Head of Capability, Skills and Learning Delivery for the Government Finance Function

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

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 Government Finance Function (GFF) - Government Finance Function - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The GFF ensures that finance is at the heart of decision making in Government - driving the agenda, not just keeping score. The function is led by Tara Smith (Co-Head of Government Finance Function and Chief Operating Officer, DBT) and Conrad Smewing (Co-Head of Government Finance Function and Director General Public Spending, HMT). The Finance Function comprises of over 9,000 FTE spread across over 40 Government organisations.

The new GFF strategy 2030 sets a bold direction for the future, ensuring we remain at the heart of government, supporting the delivery of high-quality public services and value for money. By prioritising developing our Skilled and Talented people, embracing data, innovation, and collaboration, we will continue to support our customers and stakeholders in making informed, strategic choices in an increasingly complex financial landscape.

The GFF People and Capability Team is one of the central Government Finance Function (GFF) teams working across government out of HMT. This team of 20 people, made up of Finance, HR and L&D professionals works across a complex cross-government landscape, setting standards, helping to attract, develop and retain excellent finance professionals, developing skills for now and the future.

People and Capability is a key priority for the Government Finance Function. The team and therefore the postholder as Head of Capability, Skills and Learning Delivery in this role, are responsible for delivery of the Skilled and Talented objective within the GFF Strategy 2030.

The objective of the team is to build and support a capable, diverse and robust workforce across the GFF through delivery of eight agreed priorities:

• Learning and development - the Government Finance Academy
• Finance Career Framework
• Senior resourcing and centralised recruitment
• Early careers
• Attraction
• Talent management
• Diversity, inclusion and well-being

Building excellent links with networks across Government to utilise expert services and embed our initiatives in departments, sharing knowledge, best practice and resource.

About the Job

This is an exciting time to join a growing team so that we can deliver even more for finance teams across government. Our purpose is to recruit great people, into the right roles, with the right skills for today and for the future. You will join a diverse team of dedicated People and Capability professionals to help realise this purpose.

As a key member of an encouraging and collaborative team you will engage senior leaders across government, ensuring they and their teams are equipped with skills for today and for the future, and develop finance capability within government organisations, through learning and development interventions. Working as part of the senior leadership team within People and Capability, you will contribute to setting the wider strategic direction, fostering collaboration, building capacity and ensuring collective delivery against shared strategic priorities.

As the Head of Finance Capability and Skills for the Government Finance Function, you will head up the Capability and Skills team and be part of the wider People & Capability Leadership team. We are looking for a Learning and Development expert who is forward-looking, who anticipates future workforce trends, and who collaborates closely with stakeholders across the team, and across other Functions and government organisations, to ensure the function is prepared for emerging challenges and opportunities.

This role provides an outstanding opportunity to gain cross-government exposure and to drive strategic change in one of the Civil Service’s most influential functions.

Key Accountabilities

1. Team Leadership: Lead, inspire and empower a high-performing team of HR and finance professionals (c10FTE), leading on finance learning and development interventions, the GFF Finance Career Framework, and Skills Capture Tool, setting clear priorities, coaching individuals, and fostering a culture of high performance and professional growth.
2. Strategic Leadership: Provide leadership and support for the development of a GFF Skills Strategy and GFF Professional Qualifications Strategy, shaping direction, ensuring alignment with the GFF Functional Strategy 2030, and driving a future-focused capability and skills agenda, focused on identifying skills gaps, and creating capability frameworks that align with business need and the future finance workforce.
3. Program Design and Delivery and Budget Management: Lead the design and development of learning and development content and curriculum in line with employee and business need, overseeing its high-quality, consistent delivery and evaluating engagement across government, ensuring effective management of the learning product lifecycle. Ensure effective management of the learning curriculum budget and overseeing the selection and performance of learning and development suppliers, to ensure value for public money.
4. Stakeholder Management: Collaborate with senior leaders and finance teams across the Finance Function, and with external providers and suppliers to ensure learning products and interventions are effective and support business priorities of supporting transformational change for a future-fit finance workforce, in line with the Functional Strategy.
5. Governance and Committee Leadership: Work with the Senior HR Business Partner to the Government Finance Function to lead the GFF People Committee (Finance Director resourced Committee), Deputy Director Talent Forum (Finance Director resourced Committee), and Heads of Finance Professionalism meetings, ensuring alignment with governance structures and ensuring value and delivery for stakeholders and government organisations is progressed against strategic priorities.
6. Collective Leadership of the People & Capability Team: Contribute to the broader leadership of the People and Capability Team, ensuring a visible, cohesive and impactful Functional offer for Finance professionals across government.

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.

Tuesday 6th January 5-6pmClick the link to Join

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 Ria Bush, ria.bush@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. Leadership: An inspiring and empowering leader with the ability to set direction, coach, develop and engage individuals and diverse teams to achieve high performance.
2. Experience: Experience of developing, implementing and overseeing and organisational learning and development strategy and/or program, ensuring that it aligns with business objectives and meets employee needs.
3. Communicating and Influencing: Able to articulate a compelling vision, using strong influencing and relationship-building skills to secure commitment, alignment and engagement across an organisational context, up to and including at senior levels.
4. Working Together: Demonstrated ability to build trusted, collaborative partnerships, working effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, across all levels of seniority, to deliver shared objectives and enable collective success.

The lead criterion is: Leadership

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Required Qualifications:

1. This post requires either a CIPD qualification, or an accountancy qualification (full CCAB, CIMA, or equivalent professional accountancy qualification).

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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

• Experience
• Strengths
• Behaviours:
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Changing and Improving

Qualifications

This post requires either a CIPD qualification, or an accountancy qualification (full CCAB, CIMA, or equivalent professional accountancy qualification.)

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £69,820, HM Treasury contributes £20,226 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.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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: 18th January
• Shortlisting: w/c 19th January
• Interviews: w/c 26th January and 2nd February

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.

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.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

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

Apply and further information

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 : Ria Bush
• Email : ria.bush@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.

Attachments

Role Profile 442627 Opens in new window (pdf, 184kB)Candidate FAQ's - 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 175kB)Guidance on Pay - New Joiners & Civil Service Movers October 24 Opens in new window (pdf, 430kB)