24782 - Directorate Account Team Leader - Management Accounts
About the Department
Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.
What we do
We work to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. We are also responsible for the following parts of the justice system:
courts
prisons
probation services
attendance centres
We also work in partnership with other government departments and agencies to reform the criminal justice system, to serve the public and support the victims of crime. We are also responsible for making new laws, strengthening democracy, and safeguarding human rights.
Priorities
Improve public safety and reduce reoffending by reforming prisons, probation and youth justice
Build a One Nation justice system by making access to justice swifter and more certain for all citizens whatever their background
Uphold the rule of law, defend the independence of the judiciary, safeguard essential liberties and restore historic freedoms
Delivering efficiently in MOJ: ensure the best possible service for citizens by making our department more efficient and more open, with policy driven by evidence
Our Vision and Values
Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in our society, protecting and advancing the principles of justice.
We are all part of this Justice Story and our values are how we bring principles of justice to life.
We defined our values together – they can unite us as we fulfil our shared purpose.
They will guide our actions as individuals and inspire us to be the best we can be, as we deliver excellent public services.
PURPOSE - Justice matters. We are proud to make a difference for the public we serve.
HUMANITY - We treat others as we would like to be treated. We value everyone, supporting and encouraging them to be the best they can be.
OPENNESS - We innovate, share, and learn. We are courageous and curious, relentlessly pursuing ideas to improve the services we deliver.
TOGETHER - We listen, collaborate and contribute, acting together for our common purpose.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Background
The Ministry of Justice sits at the heart of public service. It works to protect and advance the principles of justice that underpin our democracy. Common with other public services the department has also been at the forefront of the Governments wider efficiency agenda, supporting fiscal consolidation by driving innovation across out frontline services to improve productivity and through carefully prioritizing diminishing resources.
The Chief Financial Officers Group is responsible for the provision of the finance function to all areas within the Ministry including arm’s length bodies and agencies.
The Financial Management and Control Directorate is newly formed bringing together multiple teams from across the Ministry into consolidated teams and centres of excellence to delivery high quality financial management and reporting services for the Ministry.
The HMPPS Management Accounts Team is responsible for the delivery of critical strategic management accounting information.
Role Purpose
The post holder will be one of the Directorate Account Team Leaders responsible for HMPPS Management Accounts Teams. The post holder reports to the Senior Finance Manager – HMPPS Accounts Teams (SFM-AT), who in turn reports to the Head of HMPPS Management Accounts (HMA), with key working relationships with senior members of the Finance Business Partnering Group (FBPG), the Business, the wider FM&C and the MoJ Community.
The primary purpose of the role is to support the strategic management accounting function, providing time critical management information and assurance to the Senior Finance Manager, Account Teams (SFM-AT) regarding the financial position for their area.
The post holder will be an active member of the Management Team within the Management Accounting Group and will have a level of authority and respect to proactively lead in the delivery of time critical strategic management accounting information.
The post holder will be responsible for building and maintaining effective key stakeholder relationships within the MoJ community, being a significant influencer of business decision making and ensuring a high level of financial performance is maintained.
Accountable to the SFM-AT for providing quality financial information to a monthly timetable and being skilled at providing clarity and analytical interpretation of the financial position. This will include identify potential financial risks, mitigating action and opportunities and providing challenge as appropriate. The post holder will have commercial acumen and be able to operate within an environment of ambiguity and uncertainty on occasions.
The post holder will be responsible for supporting the SFM-AT in the provision of the overall financial performance reporting of allocated Directorate budgets, ranging from £0.5bn to £1.7bn, including monthly management accounts reporting and supporting information to the quarterly and year-end statutory financial accounting process.
The post holder will manage a large geographically dispersed team which will include capability building on behalf of the SFM-AT.
The location of the post is flexible though travel will be required as the team are geographically dispersed.
Main Activities / Responsibilities
The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
manage a large geographically dispersed team making full use of IT and smarter working principles ensuring staff have a sense of belonging, team identity and inclusivity
hold regular touchpoint conversations and adherence to the MoJ performance management process ensuring all documentation is provided in lines with published timetables
provision of information to support the development of the annual, quarterly and monthly budget planning processes for the HMPPS Agency Directorates in line with the business planning timetable, considering the key time critical business deliverables of the Directorates
clear presentation of strategic options analysis and the financial position to support decision making
agreeing and reconciling savings projections with Directorates
ensuring regular contact is maintained with Accounts Teams, Directorate Finance Business Partners, other stakeholders and the wider community on behalf of the SFM-AT
ensuring a strong partnership exists with relevant stakeholders to support organisational performance and delivery of plans
provision of monthly, quarterly and annual management and statutory financial accounts information to the SFM-AT and Head of Management Accounts (HMA), meeting the HMPPS published timetable
understanding and providing a consolidated analysis of relevant HMPPS Directorate cost centres, considering agreed efficiency proposals and workforce plans, providing a holistic picture of the Directorates enabling optimum planning and balancing of resources
understanding financial risks and issues, ensuring they are monitored and reported as appropriate, ensuring an accurate picture is incorporated within the wider HMPPS accounts
support the development and implementation of new finance process that will deliver enhanced reporting and planning capabilities for the business ensuring internal reporting requirements in line with FM&C timetables are met
expert analysis of the financial performance and position to enable challenge and influence of the decision-making process at Directorate and cost centre level through interpretation and insight of key management information
challenging and influencing the decision making at Deputy Director level using analysis, interpretation and insight of key management information
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and are not intended to be exhaustive. The post holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Management of Resources
Will have direct line management of up to nine staff with overall responsibility for up to 30 finance professionals/administrative support.
CS Competences:
Leading and Communicating
promote the work of the MoJ and play an active part in supporting their values and culture
clarify strategies and plans, communicate purpose and direction with clarity and enthusiasm
recognise, respect and reward the contribution and achievement of others
be visible to staff and stakeholders and regularly undertake activities to encourage and build trust with people involved in area of work
Building Capability for All
identify and address team and individual capability requirements and gaps to deliver current and future work
value and respond to different personal needs in the team using these to develop others and promote inclusiveness
continually seek and act on feedback to evaluate and improve worn and team’s performance
Collaborating and Partnering
encourage collaborative team working within own team and across the Department
establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes
actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on objectives and shared interests
Changing and Improving
actively promote new ideas for improvements to ways of working
support a culture that motivates people to work in smarter, more focused ways
be open to change
Managing a Quality Service
organised to deliver the service objectives
continuously strives to improve the quality of service
plan, organise and manage both time and activities to deliver an effective service
Essential Knowledge and Skills:
excellent Microsoft Office 365 skills
understanding of the additional considerations for managing a large geographically dispersed team
proven ability to engage and communicate effectively with senior leaders and other stakeholders
experience of Oracle Financials
project management skills
Desirable Knowledge and Skills:
working knowledge of managing database extracts, both financial and non-financial
Location is flexible but may be dependant on availability of office space
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 salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers, and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- 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.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
21/03/2019, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 21st March 2019 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.
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.
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
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.