26771 - Finance Analyst in the Probation Reform Programme
The post is London based however there may be some flexibility in location but the post-holder will be required to travel to London on a regular basis.
The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment
The Probation Reform Programme is undertaking a significant and challenging programme of work to help stabilise and improve delivery of probation services, and design and plan for future arrangements. This is a great opportunity to work on one of the most high profile and important priorities for the Ministry of Justice, which is subject to significant Ministerial, and cross-Government interest, and will have a real impact on how we improve outcomes for offenders, victims, and the wider public. The Probation Reform Programme combines policy, operational, commercial, financial, analytical, legal and programme teams, providing the opportunity to play a vital role at the heart of a fast-moving and complex programme environment.
Purpose
MoJ has ambitious plans to reform the justice system and at the same time transform itself into a smarter, simpler and more efficient department. The scale and pace of reform is challenging and requires a large portfolio of interconnected policies, projects, contracts and business changes to be delivered successfully.
As part of the Probation Programme Finance Team your main role will be to provide expert financial advice to support major commercial and change programme decisions. You will have a passion for being involved in large scale, complex decision making and applying your finance and accounting skills. You will also have the personality to lead and influence people throughout the department to ensure key decisions and strategies offer best value for money and align with the financial strategy for the Ministry.
Your work will be varied, fast paced and interesting which will require you to apply your skills and experience across a range of operational, strategic and commercial areas. You will provide analysis to support Business Case development and assurance, conduct financial due diligence and be part of commercial and programme centre of expertise. You will also be part of contract review teams to ensure the Ministry is getting best value from new and existing commercial contracts.
This is a unique opportunity for ambitious, self-starters to work at the heart of MoJ on one of the biggest reform agendas in Whitehall. We are building the team and welcome applications from high calibre individuals who would like to be involved in developing our services.
Key Responsibilities
As part of the Probation Programme Finance team your responsibilities will include:
- Providing direct support to the Programme Finance Manager (PFM) and the wider finance teams in the design and development of business cases;
- Support the PFM in conducting assurance reviews of Programme business cases and provide advice to the MoJ Investment Committee on financial aspects of cases.
- Providing expert financial analysis to the finance team and colleagues within the Programme;
- Provide analysis of existing contracts to ensure MoJ is gaining the maximum economic value and are applying the financial elements of the contract fully;
- Supporting the Commercial Directorate in the effective design and management of contracts;
- Support the PFM in providing expert finance and accounting advice to Commercial Directorate, Agencies and Corporate teams on the financial implications of commercial strategies and decisions;
Key Skills
You will have a keen interest in helping the department improve the financial management of commercial spending and change programmes. Your skills and experience should include:
- (Part) Qualified accountant (or studying towards an accountancy qualification);
- Problem solving;
- Data analysis;
- Developing visually engaging tools and presentations that drive targeted action and key decisions;
- Building strong stakeholder relationships that are based on openness and trust;
- Working across boundaries, collaborating with and drawing on resources from across government;
- Working independently and flexibly with a focus on delivering outcomes, not just following process;
- Leading by example and role modelling behaviours that support the successful delivery of change;
- Adopting an optimistic and pragmatic approach to solving problems;
- Having a knowledge of and an interest in commercial and programme finance techniques and methodologies and how to apply them
Civil Service Competencies
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
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
Delivering at Pace
- Get the best out of people by giving enthusiastic and encouraging messages about priorities, objectives and expectations
- Clarify business priorities, roles and responsibilities and secure individual and team ownership
- Adopt clear processes and standards for managing performance at all levels
- Act as a role model in supporting and energising teams to build confidence in their ability to deliver outcomes
- Maintain effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances, encouraging others to do the same
- Review, challenge and adjust performance levels to ensure quality outcomes are delivered on time, rewarding success
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, is approachable and builds strong interpersonal relationships
- Encourage contributions and involvement from a broad and diverse range of staff by being visible and accessible
- Work as an effective team player, managing 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
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, communicate purpose and direction with clarity and enthusiasm
- 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, communicate in a truthful, straightforward manner with integrity, impartiality 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
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.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
05/08/2019, 23:55 hours.
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.