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 - Personal Tax, Welfare and Pensions

We work to build a tax and welfare system that supports the government’s goals of fiscal sustainability, economic growth, and fairness. We look after high-profile areas including personal taxes, labour markets, welfare, tax administration, pensions, tax avoidance, and savings. We also coordinate spending controls for HM Revenue & Customs, Department for Work and Pensions. The Group is responsible for over £400bn in tax receipts and £300bn in welfare spending, impacting the lives of millions of citizens across the UK.   

Our work means that we are often at the centre of ministers’ decision making, and we play a significant part in the Budget and the Spending Review. We work closely with HMRC, DWP and Number 10, and with a wide variety of external stakeholders.  

PTWP is a friendly, diverse, and inclusive Group, with a wide range of backgrounds and specialisms. We have an active ‘Wellbeing Plan’ focussed on learning and belonging. 

About the Team - Tax Administration, Spending and Reform

The Tax Administration, Spending and Reform (TASR) team is an outstanding, friendly, and diverse team responsible for HMRC spending and for tax policy on compliance, wider reform of the tax system, and tax administration.

HMRC plays a critical role in delivering Government priorities – including raising tax revenue to fund public services, tackling tax avoidance and evasion, and supporting the continued reform of the UK customs system. TASR’s work is of fundamental importance to the Treasury, the Chancellor, and wider government.

The team is committed to equality and diversity. We seek to attract diverse, skilled, and impactful people and are keen to encourage applications from candidates with various backgrounds and ranges of experience.

About the Job

This is a stretching and exciting role within the Strategic Spending Branch of the HMRC Spending Team, TASR. The postholder will have the opportunity to play a critical part in delivering the funding settlement for HMRC at the next Spending Review, building positive relationships and collaborating with a range of finance, spending and policy teams across HMRC and HM Treasury. They will also lead HM Treasury’s oversight and scrutiny across significant aspects of HMRC’s ambitious transformation and modernisation agenda, as well as ensuring HMRC deliver the outcomes of the Chief Secretary’s Productivity Review.

The key responsibilities are as follows, with scope to adapt these to reflect particular experience or interests:

1. Support the team’s scrutiny of HMRC’s Spending Review bids and help negotiate with HMRC to secure an appropriate funding settlement for the department. Engage with central HM Treasury and other spending teams on cross-cutting issues. Consider the deliverability of plans, broader strategy and potential trade-offs. Use this to provide senior officials and Ministers with high quality advice on proposals, allowing them to make informed decisions on HMRC funding priorities.
2. Lead work to determine HMRC's funding baseline for the next Spending Review period. Work effectively with HMRC to understand its recurring cost requirements and future cost pressures, analysing and evaluating information on the department’s key business groups. Lead engagement with HMRC and relevant HM Treasury colleagues to set a suitable baseline for the department ahead of the Spending Review.
3. Lead the development and response to various HMRC workforce and savings exercises for the team, negotiating with HMRC seniors to realise efficient ways of working, setting a long-term vision and agreeing the level of ambition for strategic spending exercises like the productivity review.
4. Lead the assurance of major HMRC digital and technology programmes and business cases, including new investment proposals for Spending Review, in line with HM Treasury objectives. These should deliver the outcomes of the Productivity Programme and align with cross-government strategies and ministerial priorities. Build and maintain positive relationships with colleagues across departments, including the IPA, whilst assessing benefits, deliverability and value for money. Understand interdependencies, risks and priorities.
5. Coordinate the teams work on HMRC spending at fiscal events, including working with tax teams on what their measures mean for HMRC spending, working with HMRC to understand the departments capacity to implement measures and assessing the implications of new policy on HMRC’s headcount.
6. Lead HM Treasury’s oversight of HMRC’s estates strategy. Work closely with HMRC policy leads on their overall programme aims. Ensure coherence with HMRC’s workforce strategy and other government departments estates strategies.

The group is committed to being an excellent place to work and the post holder will be expected to contribute fully to the corporate life of TASR, PTWP or HMT more widely, and will be supported by the team to achieve this.

Candidate Drop-In Session – Microsoft Teams
 
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. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time.  

Tuesday 26th March at 10:00: 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 Emily Smith (EmilyMSmith@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 – Ability to gather and analyse a range of complex information and evaluate evidence to confidently make decisions and produce evidence-based recommendations in a timely manner.

2. Delivering at Pace – exceptional organisational skills with the ability to manage a busy workload, prioritise effectively and deliver under pressure

3. Seeing the Big Picture – Understanding and remaining alert to the main factors and pressures driving work and to the strategic objectives driving work; ensuring that these factors are communicated to peers and seniors, and captured when planning and executing work.

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 - Microsoft Teams
 
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. 

Tuesday 19th March at 17:00: Click here to join the meeting

Thursday 28th March at 13:30: Click here to join the meeting

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,500, HM Treasury contributes £11,475 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: 7th April

Shortlisting: w/c 8th April

Interviews:  w/c 15th April

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 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.