HM Treasury second permanent secretary and chief economic adviser Sam Beckett will step down from the role and retire from the civil service.
Beckett will depart in the new year after a long career in the civil service which includes more than 25 years of experience at HMT, the Cabinet Office, the Office for National Statistics and the now-defunct Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
An advert for her replacement has now gone live, although HMT is seeking a director general, economics and chief economic adviser, rather than appointing a new second perm sec.
Beckett became second perm sec and chief economic adviser to the Treasury in May 2023. She also has been head of the government economic service for the last decade.
During her civil service career she has worked in roles spanning micro and macro-economics, strategy, policy and corporate services delivery. Before becoming second perm sec at HMT, she held the same role at the ONS and was also deputy chief executive at the UK Statistics Authority.
She was also briefly acting perm sec at BEIS in 2020, overseeing the department’s Covid-19 response. Prior to that, Beckett was director general at BEIS, with responsibility for the department’s broad and complex Brexit preparations.
A Treasury spokesperson said: “Sam Beckett is retiring in the new year after a distinguished career of public service, including over two-and-a-half successful years as second permanent secretary and chief economic adviser at HM Treasury.
“The department is grateful for her dedicated service, contribution and leadership, and wishes her well in retirement. Recruitment for a successor is underway will begin shortly and any announcements will be made in the usual way.”
The advert to replace Beckett offers a broad salary range of £130,000-£208,100 for the position as the principal Treasury adviser to the chancellor on macroeconomic and fiscal policy. The role includes heading up the government economic service.
In a foreword to the job pack for the role, HMT perm sec James Bowler said: "We are looking for someone with an outstanding track record in economic policy, and with excellent leadership, influencing and communication skills.
"They must have the credibility to act as the principal adviser to the chancellor and the prime minister on economic policy, to command the respect of the Treasury’s staff, and to influence senior leaders across the economic policy-making community."
The deadline to apply for the DG role is 11 December at 5pm.