click here to join the meeting

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,710, HM Treasury contributes £8,561 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.

HM Treasury currently operate a merged grade at Range D, combining the Civil Service Higher Executive Officer (HEO) and Senior Executive Officer (SEO). HM Treasury are in the process of evaluating all Range D roles to define them in line with the HEO and SEO standards so that we align with other departments. Existing HEO’s/SEO’s that are successful through this campaign will retain their grade on transfer, but their role may be subject to evaluation. 

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: Sunday 17th December 2023 

Shortlisting: w/c 18th December 2023

Interviews:  From 3rd January 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 Counter Terrorist Check (CTC). 

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 counter-terrorist 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.