Senior Project Risk Advisor in Darlington

This post is available on a full time, part time or job share basis, and flexible working hours can be accommodated.

Do you want an exciting and stretching role working in policy at HM Treasury? The Securities and Markets Team develops policy on matters relating to the competitiveness, regulation and good functioning of the UK’s financial markets, to support UK growth. The range of our work is wide, from formulating the laws which govern the behaviour of investment bankers and traders, to ensuring that UK financial markets continue to attract the best UK and overseas companies. As part of this, we work closely with teams across HMT and Government, with industry, think tanks and with the regulators. In particular, the team works closely with colleagues in the Financial Conduct Authority, Bank of England and UK representatives around the world. We have a strong focus on personal development, where you will be encouraged to pursue stretching projects to enable you to develop and thrive.

The team has 19 colleagues across three units: the Capital Markets Unit, Wholesale Markets Unit, and the Financial Market Infrastructure Unit. The Listings and PISCES role sits in the Capital Markets Unit. The Capital Markets Unit has 5 people, sitting between a Primary Markets branch leading on policy to enhance the competitiveness of capital markets, and the Listings Engagement and PISCES branch (where this role sits) which leads on the stakeholder strategy to secure listings in the UK, and the development of PISCES.

This is a fascinating and stretching job, providing the opportunity to the postholder to develop their strategy and policy skills on two high-profile areas of financial services, which sit at the centre of the political debate on the UK’s competitiveness as a global financial centre, and the government’s growth mission. In this role, you will be responsible for leading engagement with other government departments (in particular the Office for Investment) to support the Listings Taskforce, a ministerial cross-government initiative that directs HMG’s strategic engagement with firms considering Initial Public Offerings on UK public markets. You will also act as the government’s account manager for its relationship with the London Stock Exchange.

In addition, you will be responsible for supporting work on PISCES, a brand-new type of stock exchange for private companies which has been established in a regulatory sandbox. You will also work closely with lawyers and the Financial Conduct Authority to monitor the effectiveness of the PISCES regulatory framework and advise ministers on new and innovative policy interventions that will emerge from this cutting-edge policy area. This includes advising which seniors or ministers should meet with target companies, ensuring those meetings are scheduled and following the progress of target companies within the financial services sector towards a potential listing.

Becoming the HMT subject matter expert on PISCES, contributing to advice to Ministers and senior officials on strategic decisions, and working with industry and regulators to support its success during the sandbox period and to develop a permanent legislative regime. Building relationships with external stakeholders, which requires representing HMT on cross-cutting issues related to listings and PISCES across government, industry and with the Financial Conduct Authority. This will involve significant engagement with other parts of government, especially the Office for Investment, to ensure the Group’s objectives are reflected appropriately.

We want you to have great communication skills and have the ability to distil complex or technical language into clear and simple prose.

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant).
• Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month.
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours).
• Generous parental and adoption leave packages.
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28%.
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances.
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity.