About the job

Job summary

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.  

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

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.   

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has been operational since March 2016 and has quickly established itself as a world-leader in financial sanctions, a key area of foreign and national security policy.

OFSI is the UK’s Competent Authority for financial sanctions. It leads on the implementation of UN and UK financial sanctions and domestic terrorist asset freezing, providing a high-quality service to the private and third sector, and guidance to help them follow the law.

We work closely with law enforcement, intelligence agencies and strategic policy colleagues across Government to help ensure that financial sanctions are accurately understood, implemented and enforced.

We are a diverse and friendly team, offering 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 are recruiting for a Senior Sanctions Adviser role in our Licensing Unit. 

• This is an exciting, fast-paced, diverse role, that will provide opportunities for the post-holder to work on high-profile financial sanctions issues
• The role will suit candidates with experience of casework, investigation, or policy implementation

What does the Licensing Unit do? 

• The Licensing Unit assesses applications to make recommendations on whether licences should be issued to allow transactions to take place which financial sanctions would otherwise prevent
• This involves working with colleagues across OFSI and across government to progress individual cases, identify trends, assess risks, and handle legal challenges
• Licensing colleagues need to work quickly and in a disciplined way, drawing on the expertise of colleagues with a range of backgrounds, to make recommendations to senior decision makers (including Senior Civil Servants and the Ministers) that are significant for applicants, third parties and for the success of our sanctions regime

What are the key responsibilities of a Senior Sanctions Adviser in the Licensing Unit? 

• Managing a broad portfolio of cases utilising case management and prioritisation techniques
• Keep the Case Management system up to date to ensure accurate and timely data
• Developing and maintaining strong working relationships, especially with Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and HM Treasury colleagues
• Interacting with licence applicants and their representatives through clear written and oral communications
• Obtaining and assessing evidence from a variety of sources to make licensing recommendations
• Understanding different industries, particularly in the financial sector, to understand the flow of funds and the responsibilities of different participants
• Providing concise, accurate and timely advice, orally and in writing, to Senior Civil Servants and Ministers
• Potential line management responsibility for 1-2 Range Cs
• Lead on policy and process improvement projects, including with OFSI and Other Government Department colleagues
• Represent OFSI at internal and external events
• Lead on cross-OFSI and/or cross-HMT workstreams

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. 

Wednesday 26 June 2024 - 15:00 – 16:00 Join the meeting now

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 the HR recruitment team on HRRecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk 

Person specification

About your Application

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. 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.

We will ask you to provide some CV details during your application; however, these will NOT be assessed during the process, but will be used to support discussions at interview – please ensure you put all information you would like to be scored against in your behaviour statements.

Prior to submitting your application, you will be invited to complete the Civil Service Judgement Test. Once you start your application, you will receive an email invitation with details on how to proceed and you will only be able to submit your application if you meet the pre-defined Civil Service pass mark. 

If you have recently taken and passed this test when applying for another HEO role, you will not need to take the test again. 

For more information on the Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test, and for guidance on how to practice and prepare for it, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/preparing-for-the-civil-service-verbal-and-numerical-tests

Please note, the test is not timed.

If candidates require reasonable adjustments during the application process, or online test process, please allow sufficient time (at least 5 working days prior to the job closing date) to request support, to allow us to support candidates as best as possible. Please note that there is no candidate support from Friday 5pm until Monday 9am.

At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria:

• Strengths
• Behaviours:
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Working Together

Interview Task

Prior to your interview, we will contact you about a task that the interview panel would like you to complete as part of the assessment. The exact details will be communicated to you nearer the time.

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. 

Wednesday 19th June @ 12:30: Join the meeting now

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,710, HM Treasury contributes £9,371 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 July 2024

Shortlisting: w/c 8th July 2024

Interviews: w/c 15th / 22th July 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 Developed Vetting (DV), however, candidates will join HM Treasury on Security Check (SC) clearance in the first instance.

To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will 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 developed vetting (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.