Senior Policy Adviser – National Insurance contributions, Employment Benefits and Expenses

HM Treasury • Part-time • London • 2d ago

This post can be based in London (1 Horse Guards Road), or Darlington (Feethams House).

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

Personal Tax, Welfare and Pensions

We work to build a tax and welfare system that supports the government’s goals of fiscal sustainability, economic growth, and fairness. We look after high-profile areas including personal taxes, labour markets, welfare, tax administration, pensions, tax avoidance, and savings. We also coordinate spending controls for HM Revenue & Customs, Department for Work and Pensions. The Group is responsible for over £400bn in tax receipts and £300bn in welfare spending, impacting the lives of millions of citizens across the UK.

Our work means that we are often at the centre of ministers’ decision making, and we play a significant part in the Budget and the Spending Review. We work closely with HMRC, DWP and Number 10, and with a wide variety of external stakeholders.

PTWP is a friendly, diverse, and inclusive Group, with a wide range of backgrounds and specialisms. We have an active ‘Wellbeing Plan’ focussed on learning and belonging.

About The Team

The Personal Tax team covers a very broad range of exciting policies that are important across the population. The size and influence of these policies means that they are always of interest to ministers, and the post holder will have the chance to work closely with seniors, Special Advisers, and ministers.

We play an active role in making sure that PTWP has an inclusive, positive working environment. We are committed to ensuring a good work-life balance and currently have people with a variety of working patterns, including part-time roles.

The Personal Tax team is responsible for income tax, National Insurance contributions (NICs), the apprenticeship levy, inheritance tax and other aspects of the personal tax system, including longer-term strategy and linking up with other areas of tax and welfare. Total personal tax receipts exceed £450bn, so our policies are fundamental in fiscal and economic importance to the Treasury and of significant interest to the Chancellor and other ministers. For example, over the past few years the team’s work has included changes to NICs rates and thresholds, changes to the taxation of non-UK domiciled individuals, changes to inheritance tax and more.

About The Job

The Personal Tax team is looking for a new member who will lead on a key set of policy issues relating to National Insurance contributions (NICs), the taxation of Employment Benefitsand Expenses and support on wider priorities relating to the personal tax system.

The work of the branch is varied, dynamic and high-profile! Over the past couple of years we have been involved in a range of high profile measures including changes to employee and employer NICs; leading three NICs bills through Parliament to deliver these changes; free trade negotiations with India; and working with HMRC policy partners on mandating the payrolling of BIKs, among others.

NICs are a major source of Government revenue, accounting for nearly £180bn a year of receipts. National Insurance also underpins the contributory benefit system and is linked to funding the NHS and the Apprenticeship Levy. As such, this post this post involves close working across tax, spending and welfare policy and is key to future thinking on contributory benefits. Most changes to NICs require their own bill and there is an annual legislative process to set NICs rates and thresholds (‘re-rating’); the role will therefore include working extensively with HMRC policy partners on parliamentary and legislative processes.

Employment Benefits and Expenses are also a key part of the tax system. This part of the portfolio covers the taxation of employment perks such as employer-provided medical insurance and living accommodation. Alongside this, the team are also responsible for the tax rules on employee expenses, which covers tax relief for employees for costs they have incurred while carrying out their work. Additionally, this part of the portfolio also covers employment income exemptions, which are specific tax rules in place that helps meet other government priorities, including Cycle to Work and work-place occupational health. This is a wide-ranging portfolio which impacts millions of employees and is a sustained area of interest for ministers.

All tax policy is delivered in partnership with HMRC; this post will need to work very closely with them as well as DWP, the Government Actuary’s Department and spending teams across HMT.

The role has included line management of two Senior Executive Officers and a policy apprentice (Range C). the postholder will also be responsible for supporting the E2 in leading the wider NICs, BIKs, Expenses and Intermediaries (NBI) branch and will have a leadership role in maintaining the positive and inclusive culture of the Personal Tax team and the wider group.  

Key Accountabilities For This Role Are:

Lead on policy development and delivery on NICs, BIKs and Expenses;
Provide clear and credible advice to ministers and senior officials a throughout the year and at fiscal events, specifically on these policy areas;
Ensure that written advice, briefing and correspondence by your branch is completed to a high standard;
Build and maintain quality relationships with key partners across Government - primarily HMRC - as well as with other teams in HMT;
Provide excellent line-management, setting clear roles and objectives for your branch, as well focusing as well-being and development. 
Support the wider leadership of the branch, team and corporate priorities across the group, helping to make PT and PTWP a great place to work.

PT operates a flexible approach to working across policy areas and there is also scope for the portfolio for this candidate to adjust in response to ministerial priorities and/or other staffing changes.

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 link below to join the call at the right time. 

6th March 2025 15:30-15:55 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 alex.nevitte@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Key Accountabilities For This Role Are:

Lead on policy development and delivery on NICs, BIKs and Expenses;
Provide clear and credible advice to ministers and senior officials a throughout the year and at fiscal events, specifically on these policy areas;
Ensure that written advice, briefing and correspondence by your branch is completed to a high standard;
Build and maintain quality relationships with key partners across Government - primarily HMRC - as well as with other teams in HMT;
Provide excellent line-management, setting clear roles and objectives for your branch, as well focusing as well-being and development. 
Support the wider leadership of the branch, team and corporate priorities across the group, helping to make PT and PTWP a great place to work.

Making Effective Decisions: The ability to develop policy and make evidenced based decisions in a complex, fast-paced, and technically demanding area.
Working Together: Excellent stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to build strong internal and external relationships and use those relationships to influence policy direction.
Communicating and Influencing: The ability to communicate with others with clarity and conviction; explain complex issues in a way that is easy for others to understand; and tailor your communication style to different audiences.

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.

Behaviours

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

Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture

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

Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Communicating and Influencing

Alongside your salary of £55,760, HM Treasury contributes £16,153 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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.

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: 12th March 2025
Shortlisting: From 13th March 2025
Interviews: W/C 24th March 2025

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.

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.

Those on the reserve list may also be approached for similar roles at a lower grade. If you are offered a role at a lower grade and choose to decline, you can remain on the reserve list.

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, for example if you have been working abroad on a government posting, 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.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

Name : Alex Nevitte
Email : alex.nevitte@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints Process: Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment based on fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact HMT by email at: hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.