Policy Adviser - DEL forecast and AME

About the GroupThe 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. About the TeamGeneral Expenditure Policy (GEP) sits at the heart of the Public Spending Group, with its overarching function of public spending control and its role coordinating expenditure (spending) policy across Treasury.We are a team of around 30 people responsible for reporting to the Chancellor and Chief Secretary on in year spending control, covering around 1,000bn of public expenditure. We work closely with the Treasurys Strategy Planning and Budget Group (SPB), the Fiscal Group (FG) and spending teams to manage risks and ensure ministers have advice on future public spending strategy and on options for funding new priorities, both at fiscal events and as they arise throughout the year. Our team is also the custodian of the Green Book and Major Project appraisal.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. This is a central and fast-paced role within GEPs Analysis Unit. You will be at the heart of the Budget and spending review at a time when spending choices are critical to the governments macroeconomic and fiscal strategy, advising ministers on the impact of decisions on day-to-day spending on public services such as healthcare and education. You will have opportunities to influence a wide variety of policy areas, gain insight into the fiscal policy decision-making process, and have significant exposure to senior officials and ministers.Key accountabilitiesThe role will require delivering and interpreting complex analysis for ministers, often working with limited time and information. It would therefore suit a policy official with strong analytical capabilities or an analyst with experience of spending policy. Responsibilities will therefore depend on the successful candidate but are likely to include:Analysing spending on public services at Budgets and spring/autumn statements. You will be responsible for assessing the fiscal implications of spending decisions, working closely with colleagues across GEP and HMT to develop strategic oversight of resource (day-to-day) spending within Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) and engaging with the OBR to inform its forecast of public spendingAdvising on issues impacting spending on public services. This could involve supporting HMT ministers on departmental funding for the public sector pay round, the approach to dealing with inflation, or how to estimate productivity savings.Developing analysis for Phase 2 of Spending Review 2025. This will include working with HMT spending teams to identify key choices around medium-term spending on public services, ensuring our modelling is ready to deliver a Spending Review. This could also involve supporting the teams ambitions to automate and integrate coding in our analysis.Act as a GEP account manager. This means working with the relevant HM Treasury spending team responsible for a specific department. You will need to ensure our teams position is fully represented in advice to ministers on major departmental spending decisions, including that in-year spending risks are handled effectively and that recommendations represent value for money. You should be committed to engaging openly with all teams in HM Treasury and beyond.Applications from members of an analytical profession (e.g. GES, GSS) are encouraged but this is not a prerequisite for this role provided you have the necessary skills and experience. Individuals with coding experience or a desire to develop these skills are also encouraged to apply.If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the jobs, please contact Jainicca Chandrasekaram (jainicca.chandrasekaram @hmtreasury.gov.uk) or Ben Pearce ([email protected])