Policy Adviser – Contingency Planning Unit (Non-Banks)

This post can be based in Darlington (Feethams House) only

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 Key Accountabilities include:

• Contingency planning for distressed non-bank financial firms, such as investment firms, non-bank lenders, payment firms, insurers and central clearing houses.
• Working with the Bank of England, PRA and FCA to understand the impact on financial stability, consumers and any wider implications - updating seniors and ministers on the situation and advising them on how to respond.
• Supporting live crisis management. The team works flexibly to respond to financial stability events as they arise. Your role will help to support colleagues in contingency planning, providing additional capacity and expertise as required.
• As described above, leading project work in line with priorities for the Contingency Planning Unit and wider Resilience and Resolution team.

We're looking for people who have the right set of skills for the role, who have the ability to form effective partnerships and relationships with a range of stakeholders to achieve goals. Someone who is able to evaluate complex information and evidence and communicate a recommendation in an accessible way. Who also has the ability to manage competing priorities to deliver high quality work across short and long-term objectives

Part of your job will be to support a Senior Executive Officer (SEO) to lead on monitoring and addressing risks to non-bank financial firms, providing updates and advice to seniors and ministers as is required.

The Role Will Involve Undertaking Projects To Support The Work Of The Team. The Exact Nature Of The Projects Will Be Confirmed Once In Post - And Can Be Flexed Based On The Interests And Skills Of The Postholder - But Examples May Include:

• An ongoing project on the impact of cross-border payments innovation on financial stability and national security.
• Organising crisis simulations to ensure the financial stability group and HMT more broadly is prepared to deal with financial stability events such as bank failures.
• Work to strengthen the operational resilience of the finance sector, such as preparing for a wide range of domestic, international and cyber threats.

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date, please contact Sam Kerin: sam.kerin@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

The Role Will Involve Undertaking Projects To Support The Work Of The Team. The Exact Nature Of The Projects Will Be Confirmed Once In Post - And Can Be Flexed Based On The Interests And Skills Of The Postholder - But Examples May Include:

• An ongoing project on the impact of cross-border payments innovation on financial stability and national security.
• Organising crisis simulations to ensure the financial stability group and HMT more broadly is prepared to deal with financial stability events such as bank failures.
• Work to strengthen the operational resilience of the finance sector, such as preparing for a wide range of domestic, international and cyber threats.

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date, please contact Sam Kerin: sam.kerin@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Person specification

Application Stage

Application Form 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.

• Working Together: Ability to form effective partnerships and relationships with a range of stakeholders to achieve your goals.
• Making Effective Decisions: Ability to evaluate complex information and evidence, balancing trade-offs and communicating advice in an accessible way to senior decision makers.
• Delivering at Pace: Ability to manage competing priorities to deliver high quality work across short- and long-term objectives.

The lead criterion is: Working Together: Ability to form effective partnerships and relationships with a range of stakeholders to achieve your goals.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we’ll first sift using the lead criterion only. Those meeting the minimum score will then be assessed against all remaining criteria. Interview Stage If You Are Successful At The Application Stage, You Will Be Invited To Interview Where You Will Be Assessed Against The Following Criteria:

• Behaviours: Working Together, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Alongside your salary of £34,820, HM Treasury contributes £10,087 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.

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 and Experience.

The reference to Experience above is system generated. For this role, experience is not assessed at any stage. We will ask for some CV details in your application form, but this is for reference only and will not be scored.

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: 19th July 2026 before 23:55
• Shortlisting: w/c 20th July 2026
• Interviews: w/c 10th August 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 d