Steven Mnuchin, previously best known as a producer of the critically-derided but mildly successful supervillain team-up movie Suicide Squad, has been appointed US Secretary of the Treasury.

The position, first occupied by celebrated revolutionary hero Alexander Hamilton, is fifth in line to the presidency. Mnuchin’s day-to-day responsibilities will centre on fiscal policy, taxation, financial regulation, and the management of public debt.

Apart from his career in film production, Mnuchin is known for his time at a number of major financial institutions including Goldman Sachs and OneWest Bank – where he earned the soubriquet ‘The Foreclosure King.’

Michigan senator Debbie Stabenow noted to AP that "OneWest was notorious for taking an especially aggressive role in foreclosing on struggling homeowners."

The Mnuchin story in America began with Steven’s grandfather, Leon Mnuchin, who arrived at Ellis Island in 1917 at the age of seven and grew up to become a prominent lawyer and art collector.

His son, Robert, excelled at Yale University and went on to join Goldman Sachs, where in due course Steven followed.

Mnuchin has been hailed by president Trump as a “jobs magnet” who would work “24 hours a day…. 28 hours a day if they give him the extra four hours.”

Finance Committee chairman and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch echoed the praise; "He has experience managing large and complicated private-sector enterprises and in negotiating difficult compromises and making tough decisions — and being accountable for those decisions."

Mnuchin was confirmed in post by a senate vote of 53 – 47, which was broadly divided along party lines.