27092 - Finance Business Partner

£47,638 - £69,075
2
12 Months
East Midlands, South West, Wales, West Midlands
Birmingham , Bristol , Cardiff , Leicester , Stoke-on-Trent
BIRMINGHAM CIVIL JUSTICE CENTRE BIRMINGHAM, B4 6DS, BRISTOL CIVIL JUSTICE CENTRE BRISTOL, BS1 6GR, CARDIFF CIVIL JUSTICE CENTRE CARDIFF, CF10 1ET, LEICESTER MAGISTRATES LEICESTER, LE1 6BT, STOKE ON TRENT MAGISTRATES' COURT STOKE ON TRENT, ST4 3BX
Grade 7, Grade 6
Ab
Permanent
Full Time, Flexible Working
Finance

Application statement: You may use the provided text box or attach your statement to your CV.

Please state how you can fulfil the following in no more than 750 words, using examples where possible:

  • A track record of maintaining relationships with senior staff as a trusted advisor whilst provided sometimes difficult financial messages.
  • The ability to quickly understand many different business areas simultaneously and manage stakeholder expectations
  • The ability to adapt complex information to be easily understood by non-financial staff whilst still conveying key messages

Please note, there will be one interview day for each region, likely to be based in Birmingham and Bristol.

Overview:

Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service is an agency of the MoJ and provides the supporting administration for the judiciary across England and Wales. It delivers services to the public directly in court and tribunal buildings, remotely via business centres and some limited services via the internet. HMCTS is undergoing a period of unprecedented change, which is being managed through a range of change programmes with a combined budget in excess of £1billion. The main change programmes are:

HMCTS Reform – A once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the entire HM Courts and Tribunals Service, enhancing the provision of a world-class justice system, in a manner that provides an improved user experience at reduced cost to the taxpayer. This will contribute to consolidating the UK’s position at the forefront of an increasingly competitive international legal market as well as ensuring access to justice for all.

HMCTS is a continually changing organisation. Strong leadership is a critical element in this being successful. As a leader and manager within HMCTS the jobholder must provide clear direction and focus and visibly championing the changes which deliver greater efficiencies. HMCTS Senior Management Team expects all leaders to operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results.

The HMCTS Finance, Governance and Performance function will have a pivotal role in supporting senior stakeholders and their teams through the change, with the right strategy to build the necessary organisational capability and to realise the benefits needed.

Key Purpose of the Role

To provide finance business partnering support to the HMCTS Operations Directorate. This role is central to the relationship between the HMCTS Business area and the finance function. You will use your strong technical and influencing skills and sound understanding of the relevant HMCTS business area to provide advice, challenge and scrutiny to senior colleagues. The post holder will need to establish and develop effective working relationships with many stakeholders, including Directors, Deputy Directors, Programme Leads and Senior Managers. You will also deputise, where required, for the Senior Finance Business Partner.

Role Description:

As a Finance Business Partner, you will support dedicated operational portfolios from a financial perspective ensuring that delivery of HMCTS’ service provision and outcomes are linked to a robust financial and benefits plan - ensuring that you protect value, drive value and add value. Your role will be to help achieve the HMCTS vision to have an efficient and effective courts and tribunals system which enables the rule of law to be upheld, and provides access to justice for all. You will ensure that the significant investment made by HM Treasury allows HMCTS to provide a more accessible system which is modern and responsive, treats those who use our service with dignity and respect, and which provides better value for money for the taxpayer. You will help deliver a significant reform programme which will enable a radical estates modernisation and greater use of digital solutions.

You will be part of a high performing Finance Business Partnering team and be a part of a high profile and exciting change programme within central Government.  

Key Responsibilities:

  • Developing a deep knowledge of diverse business areas, their needs and priorities, looking at the bigger picture to ensure that the business understands the financial implications of decisions and available choices.
  • Ensuring that the leaders of HMCTS can make decisions based on accurate financial information, by bringing business intelligence and operational knowledge to budget setting, forecasting and financial reporting.
  • Building, maintaining and influencing strong relationships with key stakeholders and budget holders.
  • Providing advice to the business to ensure delivery plans are affordable and within agreed targets.
  • Embedding a value for money culture within the department and supporting financial decisions through the provision of advice and challenge.
  • Supporting the effective delivery of frameworks, governance and rules to ensure stakeholders across the department understand and comply with good financial control.
  • You will develop an understanding of the programme benefits and how they link with programme delivery. You will work closely with the Benefits team and other stakeholders to ensure appropriate tracking of realised benefits.
  • Support the business to manage the budget effectively, working in partnership to flag opportunities and risks early.
  • Advise to ensure financial risks are identified, monitored and mitigated by the business.
  • Ensure that finance reports turn information into insights and present information in an engaging way with rigorous models underpinning that are robust and quality assured.
  • Acting in an intelligent customer role to actively work with the business to understand cost drivers and performance priorities and interpret financial implications of decisions
  • Supporting the financial analysis of business areas to prepare for Spending Reviews, risk management and business planning processes.
  • Ensure that the financial plans are developed through sufficient rigor and robustness to ensure it meets the necessary business case and government finance requirements
  • Providing commercial insight to secure best value for money on commercial agreements.
  • Building financial and commercial awareness of non-finance staff within the business.

