Debt Policy and Practices Lead

Working at HM Treasury puts you at the heart of government, making a difference to the UK economy and ultimately to people’s lives right across the UK.

Jobs at the Treasury are fast-paced, fun and can offer unparalleled perspective – not least the opportunity to advise Ministers on the decisions which directly determine the UK’s prosperity. Deep in our DNA is a commitment to empowering our people: maximising individual and collective impact, with interesting work no matter your role or seniority.

Day-to-day you could be supporting Ministers to decide the right level of a specific tax or line of government spending; helping maintain the stability of financial markets; analysing the long-term trends impacting the future of the economy; or enabling this work as part of our vital corporate functions.

We are a high-performing department and proud to have outstanding staff from a wide range of backgrounds. We are also a friendly, inclusive and sociable workplace that prides itself on fostering great team spirit. Our two largest offices are 1 Horse Guards Road in London, opposite St James’ Park, and the Darlington Economic Campus, which also contains eight other departments. We work seamlessly across all our sites, including Norwich, Birmingham and Leeds, as one Treasury.

We are both a 1,000-year-old institution and dynamic, forward-looking economics and finance ministry, with a strong direction set by our organisational strategy, the Future Treasury Vision. The 21st century offers huge opportunities and poses new challenges for the UK. Working at the Treasury is your chance to help the country chart the right course.

As Debt Policy and Practices Lead, you will develop evidence-based policy and practical projects to improve how government prevents and resolves overdue debt. Your work will support delivery of the 2026–2030 Government Debt Management Strategy, protecting public money and ensuring debt is recovered efficiently, effectively and fairly.

You will take an innovative approach to complex debt policy challenges, drawing on evidence, user research and sector expertise. We will rely on you to identify emerging issues, develop guidance and turn ideas into practical improvements in government debt management.

You will bring together operational departments, policy teams, finance colleagues, advice organisations and private sector experts to develop coordinated solutions. Your work will support consistent, proportionate approaches, including for people and businesses facing financial difficulty or barriers to repayment.

We are looking for someone with deep debt management knowledge, strong policy skills, and understanding of operational challenges and strategic awareness. You will communicate complex issues clearly, build effective relationships and provide well-supported advice to government organisations, ministers and senior officials. You will lead projects, exercise sound judgement and deliver practical outcomes while responding flexibly to changing priorities.

Key Accountabilities for this role:

• Lead the development of evidence-based debt policy and projects that support government to prevent debt arising and resolve overdue debt.
• Bring together debt policy and operational experts from across government, the advice sector and the private sector to identify shared challenges and develop coordinated, practical solutions.
• Monitor emerging issues in debt management and develop clear guidance that helps public bodies manage risks and improve outcomes for people and businesses, including those facing financial difficulty or other barriers to repayment.
• Gather and interpret data, evidence and user research to inform debt policy and improve the consistency and efficiency of how government manages and resolves debt.
• Build effective relationships across government and with external partners, drawing on their expertise to shape debt policy and support shared priorities.
• Provide authoritative debt policy advice to ministers and senior officials, using specialist expertise to support decisions and resolve complex issues.
• Coordinate accurate and timely responses to press and public enquiries, working closely with the Treasury Press Office and relevant policy teams.
• Contribute flexibly to the wider work of the Government Debt Management Function and Public Spending Group, helping the team respond effectively to changing priorities while supporting an inclusive working environment.

Please note, specific responsibilities may change in line with the needs of the role and function.

Candidate Drop-In Session

The hiring manager will be running a candidate drop-in session to give you greater insight about the role and HM Treasury, and ask any questions you might have. If you would like to join us, use the link below to join the call at the right time.

Wednesday 18th Nov, 09:00 - 09:45

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3654137040525159?p=bXpFTW0PahfnhBaOKH

Thursday 26th Nov, 16:00 - 16:45

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/311806001667185?p=J78nuMzzgKIZDGbAhI

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date, please contact james.elliott@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

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: 29th November 2026
• Shortlisting: w/c 30th November 2026
• Interviews: from 11th December 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 dishonesty offences had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the database will be refused employment.

National Security Vetting

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, successful candidates will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Counter-Terrorist Check.

To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. You will be asked to provide residency information within your application form, and eligibility for national security vetting will be checked once the advert closing date has passed. In certain circumstances, for example if you have been working abroad on a government posting, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case-by-case basis once the advert closing date has passed.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.