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.  

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

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

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) within HM Treasury has been operational since March 2016 and in its first seven years has established itself as a world-leader in financial sanctions, a key area of financial, foreign, and national security policy. It remains front and centre of an unprecedented financial sanctions response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

HM Treasury implements financial sanctions in the UK, and OFSI fulfils this role on its behalf. It leads on the implementation of UN and UK financial sanctions and domestic terrorist asset freezing. OFSI helps ensure that financial sanctions are accurately understood, implemented, and enforced by providing a high-quality service and guidance to the private and charitable sectors. OFSI has important partner relationships in the regulated financial services sector and is an integral part of the sanctions community worldwide.

There are currently c.30 financial sanctions regimes, including sanctions relating to Russia, North Korea, Iran, Syria and Libya. Approximately 4000 individuals and entities are targets of financial sanctions.

OFSI is a diverse, growing, 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.

About the Job

This business-critical role will be the first port of call for enquiries from the private and public sector relating to financial sanctions. We are looking for individuals who excel in managing quality services, thrive in fast-paced environments, and collaborate effectively. Candidates should possess strong attention to detail and methodical approach to task management.

Prior experience isn't essential, what's key is a genuine interest and eagerness to learn. We're looking for people who can demonstrate alignment with our organisation’s values, can swiftly grasp technical and sensitive operational policies, and have the ability to distil complex information into clear, concise communications.

Some of the key accountabilities for this role will include:

• accurately maintaining and publishing OFSI’s database of financial sanctions targets (the “Consolidated List”), promptly issuing public notices to provide updates. You will collaborate with partners such as the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, United Nations, and internally with HM Treasury press and digital communications office.
• handling OFSI’s records of frozen assets, becoming a subject matter expert in various reporting obligations on 'relevant firms', designated persons, and an annual frozen asset exercise. This requires complex analysis and attention to detail in accordance with relevant processes and procedures to gain an accurate picture of the value of assets frozen due to sanctions. You will work with other branches within OFSI to ensure the treatment of reports accurately informs compliance with financial sanctions, escalating where required.
• generating reports related to data held by OFSI in relation to frozen assets in response to information requests made by teams across HM Treasury and other Government departments within agreed timeframes.
• acting as the first point of contact in OFSI, managing the OFSI enquiries mailbox, processing enquiries received by the team via our bespoke case management system, and referring to caseworkers as necessary. This work is vital to ensure an efficient service.
• preparing responses and provide ad hoc contributions to OFSI Parliamentary Questions (PQs), Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and ministerial correspondence, ensuring that they are completed and responded to in a timely manner.
• working collaboratively across the team to improve the knowledge management capabilities of OFSI, ensuring that information is stored securely and accessibly, working closely with colleagues from central Treasury teams. The post holder will help ensure that OFSI produce accurate reporting information on specific operational statistics for the senior management teams, as well as external partners when needed.
• supporting tasks of the wider branch as the need arises, including contributing to business continuity arrangements, IT infrastructure changes, and continuous improvement of OFSI processes and procedures.
• continuously developing a broad range of skills, knowledge, and expertise across the core functions of the OFSI team.

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 balance numerous priorities, identifying requirements to successfully deliver to often-tight deadlines. (Delivering at Pace)
2. Working with stakeholders to understand their expectations, considering the needs of the business, and addressing common problems. (Managing a Quality Service)
3. Ability to work comfortably and effectively with colleagues, senior staff and external partners to build relationships and undertake tasks collaboratively in a team. (Working Together)

The lead criterion is: Ability to balance numerous priorities, identifying requirements to successfully deliver to often-tight deadlines. (Delivering at Pace)

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

Candidate Guidance Support Session

We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach including top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. Please note that this session is not role specific, so we will be unable to answer specific questions about roles we are advertising. If you would like to join us, please use the link below to join the call at the right time.

5th May 12:30 – 13:15

Join the meeting now

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: 09/06/2024

Shortlisting: w/c 10/06/2024

Interviews: w/c 24/06/2024

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. 

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. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Security Check (SC) / 

To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed. 

[FOR DEVELOPED VETTING] To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants typically need to have lived in the UK for the past 10 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed.

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.