File Permissions problems on *nix

I am having File Permissions problems with files created by PHP:
They are a different owner than my FTP login account.

This means that when I connect via FTP, if the files' permissions are not
set to public (ie 777), I am not able to delete/manage files created by my
scripts.

The Sysop of the site says that the only way is to set the files permission
to public (umask (0000)), but isn't there a way to get it so that PHP for my
site runs with my login, or maybe create a Group structure so that my login
and PHP are in the same Group?

Is my Sysop just taking the easy way out?
And is there a serious risk if all the files created by PHP are set to 777
anyways?

thanks,

Greg