Classification and Budgeting Adviser
HM Treasury
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 28th October 2024
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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.
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
Government Financial Reporting (GFR) is a friendly and encouraging team of around 30 people that sits in the Public Spending Group. We pride ourselves on developing technical expertise and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders. We lead on critical HM Treasury functions:
- We maintain the integrity of key financial management and reporting frameworks underpinning spending in central government. We issue guidance and give high quality advice on financial reporting, departmental budgeting and the Supply Estimates process (by which government spend is authorised by Parliament).
- We produce major financial and statistical publications. These include Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis and the Whole of Government Accounts (which consolidates the accounts of over 9,000 entities!)
- We advise government departments and HM Treasury Spending Teams (who handle the Treasury’s spending relationship with departments) on financial reporting and potential statistical classifications for complex and novel transactions.
- We build and maintain relationships with key independent external partners, such as the National Audit Office, the Office for National Statistics, and accounting standards bodies.
Working in GFR provides exposure to a broad range of finance, policy and risk management colleagues across government. The team is multifaceted, and fully supports learning, development and growth.
GFR has four different workstream branches. You will work in the classifications and budgeting branch. This branch is primarily responsible for providing advice on statistical classification and budgeting issues (see more detail in the accountabilities section below). This is a small branch of three people (including the postholder) who work very closely with our colleagues across the GFR team and HM Treasury.
About the Job
This is an exciting role that will allow the postholder to gain an in-depth understanding of the budgeting and statistical classification frameworks used to promote sound financial management across government. The postholder will be supported by team members to develop their communication, analytical and technical skills.
Knowledge of the central government budgeting framework and/or the government finance statistical framework that underpins national accounts would be useful but is not required. The postholder can develop the needed technical skills in post. Holding or working towards an accountancy qualification is not a requirement for this post.
Key Accountabilities for this role include:
- Work closely with team members in Government Financial Reporting to provide high-quality advice on the expected statistical classification and budgeting treatment for the creation of new entities, restructuring of existing entities and major government transactions during their policy development phase.
- Lead the annual project to update the Consolidated Budgeting Guidance document, which sets out the central government budgeting framework. This involves working with colleagues across government and HM Treasury to ensure that the document is up-to-date and understandable.
- Provide advice to colleagues across government on the treatment of balances and transactions within the government budgeting framework and data system structure, based on the Consolidated Budgeting Guidance document.
- Monitor and manage the risk related to statistical classification issues across government; including owning strategic relationships with and building capability within HM Treasury spending teams, departments and the Cabinet Office Public Bodies team.
- Support the relationship between HM Treasury and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) by building strategic relationships with ONS colleagues, to work specific classification issues with and act as liaison between departments and the ONS.
Candidate Drop-In Session – Microsoft Teams
The hiring manager 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 ask any questions you may have. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time.
21st October at 12:00-13:00: 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 Sarah Logsdail by email sarah.logsdail@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.
- Making Effective Decisions: Ability to use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice.
- Communicating and influencing: Ability to communicate in a clear and effective manner and to choose appropriate communication styles for different audiences, particularly the ability to explain technical issues to non-specialist colleagues
- Delivering at Pace: Ability to reassess workloads and priorities when there are contending demands to maintain performance.
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 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 one of the links below to join the call at your preferred time.
Thursday 17th October at 12:30: Join the meeting now
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
- 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)
- Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
- Generous parental and adoption leave package.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28%
- Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room
- Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving
- Access to a retail discounts and cashback site
- A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes
- A range of active staff networks, based around interests and diversity
Flexible Working Arrangements
HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.
At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.
The office working expectation is linked to the location of the role. If you apply to a post in a single location, then you will not be able to meet this expectation at any of our other sites or move your role to another location.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Recruitment Timeline
Closing date: 28th October 2024
Shortlisting: w/c 28th October 2024
Interviews: w/c 4th & 11th November 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 Counter Terrorist Check (CTC).
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.
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.
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Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Sarah Logsdail
- Email : Sarah.Logsdail@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Further information
