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Opportunity, wealth creation and growthCareers
for graduates in the Treasury Opportunity If you are looking to start your career in an environment that tests and develops your skills, provides variety, and allows you to deal with real issues that make a difference, not only in the UK but also overseas, then start by looking at the Treasury Graduate Recruitment Programme. The Treasury aims to be one of the best economic, and finance ministries in the world. And we face demanding objectives to achieve sustainable growth and rising prosperity. That is why we need to bring in, and on, the best people to fill important posts (Policy Analysts and Economic Assistants) throughout the organisation. We seek graduates, whatever their background, who will relish the challenges, excitement and rewards of working at the centre of government, and who want to take the fast track to develop personal qualities and professional skills. In almost any current news story, there will be an economic, financial, or social dimension, whether the issue is improving public transport or working towards tackling child poverty. The scope of the Treasury is too broad to cover in a sound-bite phrase. Our agenda is huge, ranging from social reform to financial stability at home and abroad, from promoting competition and enterprise to providing better public services. The people who help to deliver this agenda must be able to make a difference from an early stage in their careers. We make no bones about it. We want high achievers, people who have already demonstrated that they have potential, and who have the drive and talent to make the most of a fast-track career in a dynamic, high-profile organisation. Growth The Treasury achieved Investor in People (IIP) accreditation in December 1999, demonstrating that we are fully committed to the training and development of all employees. We are committed to developing you, so we offer every opportunity for you to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge you need to do your job well – and prepare for more challenging work if you want it. The onus is on you to drive your career forward and identify areas where you can improve. You will be expected to apply this development to cope with real responsibility at an early stage, building solid foundations for improved performance and progression. Our training programme focuses on six key skill areas: • Macroeconomics • Microeconomics • Accountancy and finance • Management • Numeracy and statistics • Public policy. We use experts in their field to deliver high quality training, which is tailored to meet individual training and development needs. The training period is two years, during which time your performance is continually assessed. This includes self-assessment, set alongside regular discussions with your line manager. These reviews give you the chance to discuss your strengths and development needs, decide where further training could help, and agree how to progress. Excitement The sheer scope of the Treasury’s work means there is no such thing as a typical job. Every day will bring fresh challenges and excitement. Although you will be based in London, we will expect you to move posts every year to widen your experience, and develop and demonstrate your growing mix of skills and knowledge. You could find yourself helping to prepare briefing material for the Chancellor, prior to attendance at EU meetings in Brussels. You might be involved in the Budget process, looking at the Government’s tax policy. Or you might be responsible for providing policy and economic advice on transport issues. Maintaining an outward focus and breadth of experience is important, so we encourage short-term postings and secondments. As part of the Home Civil Service, you will also benefit from the many opportunities to gain experience across a range of other government departments, who share the Civil Service values of impartial and objective advice and delivery of services. In addition, there are also opportunities to work in international institutions, for example the European Commission, and in the private sector. Rewards Our comprehensive benefits package includes a competitive salary, currently starting at £20,000, though it could be more (as much as £25,000 if you have a master’s degree or relevant work experience). In addition, the Treasury also operates an index-linked final salary pension scheme for all members of staff. On appointment, graduates are entitled to 25 days’ leave per year, on top of which you can add a further 10 days of privilege and public holidays each year. Our family-friendly policies mean we do all we can to help our people combine demanding jobs with domestic responsibilities, and we do not expect staff to earn their spurs by working excessive hours. Achieving a good work/life balance is important and it is with this in mind that we operate a range of alternative working patterns, including flexi-time, home working, part time and job sharing. Prospects We expect you to develop quickly – fast enough to be ready for your first promotion within three to five years. With promotion, you move to a salary range that currently starts at £33,500 and goes up to £53,712. But there are no guarantees: any promotion depends on merit, and merit alone. We want our talented graduates to make early strides towards promotion – we don’t hold people back because of age or length of service. Our philosophy is that if you are good enough, you are old enough. Equal opportunities and diversity Our aim is to create an inclusive culture in which diversity is fully valued. We are increasingly involved in the social agenda and it is therefore important that we reflect the diversity of society generally, as well as benefiting from the talents a diverse workforce brings to us. Acknowledging the benefits of diversity means respecting and valuing individuals and recognising that differences including different cultures, lifestyles, skills, experience, management styles and ways of working are good for our organisation, bringing different insights, ideas and approaches to problem solving. Valuing diversity also brings benefits for individuals, recognising that the use of flexible and alternative patterns of working assists people to achieve a better balance between work and their other activities. We have made some progress in improving the participation of under-represented groups at middle and senior management levels and in core policy areas, but our aim is to improve this trend. We recruit and promote strictly on ability and performance and welcome applications from all qualified individuals. Quotes ‘Is being a civil servant out of touch or old-fashioned? I don’t think so. I see myself as playing my part in modernising government and making the Treasury a professional, outward-looking organisation. It’s not hard to see the value in that.’ Rebecca Lawrence ‘The training is comprehensive and the quality of work is good. On top of that, the department has a healthy working atmosphere that values your individual contribution to policy debates.’ Andrew Paulson ‘What on earth was the big attraction of the Treasury over the private sector? For me, as an economist, it was being able to use the skills that I had learned at university and having the opportunity to apply them to the real decisions that government takes.’ Fiona Hearn ‘I
left university in 1993 with a degree in Medieval Studies –
don’t let anyone tell you that you need to be an economist to
work at the Treasury!’ Chris Felton Entry requirements For those looking to join as Policy Analysts, you should have, or hope to obtain this year, a first- or upper second-class honours degree in any discipline. For Economic Assistant positions, you should have, or hope to obtain this year, a first- or upper second-class honours degree in Economics. How to apply Do you have what it takes to face the challenge of a career in the Treasury? Can you honestly say that you have strengths in at least six of these areas? • Analytical
skills If
the answer is yes, then we’d like to hear from you.
If you have any questions or general queries about a graduate career in the Treasury, please contact: Louise
Woolard T 020 7270 1356 louise.woolard@hm-treasury.gov.uk
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