52195 - Operational Finance Payroll Team Leader

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

This post is a Fixed Term Appointment and is open to substantive Band D’s on level transfer, or Band E’s on promotion. The duration of the appointment is initially 15 months (ending 28 April 2023) but this term may be extended, subject to business needs.

Background

The Judicial Finance Support Centre processes judicial fees and expenses claims, witness and appellant costs from courts and tribunals. The team is engaged in significant changes which will see new IT applications transform their processes. Strong leadership is a critical element in successful transition. 

As a leader within HMCTS the jobholder must provide clear direction and focus, visibly championing the changes which deliver greater efficiencies.  The HMCTS Executive Team expects leaders in the organisation to operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results.

The successful applicant will need to be well organised, assertive and able to prioritise a busy workload. They will have good leadership, communication and interpersonal skills and a strong customer focus. Accuracy and attention to detail are essential.

The key purpose of the role

The Payroll Team Leader’s role is to control and submit payrolls for judicial fees and expenses and witness and appellant costs arising from the Courts and Tribunals. The Payroll Team Leader manages and is supported by a team of Claims Caseworkers.

Duties

Payroll Team Leaders complete second stage approval of fee and expenses claims, submitting them to payroll. They will investigate and resolve data errors and anomalies in payroll data. They will take responsibility for complex queries and complaints referred to them by Caseworkers. They will ensure all team members are fully skilled and will manage team and individual performance.

Required skills and abilities

• Good decision-making
• Leadership
• Adaptable and able to prioritise a busy workload
• Good communication and influencing skills
• Customer focused
• Accurate

Interaction with Others (internal/external)

Payroll Team Leaders work within the Finance Centre Team, reporting to the Finance Centre Manager. They have contact with claimants, including judges, legal professionals and lay members of the Tribunals. They may also liaise with Courts and Hearing Centre staff and partner agencies such as our IT and payment services providers. 

Outputs

• Judicial expenses and fee paid payrolls
• Responses to queries arising from claims
• Financial records
• IT reports and management information

Place in the department’s structure 

The Finance Support Centre is a unit of the Judicial Pay and Pensions Team. The JPPT is a part of the Finance, Governance and Performance division of the HMCTS Finance Directorate and reports to the Deputy Director Financial Controller.

Key Activities and Responsibilities  

Operations

• Lead the implementation of efficient and consistent administrative practices, procedures and standards, identifying and implementing solutions to identified problems.
• Complete second line approval of fee and expenses claims, confirming claims are valid, correct and comply with policy, performing checks proportionate to the level of risk.
• Run mismatch reports to identify and resolve errors and anomalies in payroll data
• Produce and submit payrolls for salaried, fee paid judiciary and witness costs to ensure timely and accurate payment.
• Take appropriate action on instances of non-compliance with policy and advise claimants accordingly. Manage recovery of overpayments.
• Answer and/or appropriately redirect enquiries from HMCTS staff, judicial office holders and other customers. Contribute to the investigation of formal complaints and/or resolution of policy issues.
• Ensure governance and assurance around the safe and secure receipt, accounting and personal data.
• Proactively look for opportunities to improve processes and the level of service offered to users.

Leadership 

• Ensure that team members are fully skilled to meet work objectives. Effectively manage team and individual performance, addressing any issues as they arise, in line with HR policy.
• Plan, co-ordinate and organise training and development for staff. Ensure that learning and development needs of all staff are identified and met. Identify staff potential and develop in line with business and individual needs.
• Work as part of a team to clear the business unit workload efficiently ensuring equal standards of service across all customer groups;
• Be responsible for health and safety issues for the team and their immediate working environment.
• Take a lead in employee engagement activities to maintain good working relationships with staff and to improve service delivery and staff morale / motivation.
• Role model HMCTS values, and apply policies and procedures (including diversity, attendance and discipline).

Communicating with the public, the judiciary, other courts and tribunal and agencies and organisations 

• Maintain effective working relationships with the judiciary, other departments and regional offices. Work together to improve the level of service offered to users.
• Provide feedback to staff, judiciary and other stakeholders on performance against targets.
• Think beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational implications of issues.

Accountability 

Reporting to the Finance Centre Manager.

Other duties

The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.

Location of Post

The post is based at Temple Quay, Bristol.

Operational Delivery in HMCTS

This role is part of the Operational Delivery Profession. Operational delivery professionals are the outward face of government, providing essential services to the public in a variety of roles. They work in many different departments and agencies across the breadth of the UK, delivering service to customers in

• Face-to-face roles in HMCTS for example a court usher
• Contact Centre roles in HMCTS for example call centre advisers
• Processing roles in HMCTS for example Staff at the County Courts Money-Claims Centre and Courts and Tribunal Administration

Being part of the operational delivery profession means belonging to a cross-government community of people.  This will offer you access to information on professional standards, skills development and qualifications to help you continue to improve your development and performance and expand your career options.

Posting Terms
Public Interest Transfer terms will apply to this vacancy but are limited to Excess Fares only.