Are you looking for a new challenge, working in a small team with the flexibility to work across a range of high-profile issues? If so, we'd love to hear from you!
The experience expected from applicants, as well as additional skills and qualifications needed for this job are listed below.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was established by the Chancellor in May 2010 to provide independent assessments of the economy, public finances, and fiscal sustainability. We provide independent forecasts of the economy and public finances to inform the Government's fiscal policy decisions, examine the impact of the Government's policy decisions on the public finances, and assess the prospects for achieving the Government's fiscal targets. We publish reports on long-term fiscal sustainability, fiscal risks, and trends in welfare spending, and run a wider work programme of research and analysis into economic and fiscal issues.
We encourage applications from candidates who may be concerned they have less experience in some of the desired criteria and recognise that gaps can be developed on-the-job and with available training.
The OBR is committed to having a diverse workforce that brings together the best people across government. If you have any concerns, we are happy to discuss any potential obstacles you think you might face.
This post is available on a full-time, part-time, or job share basis. The post will sometimes require out-of-hours working, particularly around biannual fiscal events, for which either overtime or time off in lieu are available. Flexible working hours and remote working can be accommodated and we currently have a number of staff who do this, as well as managing childcare responsibilities and/or other commitments throughout the year, including our forecast events.
About the Team
The OBR has around 25 staff working on fiscal issues: covering fiscal analysis; forecasting of receipts, spending and financial transactions; scrutiny of the Government’s policy costings; and additional analysis in respect of the Scottish and Welsh Governments’ devolved responsibilities.
We are recruiting a senior analyst to join the policy costings and devolved team, which comprises six of these staff. The team’s work includes scrutinising costings of Government policy and preparing the policy chapter of the twice-yearly Economic and fiscal outlook (EFO), as well as analysis of devolved taxes and preparation of the Devolved tax and spending forecast and Welsh taxes outlook. Outside the forecast, staff are engaged across the OBR’s analytical and research agenda, including working papers and the development of methods, tools and models. They also contribute extensively to the OBR’s other key publications, including the Forecast evaluation report, Fiscal risks report and Fiscal sustainability report.
About the Job
In this role, you will be:
1. Leading the OBR’s work programme on taxes and spending devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This includes:
Producing our two core devolved publications: the Devolved tax and spending forecast and the Welsh taxes outlook.
Leading the OBR’s work on the forecasts and costings relating to the tax and spending that has been devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
2. Maintaining strong working relationships with relevant devolved and UK bodies, including the Scottish Fiscal Commission, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, HM Treasury, HMRC and DWP. The postholder will occasionally be expected to travel to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
3. Contributing to the team’s wider work including by undertaking scrutiny of the UK Government’s costings of new policy measures, and the communication of these in our publications.
4. Line managing a Range D Analyst.
5. Contributing to the OBR’s wider analytical programme, our core and ad-hoc publications, and relevant content on our website.
About You
This role will suit you if:
You have an ability to ensure plans and activities in your area of work reflect wider strategic priorities and communicate effectively with senior leaders. Ability to bring together views, perspectives and diverse needs of stakeholders to gain a broader understanding of the issues surrounding activities.
A deep and broad understanding of taxes, devolution or broader fiscal policy issues.
Ability to analyse and accurately interpret data from various sources to support decisions.
Ability to communicate with others effectively, combining analytical rigour with clarity and tailoring style to different audiences as required.
Ability to ensure delivery of timely quality outcomes, through providing the right resources to do the job, reviewing and adjusting performance expectations and rewarding success.
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).
Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours).
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