13148 - Finance Reporting Lead

The base location of this role will be at one of regional hubs: London or Manchester. The exact building that you will be based in should you be successful will be discussed as part of the on-boarding process, but it will be located in one of the 'hub cities'. Frequent travel to London, 4-6 days per month, will be expected as part of the working arrangements. Unless based in London, the National salary will apply. (46,699 - 67,714)

Overview:

The courts and tribunals in England and Wales have been allocated unprecedented funding of almost £1billlion. This will enable HM Courts & Tribunals Service, working in partnership with the judiciary, to create a system that is proportionate and accessible and that better meets the needs of the people it serves. This is the most ambitious programme of its kind anywhere in the world.

As a Senior Leader in the Finance Directorate you will be at the forefront of leading and implementing change in our world-leading justice system. The Programme is ambitious and we need resilient, resourceful and adaptable people to make it happen. Your application will need to demonstrate that have the experience required, ideally within a Programme environment, that you can thrive in an environment that is changing constantly, that you can deal with uncertainty and that you are committed to developing services that are based on the needs of the end recipient of the service provided as well as the needs of those who administer the services provided.

HMCTS expects its leaders to show openness, honesty and commitment, and, of course, to deliver results. As a senior leader within HMCTS the jobholder must provide clear direction and focus, visibly championing these changes which deliver a radically different service models and better outcomes for its users. The job holder will operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results. These roles are 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.

Role Description:

As a Change Portfolio Finance Reporting Lead you will have overall responsibility to lead and support a finance team to provide all aspects of FinanciaL Reporting for the Change Portfolio.   This requires leading on the allocations process and the longer term financial planning for the Change Portfolio.   The role will require someone who is able to facilitate the financial management process across the Change Directorate and is comfortable providing strategic oversight and a high level of challenge to peers and seniors. Your role will be to contribute to achieving 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 Change Finance team that works across 2 Directorates – Finance and Change and be a part of a high profile and exciting change programme within central Government.  

Responsibilities:

Strategy

You will lead the strategic financial management of the HMCTS Change Portfolio inputting into business case preparation in line with Green Book standards and industry insights where appropriate

Business Case

You will ensure that the financial plans are developed through sufficient rigor and robustness to ensure it meets the necessary business case and government finance requirements.

Benefits Management

You will liaise and work closely with the Benefits Management team to include this area of reporting within the overall Change Finance reports.

Stakeholder Management

Your key stakeholders will be HMCTS Finance including the Medium Term Financial Planning team and the Allocations team, MOJ Finance and the Change Portfolio Director where all financial reporting needs to be consistent and aligned.

Reporting

You will run the Financial Management Process for Change Finance and 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.   You will need to ensure that all Accounting treatments are in line with Government Accounting policies.

Leadership

You will provide visible, approachable leadership to team(s), maintaining a continuous dialogue with staff in respect of change, performance and celebrating successes. You will role model leadership behaviors that emphasize an inclusive / participative approach to management and tackle inappropriate behaviors / poor performance.

Best Practice

You will actively seek best practice in service delivery, develop new products to meet the needs of the changing business and to assist the business deliver solutions that represent good value for money. You will show personal commitment to innovation (Continuous Improvement), actively listen to staff ideas/concerns and act upon them.

Essential Criteria:

• CCAB, or equivalent, qualified would be preferred with considerable financial/ commercial experience.  

• Proven track record in leading and supporting finance teams at a Portfolio level.

• Strong technical accounting skills to ensure Treasury financial reporting requirements and International Accounting Standards are applied correctly.

• Strong data presentation skills and an ability to convey complex information to a variety of audiences.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders.

Desirable Criteria:

• Strong influencing and negotiation skills.

• 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. Frequent travel to London (potentially at least 4-6 days per month) will 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

• 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

Changing and Improving

• Understand and identify the role of technology in public service delivery and policy implementation
• Encourage a culture of innovation focused on adding value – give people space to think creatively
• Effectively capture, utilise and share customer insight and views from a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure better policy and delivery
• Spot warning signs of things going wrong and provide a decisive response to significant delivery challenges
• Provide constructive challenge to senior management on change proposals which will affect own business area
• Consider the cumulative impact on own business area of implementing change (culture, structure, service and morale)

Leading and Communicating

• 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

• 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

Achieving Commercial Outcomes

• Work effectively with different organisations such as private sector and voluntary groups (in tandem with commercial experts) to commission and source solutions to achieve policy and organisational goals
• Understand the commercial drivers that will influence a private or third sector organisation and the levers that can be used in negotiating/influencing contractual arrangements
• Be able to recognise and understand the commercial tools such as pricing models, open book accounting, supply chain management that commercial experts can deploy to extract value from contracts
• Interact confidently and effectively as an intelligent and highly credible customer with counterparts from the commercial delivery organisations and commercial experts
• Question and challenge the value being delivered through commercial arrangements with delivery partners
• Motivate improved performance by suppliers, challenge any gaps between contractual commitments and actual delivery through joint working with commercial / procurement experts

Professional Skills

• 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 & policy objectives
• Able to drive forward and maintain momentum on delivery of Government’s shareholder and commercial objectives 

Closing Date: 25th September 2017 at 23:55 hours

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