24784 - Account Team Leader - Management Accounts

£30,531 - £46,888 (dependant on base location)
4
12 Months
National
Various
NATIONAL
SEO
B
Permanent
Full Time
Finance

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

Job Profile

Job Title

Account Team Leader, Management Accounts CoE, Financial Management & Control Directorate

Reports To

Directorate Account Team Leader

Location & Terms of Appointment

This is a permanent post location is flexible and can be based Nationally.

Salary and Grade

This post is Band B.

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range.

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

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 a team leader in the HMPPS Management Accounts team and report to the Directorate Account Team Leader (DATL), who in turn reports to the Senior Finance Manager – HMPPS Accounts Teams (SFM-AT), with key working relationships with the Finance Business Partnering Group (FBPG), Shared Services Connected Limited (SSCL), operational colleagues, the wider FM&C and 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 Directorate Account Team Leader (DATL) regarding the financial position for their area

The post holder will be an active member of the Accounts Team Pillar and will have significant influence 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

Responsible to the DATL for providing time critical quality financial information for all Directorate cost centres, including monthly management accounts reporting and year-end statutory financial accounting information. This will include accountability for the accounting records and financial information for all closed sites.

The post holder will manage a geographically dispersed team which will include capability building on behalf of the DATL.

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 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 HMPPS cost centre Directorate plans over the short, medium and long term
  • Working alongside stakeholders to determine strategic planning, analysis and consolidation of all allocated Directorate budgets
  • Ensuring a strong partnership is developed and maintained with the Finance Business Partner Group (FBPG) on behalf of the DATL to support organisational performance and delivery of plans
  • Ensure strong communication and close working relationships with Shared Service Connected Limited are maintained to ensure transactional processes are completed correctly and identified issues resolved
  • Understand and provide professional advice in response to a changing political and economic climate
  • Understanding and providing to the DATL time critical consolidated analysis of HMPPS cost centre budget and forecast outturns against performance to facilitate challenge and to support informed decision making, considering agreed efficiency proposals and workforce plans
  • Provision of time critical monthly, quarterly and annual management and statutory financial accounts information to the DATL and FM&C
  • Understand the financial risks and issues, ensuring they are monitored and report as appropriate to ensure an accurate picture is incorporated within the wider HMPPS accounts
  • Ensuring that regular reviews of expenditure take place both across the Directorate cost centres and cost categories to inform forecasting and decision making, advising Business Partners for establishments, HQ and Probation of issues for resolution with local budget holders
  • Understanding cost drivers and their impact on financial results and ability to influence them
  • Contribute to the benefits realisation process from major change and finance cost saving initiatives

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 11 finance professionals

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 interest

Delivering at Pace

  • Take responsibility for delivering expected outcomes on time and to standard, giving credit to teams and individuals as appropriate
  • Regularly monitor own and team’s work against milestones or targets and act promptly to keep work on track and maintain performance
  • Act as a role model in supporting and energising teams to build confidence in their ability to delivery outcome.

Changing & 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

Essential Knowledge and Skills:

  • Excellent Microsoft Office 365 skills
  • Understanding of the additional considerations for managing a geographically dispersed team
  • Proven ability to engage and communicate effectively with stakeholders
  • Experience of Oracle Financials

Desirable (but not essential) Knowledge and Skills:

  • Experience/knowledge of a prison and/or Probation operational environment

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.

Expected to take place week commencing 15th April 2019

21/03/2019, 23:55 hours.

Closing Date: 21st March 2019 at 23:55

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 24784.

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
Leading and Communicating
Building Capability for All
Collaborating and Partnering
Delivering at Pace
Changing and Improving

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.