Policy Adviser – Oil and Gas Tax

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

This post will be based in London (1 Horse Guards Road) or Darlington (Feethams House)

About the job

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 pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

Business and International Tax

The aim of the Business and International Tax (BIT) Group is to provide strategic oversight of business, environmental, transport, property, VAT, excise taxes and customs duties that together raise revenue of over £400 billion a year. The Group works closely with other government departments and is outwards facing towards key stakeholders, including business, industry, interest groups and international counterparts, and there are opportunities to be part of this engagement at all levels. 

The work of the Group is vital to fund essential public services, while working with other Treasury Groups to support the government’s wider agenda – including supporting business investment and economic growth, developing and negotiating new customs arrangements following the UK’s departure from the EU; levelling up opportunities across all parts of the United Kingdom; and delivering “Net Zero” carbon emissions by 2050. The Group’s high-profile portfolio make it a highly dynamic, flexible and interesting place to work. 

About the Team

The Energy and Transport Tax team is a supportive and friendly team whose work sits right at the heart of balancing HMT’s fiscal, economic and environmental objectives. Together we are responsible for a broad range of live policy areas that get significant amounts of ministerial attention. There are three branches across the team which cover the following policy areas:

• Carbon and energy taxes levied on suppliers and users of energy. This includes the emissions trading scheme and ongoing work on a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism;
• Environment and resource taxation. This includes the fiscal regime for North Sea oil and gas, a tax on plastic packaging, landfill tax and aggregates levy. This branch also coordinates the department’s approach to using tax levers to deliver the government’s net zero objectives;
• Transport taxes, including fuel duty, vehicle excise duty, air passenger duty and company car tax, as well as strategy development for the future of motoring taxes.

The team has significant external exposure and deals with a large range of external stakeholders, both directly with e.g. major oil companies, energy suppliers, auto manufacturers, etc. and through industry lobby groups. The team also works very closely with other Government departments, especially DESNZ, Defra, DfT and HMRC, and relevant Treasury spending teams, especially Energy and Environment, Transport and Devolution.

About the Role

This role sits in the environment and resource taxation branch of the team and involves leading on oil and gas tax policy. This is a fascinating time to be leading policy work on the taxation of this sector as the government sets its longer-term vision for the role of oil and gas in the UK’s energy mix. In recent years the branch has delivered several high-profile measures that have attracted significant political and external attention following the surge in commodity prices due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including the introduction of a temporary Energy Profits Levy and a number of subsequent changes to its design, a fiscal review, and a set of technical tax changes to support the sector’s transition to net zero by encouraging the repurposing of existing infrastructure for use in Carbon, Capture and Storage projects.

Continuing to implement, monitor and advise Ministers on the impact of these changes are key areas of work moving forward. In addition, the role will involve core policy responsibilities in relation to the oil and gas fiscal regime from answering queries from the public or MPs, preparing Ministerial or written briefings and delivering discrete policy work to significant amounts of stakeholder relationship management. The role is unusual in that if offers a mix of exposure to mostly tax but also spending issues.

Exact responsibilities will be resolved based on skills, experience, and preferences, but will likely be a mixture of the following, which are key accountabilities in this area:

