Ministry of Justice Spending Principal

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! 

About the Group

Public Services Group

The Public Services Group is at the heart of Treasury’s work to secure sustainable public finances and drive economic growth. We manage public spending of more than £250bn. across key public services and departments, including health, education, the criminal justice system, local government, housing, defence and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 

We do this by working with other government departments, ministers, and other Treasury teams to ensure that spending plans support high quality public services, help the economy to grow and provide value for money for the taxpayer.  

Our roles offer a range of opportunities to work with senior leaders in other government departments and on the frontline of public services and ensure the effective delivery of public services. 

The Group is committed to being an excellent place to work, with a relentless focus on good management, learning and development and continuous improvement in everything we do.  

About the Team

Justice, Home Affairs and Equalities team

We are responsible for the oversight of the Government’s spending on the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Law Officer’s departments, National Crime Agency and on Parliament – as well as the Government’s equalities responsibilities. The Justice Spending branch of the team manages HM Treasury’s relationship with bodies including the Ministry of Justice and the Law Officers departments, overseeing more than £10bn a year of annual government spending. We’re a friendly, collaborative and inclusive team, committed to personal development and achieving a healthy work-life balance. 

This is an exciting and stretching role with a high degree of responsibility and interest from Treasury Ministers. It is a fascinating time to join us, as we approach the end of this Spending Review period and start to think about the next. As a team, we will also be working to develop and deliver large-scale, ambitious, and high-profile programmes across the justice system, while also responding to emerging challenges within a period of further constraint on resources.

You will need to build and maintain excellent relationships with MoJ, No.10 and Cabinet Office, including at senior levels, and quickly gain the full trust of Treasury colleagues and Ministers. 

About the Job 

This is an exciting, high profile spending principal role at the heart of HM Treasury, offering significant opportunities to work with Ministers and seniors on a high priority policy area. This is a stretching range E role and will require developing and maintaining positive relationships with teams within the Treasury and across Whitehall.

Key Accountabilities for this role include: 

1. Delivering an ambitious but balanced settlement for MoJ at the next Spending Review – You will play a key role in the negotiations with MoJ, and coordinate all financial aspects of the settlement, working with the Head of Justice Spending to balance MoJ’s priorities with Treasury’s interests and the wider fiscal position. You will need to develop a detailed understanding of MoJ’s major policy and budget areas – finding opportunities for a more efficient use of resources and supporting Ministers in making difficult decisions on how best to deliver quality outcomes for the taxpayer.

2. Delivering effective in-year spending control of the MoJ budget – You will work with the department to identify and mitigate spending risks, ensure there are processes in place relating to financial and risk management and forecasting, and work closely with MoJ and HMT colleagues as issues arise. You will lead on delivering Mains and Supplementary Estimates (including negotiating reserve claims) with MoJ.

3. Leading on delivery of high profile policy areas – These include the delivery of a significant prison building programme, and on legal aid. There are substantial reform programmes in these areas which will have a major impact on the justice system. This will entail working with MoJ at senior levels to support and challenge the programmes and leading on Treasury approval processes with departmental seniors.

4. Leading on MoJ workforce, pay and pensions policy – The post holder will coordinate delivery of annual pay rounds and lead on workforce strategy with MoJ. This will include working closely with the department on their interactions with workforce pay review bodies.

5. Providing advice on new policy ideas or ad hoc spending issues as they arise

6. Managing Range Ds – You will provide excellent line management and mentoring, ensuring your branch has the capability to provide quality, evidence-based advice.

Experience of public spending is desirable for the role, but is not essential.

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. 

Monday 6th November 2023 13:00 – 13:45 Click here to join the meeting

If you would like to learn more about the role please contact the line manager, Ed Brown (ed.brown@hmtreasury.gov.uk)

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. Strong analytical, numerical and policy skills and the ability to make effective judgements drawing on a wide range of evidence (Making Effective Decisions)
2. Ability to understand the broader strategic context and keep on top of a wide range of issues when making decisions in your policy area (Seeing the Big Picture)
3. Effective stakeholder management and influencing skills, with a proven ability to deliver through others and build positive relationships with a range of senior partners (Communicating and Influencing)

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. 

Monday 30th October 17:00 – 17:30 Click here to join the meeting

Thursday 9th November 2023 12:30 – 13:00 Click here to join the meeting

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

• 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

• 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 (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity (e.g. women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT* network, faith and belief network).

Flexible working arrangements:   HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to 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; working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.

HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites – Darlington, London, and Norwich, with the expectation of achieving 50% attendance in the office as a minimum requirement, along with the flexibility of 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.

Job contact :

• Name : ed.brown@hmtreasury.gov.uk
• Email : ed.brown@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk