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
Key Accountabilities - Policy Adviser
Government Policies - the plans we make and actions we take - shape lives. Whether it's how we fund education, or actions to ensure the health system can deliver during difficult times, the policy we create and implement sets the course of action for all public services.
Great policy making is about understanding what needs to change, what problems need to be solved and supporting Ministers to arrive at the best solution to deliver the change. Policy also means working out how we are going to make the changes or solve the problems, and then delivering on those plans. To do all this, we need to build relationships with Ministers, Civil Service colleagues, groups with expertise and the public. To work on policy as a Policy Adviser, you will need to demonstrate a range of skills, including strong problem-solving skills, the ability to clearly explain your thinking both in writing and in person, and the drive to overcome challenges and see your ideas through into action and delivery.
You don't need to be a policy professional or have any specific qualifications to apply to work as a Policy Adviser at HM Treasury. We are looking for people who have the right set of skills for the role, who demonstrate the values of our organisation, and who are motivated to come and work with us on a range of issues that are at the heart of how we spend money and deliver public services.
Key accountabilities
- Lead on drafting advice to HM Treasury ministers and senior civil servants on key issues, including on compensation payment tax treatment (e.g. Infected Blood compensation schemes, Post Office Horizon compensation schemes) and social security payments. This involves working across HM Treasury tax teams, HMRC and multiple government departments to develop the policy rationale for how payments should be taxed and legislating for the tax treatment.
- Lead policy thinking on structural income tax allowances. Develop policy options for reform depending on ministerial priorities. Coordinate across the team on family taxation issues.
- Drive forward creative policy development in the trading income space, including addressing long-term challenges. This will include working closely with HMRC and HM Treasury tax teams on arrange of issues. For example, co-leading a HMRC/HMT working group on the tax treatment of Ecosystem Service Markets.
- Work in close collaboration with HMRC; building relationships in multiple teams and at various grades. Establish relationships with internal and external partners to understand their views on the current income tax system and potential reforms.
- Take part in corporate objectives seeking to make Personal Tax and HM Treasury a great place to work.
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 [email protected].
