80455 - Senior Financial Accountant
Job Title/ Position Senior Financial Accountant
Grade SEO
Number of Vacancies 1
Business Group Chief Operating Officer
Directorate Financial Strategy and Planning
Location National
Hours 37
Post Type Permanent
Role Type/ Team Finance
Ministry of Justice an Inclusive Employer
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer of choice and ensuring equity of opportunity for all. We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring in terms of their culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity
Overview
The Accountant General of the Senior Courts is responsible for the management and investment of £2.5bn funds held in court covering 180,000 clients. The Office of the Accountant General (OAG) is a team of fifteen people responsible for delivering the Accountant General’s legal responsibilities and operates as a bank within the Ministry of Justice.
The role is within the finance team and is responsible for fund management and control. At a high level the team is responsible for producing the statutory consolidated Funds in Court Annual Report and Accounts, Medium Term Financial Planning (MTFP), fund analysis including modelling, and oversight of in-year management including corporate reporting to the Accountant General and Ministry of Justice. The post also requires liaison with the UK Debt Management Office, HM Treasury and two large commercial suppliers.
This role is technical but also requires working dynamically as part of the wider OAG team offering an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge of delivering financial services, commercial relationships, operational delivery, and policy. More widely it also offers a great opportunity to be part of leadership and decision making in a team where all views on all areas is welcome and appreciated.
The role reports to the Grade 7 Financial Controller and Grade 6 Head of OAG.
It is a fascinating and challenging place to work, and the role will suit someone who has both expert technical skills and how these can be applied to delivering a quality service to the Court Funds Office clients.
Role Summary
To produce the statutory financial accounts and fund accounting ensuring they meet HMT reporting and IFRS standards.
Typical Role Responsibilities
To produce the statutory financial accounts and fund accounting objectives to the agreed timescales and technical standard. This will involve managing a range of colleagues and wider stakeholders to obtain and assure the information relevant to the production of these external reporting outputs.
Entry Routes
Suitable for staff with the required skills and / or experience from within or outside Finance
Within Finance
This role may be suitable for individuals in the following roles:
- Financial Accounting and Reporting HEO
- Business Partnering HEOs or SEOs with sufficient technical accounting knowledge
- Finance HEOs or SEOs with the required numeracy and technical accountancy skills.
From Outside Finance
This role may be suitable for HEOs on promotion and SEOs with the required numeracy and technical accountancy skills.
Progression Routes
Staff in this role typically move into other SEO roles in Finance or progress to Financial Accounting and Reporting G7 or wider finance G7 role.
Role Responsibilities
Working with the Grade 7 and wider team to deliver:
- The Funds in Court Annual Reports and Accounts with specific responsibility for preparation of the financial statements notes and related disclosures ensuring these are in line with financial reporting manual (FReM) and IFRS. This also covers ensuring all accounts partners deliver their element of the consolidated account, liaising with the National Audit Office to ensure that evidence and robust explanations are provided to support the audit.
- Management of client funds, ensuring they are accounted for accurately by responsibility for the OAG Fund Model. Corporate reporting to stakeholders on the fund position including the monthly management accounts returns to the corporate centre, monthly reconciliations, and quarterly resource accounting returns as part of the Ministry of Justice overall financial position. This includes provision of financial management information for the Accountant General and monthly reporting to the OAG Monthly Team Meeting and chairing of the monthly Finance Review Group.
- Oversight of financial operations to support the client service. This covers management of the Government Banking Service contract and ensuring financial operational tasks such as payments, purchase orders and income transactions are delivered accurately and promptly. Financial operational tasks such as verification of penalty breaches and financial assessment of service change requests.
- Leadership and any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.
Behaviours Required
Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours, and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
- Making effective decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
Please refer to the Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which can be found here, to complete this application: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf
If we receive a large volume of applications, we reserve the right to conduct the sift based on one lead behaviour. The chosen lead behaviour for this campaign is “Delivering at Pace”.
In addition to Civil Service Behaviours identified above the candidate must be able to demonstrate:
- Experience and understanding of producing annual reports and accounts
- Understanding and application of IFRS accounting standards
Interpersonal Skills
- Ability to develop collaborative relationships with key stakeholders e.g., NAO, Finance Business Partners
- Good coaching and leadership skills with the ability manage a team, ensuring that staff are being developed and have the tools and support to deliver their objectives
Professional Skills
Key for Levels of Professional Skills
- A = Awareness
- W = Working
- P = Practitioner
- E = Expert
Core
Understanding of International Accounting Standards E
Understanding of all Govt guidance relevant to role e.g., FReM W
Presentation skills W
Drafting skills W
Excel skills E
Interrogation of technical systems P
Qualifications
Recommended:
- Level 4 qualification with AAT, CCABor CIMA
- Qualified with CCAB, CIMAor equivalent
- Working towards a qualification
- Financial experience over an extended period.
In addition to salary, a pensionable, non-contractual specialist allowance will be applied to this role. Specialist allowances apply to certain roles only, are non-transferable to other roles and are subject to annual review.
Travel
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
This will be discussed and agreed upon completion of pre-employment checks.
Applicants are advised to access the JCC/JSO office map, which is updated whenever a new JCC/JSO site opens, to determine potential travelling times and distances to MoJ locations before applying for a job.
Application Process
To apply please complete the online application form. Applications will be sifted by a panel who will look at the Civil Service Behaviour framework and what is evidenced in your application. Should many applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour,
“Working with Others”.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses.
Candidates who are successful following the sift process will be invited to interview, where the behavioural elements and strengths will be tested further alongside other elements of the post. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates in advance of the interviews.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
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.
For further information please feel free to contact: John.littleOAG@justice.gov.uk
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
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.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
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
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
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.
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.
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 moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
01/11/2023, 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.
Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
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
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
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.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
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.