At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead policy development on digital strategy for UK financial markets and modernise market infrastructure.
- Company: Join HM Treasury's dynamic team focused on innovative financial policies.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of UK financial markets with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.
The predicted salary is between 54470 - 70000 £ per year.
Salary: National: £43,090 - £46,500
Working Pattern: This post is available on a full time, part time or job share basis, and flexible working hours can be accommodated.
Location: Darlington (Feethams House) only
Do you want an exciting and stretching role working in policy at HM Treasury? If so, read on!
About the Team
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. The team is regularly required to work at pace to provide advice to Ministers on high profile current issues and listings. 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.
About the Job
This role is stretching, intellectually demanding and will give the successful candidate a high level of policy responsibility and independence, as well as the opportunity to develop a specific policy expertise. The postholder would lead much of the FMI unit’s work on the modernisation of markets, particularly with the advent of new and exciting innovations like distributed ledger technology, particularly as they relate to digital assets, tokenisation and central securities depositories (a type of market infrastructure where securities are held and transferred).
The postholder would be jointly responsible for delivering on the outputs of the Wholesale Financial Markets Digital Strategy, published in July 2025, which sets a vision to digitalise financial markets and help ensure that UK markets remain resilient, innovative and competitive on a global stage. The postholder would be expected to work closely across other teams in HMT and with the Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority to deliver on this, as well as on new or ongoing workstreams to promote digital assets in the UK, such as the UK’s ongoing “Digital Securities Sandbox”.
Key accountabilities for this role include:
- Delivering on the vision set out in the Wholesale Financial Markets Digital Strategy to modernise and improve UK markets.
- Becoming a subject matter expert on settlement and digital assets/tokenisation and independently take forward work to support the government’s agenda in these areas.
- Overseeing the delivery and implementation of market reforms through secondary legislation – working collaboratively with Treasury lawyers.
- Preparing advice for and working with Ministers and seniors on decisions, risks or issues pertaining to your policy.
- Monitoring international/technological developments in the digital assets space and ensuring these are fed through/accounted for in the unit’s work.
- Lead engagement with the financial services regulators and key financial services industry partners on a variety of important policy issues related to your policy area.
- Be responsible for delivering speeches, briefings, correspondence and Parliamentary engagement.
About You
We are looking for people who have the ability to form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support. You will need to be able to analyse a range of complex information and evaluate evidence to make decisions as well as being able to identify emerging issues and trends which can impact on work. We want you to have great communication skills and have the ability to distil complex or technical language into clear and simple prose.
Some of the Benefits our people love!
- 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.
For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.
Policy Adviser - Digital Strategy in Durham employer: HM TREASURY
HM Treasury is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Darlington where policy advisers can thrive. With a strong emphasis on personal development, flexible working arrangements, and generous benefits including a defined benefit pension scheme and extensive leave options, employees are encouraged to engage in meaningful projects that enhance their expertise and contribute to the UK's financial market innovation.
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We think this is how you could land Policy Adviser - Digital Strategy in Durham
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