1. Managing the North Sea oil and gas tax regime. This includes delivering the legislation to implement key announcements from Autumn Budget 2024 relating to the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) and asset repurposing for Carbon, Capture and Storage projects whilst driving longer-term policy work to ensure the tax regime remains fit for purpose as the sector transitions to net zero. For example, one key area of work for the branch next year will be developing and running a consultation on the government’s long-term tax response to post-EPL price shocks.
2. Managing the Treasury’s interests in oil and gas decommissioning, including the Decommissioning Relief Deed (DRD) programme. The postholder will be expected to monitor c£20bn in anticipated government liabilities through to the 2050s due to decommissioning tax relief repayments whilst leading on the Treasury’s approach to DRDs, contracts which guarantee oil and gas companies a set amount of decommissioning relief in specific circumstances. DRD work will involve reviewing applications from companies for new DRDs and working with HMRC and lawyers to assess how the Treasury should respond whenever a DRD claim is submitted.
3. Advising Ministers. The postholder will be responsible for briefing Treasury Ministers, both in writing and verbally, to assist Ministers with decisions on oil and gas tax policy and in dealing with parliamentary, media and external or x-government engagement.
4. Build and maintain an extensive network of external partners. Ongoing engagement with the oil and gas sector is an essential part of this role, in order to leverage expertise and viewpoints to ensure tax policy takes account of the latest trends and developments in the sector. The postholder will be expected to lead engagement by representing HMT in meetings and building effective relationships with operators, supply chain companies and the industry regulator, the North Sea Transition Authority.
5. Collaborating across government. A number of teams across the Treasury and wider government have established work to respond to specific challenges the sector is facing during its transition to net zero. We work closely with other parts of the Treasury, HMRC and DESNZ to ensure a coordinated and coherent policy response to a wide range of issues, including decarbonisation, licensing and regulation.
6. Managing communication productions related to oil and gas tax. The postholder will be expected to lead drafting of a range of products including correspondence, briefing and responses to Parliamentary questions. The branch currently manages a high volume of requests across these areas, so it will be important for the postholder to work flexibly and at pace to ensure communication products are drafted in a timely manner and to a high standard.

Great policy making is about understanding what needs to change, what problems need to be solved and supporting Ministers to arrive at the best solution to deliver the change. Policy also means working out how we are going to make the changes or solve the problems, and then delivering on those plans. To do all this, we need to build relationships with Ministers, Civil Service colleagues, groups with expertise and the public. To work on policy as a Policy Adviser, you will need to demonstrate a range of skills, including strong problem-solving skills, the ability to clearly explain your thinking both in writing and in person, and the drive to overcome challenges and see your ideas through into action and delivery. The jobholder will also be encouraged to take part in corporate objectives seeking to make BIT and HMT a great place to work.

You don’t need to be a policy professional or have any specific qualifications to apply to work as a Policy Adviser at HM Treasury. We are looking for people who have the right set of skills for the role, who demonstrate the values of our organisation, and who are motivated to come and work with us on a range of issues that are at the heart of how we spend money and deliver public services. Whilst not essential, applicants with prior experience working on tax policy or in the oil and gas sector will be at an advantage.

Candidate Drop-In Session – Microsoft Teams 

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

Friday 31 January 1pm Join the meeting now

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Chris Daboiko ([email protected]).

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form. 

1. Ability to structure, plan and prioritise a busy workload to deliver consistently high-quality work to deadlines in a busy and uncertain environment (Delivering at pace).
2. Ability to evaluate a range of different and sometimes competing evidence sources and information, apply considered judgement and to come to a conclusion or recommendation (Making effective decisions).
3. Experience of balancing economic and political factors within a wide portfolio and developing/adjusting work plans based on this understanding of the big picture (Seeing the big picture).
4. Ability to build and maintain large networks, and to influence and work collaboratively with others to develop policy solutions, spot problems, and problem solve (Working together).

The lead criterion is: Delivering at pace

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Candidate Guidance Support Session – Microsoft Teams

We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach including top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. Please note that this session is not role specific, so we will be unable to answer specific questions about roles we are advertising. If you would like to join us, please use the link below to join the call at the right time.

Thursday 30 January 12:30-13:15 Join the meeting now 

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,630, HM Treasury contributes £12,060 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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) 
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours) 
• Generous parental and adoption leave package. 
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28% 
• Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room 
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving 
• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site 
• A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes 
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests and diversity

Flexible Working Arrangements

HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval. 

At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. 

HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites – Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.

The office working expectation is linked to the location of the role. If you apply to a post in a single location, then you will not be able to meet this expectation at any of our other sites or move your role to another location. 

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Chris Daboiko
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Complaints Process: Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment based on fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact HMT by email at: [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

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