A General Election, change of government and the most controversial Budget in recent memory has made 2024 a fascinating year for alumna Melanie Lynch-Staunton, who is four years into her career with HM Treasury.
Melanie is Private Secretary to Dan York-Smith, the Director General of Tax and Welfare. As head of his office, it’s her job to manage every minute of his day and ensure he is supplied with all the information he needs to advise the Chancellor of the Exchequer and help deliver the Government’s budget and policy commitments. She has a staff team of two and was promoted to her current role in May last year.
It’s the dream job for History graduate Melanie, who began her career on the Treasury’s graduate scheme in 2021 and feels privileged to be working at the heart of Government close to the hallowed portals of the Palace of Westminster. One moment, she’s likely to be preparing papers for the Director General’s meeting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer while the next may find her seated behind the Despatch box in the Commons, passing notes to a Minister engaged in rebutting a claim made by the opposition.
Long days are commonplace, but Melanie says that the reward is a grandstand view of the mechanics of Government and the feeling that she is witnessing history in the making: “The July General Election was very exciting and within hours of the result being announced, the new Chancellor Rachel Reeves arrived at number 11 Downing Street to a round of applause from all the Treasury staff.
“She personally greeted every one of us and made an inspirational speech, which was even more powerful coming from Britain’s first female Chancellor.”
Labour’s first Budget proved controversial, and its commitments continue to provide the Director General and his team with plenty of statistics to research and policies to formulate. Said Melanie: “The pressure is intense but it’s invigorating to be working with new people and new ideas. And as a history graduate now based in a historic building where Winston Churchill announced the end of the second World War, I feel I’m reconnecting with my history degree, too.”
Melanie really enjoys her job and reports that the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is a firm advocate of women in politics: “She is a fantastic example of how far your career can take you and I’d be happy to chat to any Notre Dame student who’d like to know more about the graduate schemes and my experience working for HM Treasury.”