Key Skills:

  • CCAB, or equivalent (e.g. AAT), qualified with considerable financial/commercial experience is essential
  • Strong technical accounting skills to ensure Treasury financial reporting requirements and International Accounting Standards are applied correctly.
  • A good understanding of programme and project principles as well as government accounting requirements.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders.
  • Strong influencing and negotiation skills.
  • Strong excel and data presentation skills and an ability to convey complex information to a variety of audiences.
  • Ability to work in a culture of change, to think strategically and work with risk.
  • Adaptable and willing to review role and priorities with senior management team to meet the current and future needs of the organisation.

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

Please see recruitment details. Travel to London may be required as part of these working arrangements.

 

Key Civil Service Competencies

You will be required to provide evidence of the following key competencies at Level 4.

Delivering Value for Money (Level 4)

  • Understand impacts of financial position in own area and that of the organisation and use insight to curtail or support business and investment activities
  • Achieve the best return on investment and deliver more for less on specific budgets by managing resources and maximising the use of assets
  • Balance policy aspiration and delivery, outline risk and benefits of different options to achieve value for money ensuring all submissions contain appropriate financial information
  • Weigh up priority and benefits of different actions and activities to consider how to achieve cost effective outcomes
  • Work with financial processes and tools to evaluate options and ensure financial and management information are accurately reflected in business plans

Leading and Communicating (Level 4)

  • Be visible to staff and stakeholders and regularly undertake activities to engage and build trust with people involved in area of work
  • Clarify strategies and plans, giving clear sense of direction and purpose for self and team
  • Stand by, promote or defend own and team’s actions and decisions where needed
  • Confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals
  • Lead by example, role modelling ethics, integrity, impartiality and the elimination of bias by building diverse teams and promoting a working environment that supports the Civil Service values and code
  • Be open and inviting of the views of others and respond despite pressure to ignore, revert or concede

Collaborating and Partnering (Level 4)

  • Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on objectives and shared interests
  • Demonstrate genuine care for staff and others – build strong interpersonal relationships
  • Encourage contributions and involvement from a broad and diverse range of staff by being visible and accessible
  • Effectively manage team dynamics when working across Departmental and other boundaries
  • Actively involve partners to deliver a business outcome through collaboration that achieves better results for citizens
  • Seek constructive outcomes in discussions, challenge assumptions but remain willing to compromise when it is beneficial to progress

Professional/Specialist Skill (Level 4)

  • A recognised finance qualification of an IFAC (International Federation of Accountants) member body (e.g. ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, CIMA, ACCA or CIPFA);
  • Provides accounting advice, analysis and scrutiny to support the business in complex situations and contributes to future business strategies
  • Knows and understands the core principles of Government finance and accounting and how to apply corporate finance skills within that framework
  • Able to critically analyse and compare options from a VfM perspective, utilising Green Book principles and working with other Government professionals (Economics, Finance etc.) where appropriate
  • Understand political context and need to balance financial and policy objectives
  • Able to drive forward and maintain momentum on delivery of Government’s shareholder and commercial objectives
  • Excellent data presentation skills and an advanced knowledge of Excel
  • Track record for producing reliable and accurate forecasts and other financial reports to tight and shifting deadlines
  • Ability to communicate complex financial issues to non-finance staff in a way that is clear and concise
  • Knowledge and understanding of up-to-date International Accounting Standards (IASs)

 

Flexible working options

HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices.

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and on a case by case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy.

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances

This job is not eligible for relocation allowances but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy.

HMCTS offers a range of benefits

There will be an allowance for finance qualified applicants.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year, and rising as your service increases. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits,retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.

There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Expected from July 2019

24/06/2019, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk Please quote the job reference

Please contact Dylan Whelan, HMCTS Recruitment Manager, on 07540 271 611 or dylan.whelan@justice.gov.uk with any queries.

To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why. 

For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:

  • You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
  • You were studying abroad
  • You were living overseas with parents

In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.

Candidate Information

You may be required to provide statements describing your skills and experience relevant to each of the selection criteria. We recommend that you structure any examples as Situation, Task, Action and Result. For more information about the recruitment process and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

In the event of a large number of applications, we reserve the right to undertake the following processes:


  • An automated online test where a benchmark must be passed to progress;
  • A sift on the lead selection criteria. If this happens, the lead criteria will be the first one listed in the advert.

During the selection process, you may be asked to undertake an additional assessment (such as written test). If this is applicable you will be notified of this when you are invited to interview.



if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance
Other competency/Experience
CCAB or equivalent, fully qualified.

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.


Application form stage assessments

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

· UK nationals

· nationals of the Republic of Ireland

· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

This Vacancy is closed to applications.