FCDO Spending Principal

HM TREASURY; Darlington; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading government department is seeking an individual to manage FCDO budgets and advise on international development spending. The role requires high-quality analytical and relationship management skills to ensure effective budget deployment, deliver value for money, and support the government's international objectives. Opportunities include flexible working patterns, generous annual leave, and a robust pension scheme.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays

Flexible working patterns

Generous parental leave packages

Defined Benefit pension scheme

Cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme

Active staff networks

Qualifications

• Ability to provide high quality, evidence-based advice.
• Experience managing budgets effectively.
• Strong relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the FCDO budgets, ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.
• Advise ministers on spending decisions related to FCDO's activities.
• Develop relationships across HMT and FCDO teams.

Skills

Evidence-based advice

Relationship management

Budget analysis

Job description

Are you looking for a highly stretching role requiring you to work with a broad range of stakeholders across the breadth of the UK’s national Security and International Development priorities? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

About the Team

International Finance & Development (IFD)– This team leads on all Official Development Assistance (ODA) and FCDO spending issues; the Treasury’s interests at the World Bank and other multilateral development banks; and Government-wide Development spending issues. In addition, the team leads on our relationship with the International Monetary Fund and the government’s policies regarding sovereign debt – which includes representation at forums such as the Paris Club.

About the Job

Your primary role will be to manage the FCDO budgets effectively and deliver value for money for the taxpayer. You will be the department’s key contact for issues ranging from the overseas network and workforce planning, through to funding for the British Council, BBC World Service and other non-ODA programming. In the event of an international crisis, you will play a vital role in supporting the Defence, Diplomacy and Intelligence team (DDI) to coordinate HMT’s response and advise Ministers on emerging spending pressures.

In this role, you will:

• Provide high quality advice to ministers on the range of spending issues, including main and supplementary estimates, FCDO’s budgets at fiscal events and Delegated Authority Limits. The successful candidate will develop an intricate knowledge of FCDO’s budgets and how they are used, as well as the various risks to the reserve and contingent liabilities.
• Advise ministers on specific spending choices as they relate to FCDO’s diplomatic activities, use of its non-ODA programming budget as well as novel/contentious activities (e.g. in crisis situations). The candidate would need to be able to react quickly in fast changing circumstances.
• Manage the annual FCDO budget, working across HMT and Government to ensure the budget provides good value for money for the taxpayer, whilst supporting Government’s international objectives. Scrutinise FCDO and ALB (British Council and BBC World Service) expenditure and performance, ensuring expenditure is spent appropriately and effectively, reflects value for money, and delivers against FCDO and National Security Council objectives. You will resolve in-year funding issues and any in-year budget negotiations, working with colleagues leading on ODA and international Development to ensure that HMT has a well-rounded understanding of FCDO’s budget, pressures and committed spending in future years across ODA and non-ODA.
• Develop and sustain excellent relationships with colleagues at FCDO and with various teams across HMT. This is an essential part of the role, and the candidate would need to be prepared to invest in relationships, share knowledge and guidance and provide candid advice within a positive, collaborative spirit.

About You

You will provide high quality, evidence-based advice, using a range of data and balancing objectives to inform specific decisions. You will be able to nurture and sustain positive, constructive and durable relationships which can withstand pressures driven by competing interests, to deliver shared outcomes. You will have the ability to work flexibly and manage a busy branch, making good judgements on prioritisation balancing competing priorities

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 28.97%
• 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.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form, or speak to the recruitment team at [e-mail]