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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 cross-government hub bringing people together to tackle key national issues while working closer to the communities we serve.

Job description

Are you prepared to take a key position at HM Treasury in London, UK? As a Senior Debt Policy and Practice Advisor, you will play a central role in crafting policies that guarantee efficient, fair, and effective debt management throughout the government. This opportunity allows you to influence practices across government, develop positive relationships, and lead initiatives that safeguard public finances while promoting fair results for individuals and businesses.

Responsibilities

In the role of Senior Debt Policy and Practice Advisor, you will:

• Progress the function’s work in preventing avoidable debt by embedding risk identification and prevention into new policy builds. This includes developing training campaigns for civil servants and crafting flexible payment systems.
• Collaborate with the Professions team to maintain effective communication channels and provide regular updates to collaborators. Your role will involve developing timely and accurate content aligned with GDMF priorities, promoting collaboration, and reinforcing standards.
• Lead discrete projects supporting the implementation of the 2026-30 Government Debt Strategy. You will adapt approaches to accommodate different debt types and departmental needs.
• Build and maintain positive relationships across teams, government departments, and external collaborators, ensuring alignment with government strategic priorities.
• Maintain an up-to-date repository of debt-related policies and provide expert advice to departments, ALBs, and Ministers as needed.
• Manage press and public enquiries in collaboration with the HMT Press Office to ensure accurate and timely responses.
• Foster an inclusive and effective team environment by being adaptable in your responsibilities and supporting the wellbeing of all team members.

Requirements

To excel in this role, you must have:

• Demonstrated experience in policy formulation and collaboration across government sectors
• Strong collaborator management and problem-solving skills
• The ability to clearly communicate your ideas both in writing and in person
• A drive to successfully implement your ideas and overcome challenges
• Understanding of debt management methods and their effects on individuals and businesses

About you

You are an exceptionally skilled professional with a proven track record in policy development and debt management. Your strong communication skills and ability to build collaborative relationships will help you drive forward ambitious projects. You possess the determination to tackle challenges head-on and implement flawless solutions. Your expertise will be crucial in crafting effective debt management practices and ensuring fair outcomes for all.

Please note, specific responsibilities may change in line with the needs of the role and function.

Candidate Drop-In Session

The hiring manager will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role on Tuesday 4th August at 11:00 to 11:45 and Wednesday 12th August at 15:00 to 15:45, 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.

4th August Link = Candidate Drop In Session , Meeting-Join , Microsoft Teams

12th August Link = Candidate Drop In Session , Meeting-Join , Microsoft Teams

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 contactjames.elliott@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Person specification

Application Stage

Applications should consist of a CV including your employment history, and a 250-word statement demonstrating evidence of each of the below shortlisting criteria. Your CV and employment history won’t be scored. It’s used to give context to your application and support discussions at interview.
The panel will review applications and invite those that best demonstrate evidence of the shortlisting criteria below for interview. Please keep this in mind when writing your application.
Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Behaviours:
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. Behaviour = Working together: The ability to build relationships across departments and with delivery partners to align approaches and implement projects consistently.
2. Behaviour = Changing and improving: The ability seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvements in the management of debt owed to government.
3. Experience: Evidence of drafting compelling narratives, general communications, policy or guidance across a wide variety of stakeholders

The lead criterion is: Working together.

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

At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria:
• Experience
• Strengths
• Behaviours:
- Working Together
- Changing and Improving

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,090, HM Treasury contributes £12,483 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus public holidays and the King’s birthday.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme - Defined Benefit pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
• Parental Leave Packages - Including 6 months’ occupational pay for maternity/adoption, shared parental leave options.
• Flexible & Hybrid Working - Options include part-time, job-share, compressed hours, flexitime, and hybrid working (where business needs allow).
• Advance Schemes & Discounts - Rental deposit, cycle-to-work, SmartTech, season ticket loans, and access to HM Treasury’s benefits portal for a wide range of discount codes.

You can review HM Treasury’s full offer here.

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.

Candidate Guidance

Please review the candidate guidance for an overview of the Success Profiles and STAR approach, along with top tips for applications and interviews.

Recruitment Timeline

• Closing date: 14/08/2026 before 23:55
• Shortlisting: w/c 17/08/2026
• Interviews: w/c 31/08/2026

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.

Reserve Lists

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a role immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to provide your location preference on your application form. Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer.

If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or 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.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Candidates cannot apply to roles in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Successful candidates will be subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database. This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This also applies to those who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the database will be refused employment.

National Security Vetting

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, successful candidates will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Counter-Terrorist Check.

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. You will be asked to provide residency information within your application form, and eligibility for national security vetting will be checked once the advert closing date has passed. In certain 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.

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 : James Elliott
• Email : james.elliott@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

467526 Government Debt Management Function – Senior Debt Policy and Practice Adviser - role profile Opens in new window (pdf, 165kB)