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 £1.2trillion 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

The Cross-Cutting Strategy, Insight and Reform (CSIR) team works on some of the most challenging policy issues facing government today.

CSIR exists to improve value for money by working across government to lead change through cross-cutting reform, productivity and efficiency and enabling the centre of government to achieve these aims via excellent spending control.

Our team is responsible for the Public Sector Productivity Review, cross-cutting topics such as Digital and AI within the public sector, improving joint working across departmental boundaries, the Shared Outcomes Fund, and we are the spending team for HM Treasury and Cabinet Office.

About the Job

This unique role offers an exciting opportunity to lead work on a challenging policy area. The postholder will have a varied brief and will have an opportunity to shape the role and work of the team. 

We are looking to appoint a Senior Policy Adviser who will: 

1. Lead HMT’s cross-cutting reform strategy work: You will be responsible for the team's contribution to major fiscal events, including developing our approach to upcoming Spending Reviews and Budgets, ensuring we have the processes in place to inform cross-cutting policy decisions to meet HMT’s objectives.
2. Scrutinise and challenge cross-cutting spending proposals: you will be responsible for supervising and improving the quality of spending proposals in cross-cutting policy areas, including analysing and advising on delivery and spending risks, developing options to improve value for money and working with specialists across HMT and the rest of government. This includes developing our approach on the future of the £600m Shared Outcomes Fund, which this team leads on.
3. Develop and maintain successful relationships with teams across HMT, CO and other departments to deliver HMT policy objectives: You will develop a network of positive relationships with many officials up to senior levels across government and with key external stakeholders (including the NAO and relevant Think Tanks) in order to deliver HMTs objectives in cross-cutting policy areas.
4. Line manage at least one range D, with the potential to matrix manage more as work demands flex across the team and help set the team’s work plan. You will also have the opportunity to work flexibly across the wider team and contribute to corporate and policy work across the Group as needed. You will be expected to actively contribute to creating a positive, inclusive and development-focussed team. This includes supporting team-wide objectives, including diversity, inclusion and wellbeing, as well as role-modelling HMT and team values. 

You do not need to have knowledge of public spending policy for this role, although previous experience in government spending or wider public sector finance is a plus. 

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.  

Friday 15th December, 13:00: Click here to join the meeting

Monday 18th December, 13.00: 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 Elizabeth Passey Elizabeth.Passey@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. Seeing the big picture – Ability to combine an understanding of complex policy detail with an ability to identify the key strategic issues and how they fit into a broader economic, political and fiscal context to make links across policy areas and shape the branch’s work.
2. Making effective decisions – Proven track record on policy development with an ability to get to grips quickly with technical or detailed issues, and to draw on a wide range of evidence and analysis in reaching a decision.
3. Working together – An ability to maintain a wide network of contacts and deliver through others, by collaborating well and building effective relationships.

The lead criterion is: Seeing the big picture. 

If we receive a large number of applications, applications will be assessed against this criterion alone first. They will then be assessed against the other criteria if they have met the minimum score on the lead criterion. 

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 19th December, 12:00: Click here to join the meeting  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,960, HM Treasury contributes £14,299 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 Experience.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 2nd January 2024

Shortlisting: From 3rd January 2024

Interviews:  From w/c 8th 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.