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

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 the 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 Whitehall and beyond to help ensure that financial sanctions are accurately understood, implemented and enforced.

OFSI is a diverse and dynamic organisation of over 100 people, from a variety of backgrounds and professions. OFSI offers 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) and in the OFSI Annual Review (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsi-annual-reviews).

About the Job

We are recruiting for roles in our Enforcement and Maritime Services Ban and Oil Price Cap teams, within HM Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). These are exciting, fast-paced, diverse roles, that will provide opportunities for post-holders 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 these roles, who demonstrate the values of our organisation, and who can demonstrate an ability to quickly develop an understanding of a complex and sensitive area. These roles will suit candidates with experience of casework, investigation, analysis, or policy implementation, but no specific experience is required, just motivation and an interest to come and work with us!

Successful candidates will be allocated a role in one of the following teams: 

• Enforcement: Robust enforcement plays a critical role in achieving an effective financial sanctions regime. The Enforcement Unit within OFSI is responsible for enforcing financial sanctions in the UK, alongside key partners. This includes investigating suspected financial sanctions breaches and assessing evidence to respond to non-compliance using the wide range of enforcement tools at OFSI’s disposal, including imposing large monetary penalties. The Unit also supports the development of sanctions enforcement policy more widely.
• Maritime Services Ban and Oil Price Cap: This area implements the G7 agreement to cap the price of Russian oil. The Oil Price Cap allows the provision of services to support the maritime transport of Russian oil only if that oil is sold at or below a certain price. This is a novel approach to the energy market, requiring new approaches to implementing sanctions. The team monitor the market through analysing reports sent to OFSI from industry, assess applications for licenses and analyse breach reports to assess compliance. They work closely with international counterparts and the energy & financial services sectors in the UK to help industry comply with the rules and take action where they do not. 

Key responsibilities for work in Enforcement will include:

1. Carrying out investigations into potential breaches of financial sanctions and making informed enforcement action recommendations in line with UK government policy and OFSI’s published framework.
2. Managing a portfolio of casework where you will plan and lead evidentially sound, proportionate investigations into suspected breaches of financial sanctions across a wide range of sectors and industries.
3. Collecting, appropriately handling, and evaluating evidence collected from a diverse range of sources.
4. Briefing senior civil servants and ministers on investigations and your recommendations for enforcement action.
5. Using your experience as an investigator to inform and develop operational policy.
6. Engaging regularly with law enforcement and other agencies about reports of suspected financial and economic sanctions breaches.

Key responsibilities for work in International Engagement and Monitoring of the Oil Price Cap will include:

1. Leading on our international engagement strategy – challenging it, updating it, implementing it. As part of our implementation of novel sanctions on Russia, the post holder will support the planning of, and take part in, international engagements to ensure these sanctions are effective. This includes our G7 allies including the US, Australia and those who we would want to help us combat circumvention.
2. Ensuring we take a strategic approach when our seniors and ministers meet these countries and attend meetings with international counterparts themselves to further our objectives.
3. Building strong working relationships with FCDO and other internal and external stakeholders.
4. Leading or supporting on specific negotiations or events, this will include leading on planning international engagement events with Turkish and Greek stakeholders, and considering the scope for future proactive engagements.
5. Supporting our lead analyst to produce high quality analysis on the monitoring and effectiveness of the Oil Price Cap and will support our enforcement branch with bespoke vessel level analysis, forming their own conclusions on their activity. They will work closely with the lead analyst to ensure our engagement is evidence based, maximising our impact with both domestic and international stakeholders.

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 need to undergo Security Check (SC) security clearance before starting in post. Applications are welcome from those without current SC clearance.

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.

Candidate Drop-In Session

We will be running a candidate drop-in session for these roles 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. 

Session 1: Monday, 29 January at 13:00 Click here to join the meeting

Session 2: Monday 5th February at 16:30: 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 ofsirecruitment@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. Making Effective Decisions: An ability to analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support complex decision making, considering all options, including their potential benefits and risks.
   
   
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. Working Together: Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with others, developing and nurturing positive relationships and drawing on different perspectives to arrive at high quality outcomes whilst managing divergent views professionally and diplomatically.
   
   

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 link below to join the call at the right time. 

Friday 26th January 2024 12:00 - 12:45 Click here to join the meeting

Tuesday 6th February 2024 17:00 - 17:45 Click here to join the meeting

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: Sunday 11th February 2024

Shortlisting: w/c 12th February 2024

Interviews:  w/c 26th February 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.  

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 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.