Ministry of Justice UK
Head of Agency Financial Accounts (Ref: 22132)
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Job Summary
This position is based Nationally
Overview
Job description
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 our frontline services to improve productivity and through carefully prioritising diminishing resources.
The Ministry’s Financial Management & Control directorate brings together multiple teams from across the Ministry into consolidated teams and centres of excellence to deliver high quality financial management and reporting services for the Ministry.
The Ministry is looking to recruit a technically strong team leader to head the Agency Financial Accounts team, which are responsible for the preparation of the accounts for HM Courts & Tribunal Service, Legal Aid Agency, Office of the Public Guardian and Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. We are looking to recruit an experienced practitioner with an ability to analyse complex information, provide written and verbal advice and explanations that can be easily understood by both finance professionals and non-finance stakeholders. Experience of financial accounts production is essential.
The Head of Financial Accounts - Agency will also play a key role in developing the MoJ Financial Accounting Centre of Excellence. Alongside strengthening capacity and capability, we need to ensure that the financial accounting function is agile and able to quickly prioritise work across the organisation to meet competing demands, therefore it is expected that this position will gain a solid understanding of accounting practices across the whole of the Ministry and is able to take on specific tasks/prepare advice in all areas as required.
Successful candidates may be seconded to other parts of the Ministry and its Agencies.
Role Purpose
This role will be responsible for the preparation of statutory financial accounts for four of the Ministry of Justice’s agencies, providing transparency and accountability over their performance and finances.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities are as follows:
- Leading the production of unqualified HMCTS, LAA, OPG and CICA Annual Report and Accounts, and submissions for consolidation into MoJ departmental accounts and the Departmental WGA submission
- Leading the relationship with National Audit Office during external audit of annual report and accounts
- Providing sound technical accounting advice, acting as subject matter expert on the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM), Managing Public Money, Consolidated Budgeting Guidance and Cabinet Office spending controls
- Attending and contributing to Board, Executive Committees and Audit Committees as required
- Supporting the continuous improvement of business and financial control processes and helping build and develop financial capability and professionalism both inside the function and across the business
- Identifying and ensuring appropriate management of risks to delivery;
- Co-ordinating the response to emerging issues across the wider finance function;
- Managing and coaching staff within the Financial Accounting Centre of Excellence, and ensuring that all professional training and development requirements are met
Travel
Occasional travel may be required.
Key Skills And Knowledge
Successful candidates will:
- be strong leaders who can build highly effective teams and influential relationships;
- be innovative in how we provide and use financial accounts and information;
- be a credible and authentic leader, with the ability to engage and motivate people to deliver results;
- show the ability and willingness to make difficult decisions and stand by them; and,
- be able to communicate effectively to inspire your team and stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.
- Proven ability to meet tight deadlines within unpredictable and demanding environments whilst delivering high quality products.
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You Will Have:
- Comprehensive knowledge of IFRS and/or FReM reporting requirements and experience of dealing with external auditors. (assessed via CV and 250-word technical question)
- Excellent team leadership skills (assessed via Leadership behaviour)
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven record of building strong working relationships with stakeholders; and (assessed via behaviour, Communicating and Influencing)
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.
Sift
Behaviours
The following Grade 6 Civil Service Behaviours are essential to this post and will be assessed via 500-word examples.
- Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details, including by grade:
Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK
Experience of financial reporting under IFRS and/or FReM requirements will be assessed based on a candidates’ CV.
Technical
Please describe your ability to make complex accounting judgements under IFRS/FReM reporting requirements and experience of dealing with external auditors.
Professional Competencies / Requirements
CCAB qualified accountant (i.e. ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) or a recognised equivalent.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, leadership.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.
Candidates invited to Interview
Interviews will be held in person in London, at either 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ or 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, E14 4PU.
Confirmed interview location details will be sent to shortlisted candidates.
Interviews are expected towards the end of October.
During the interview, we will be assessing you on the Behaviours listed below and Strengths from the Success Profiles framework.
- Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
Experience
You will be asked an experience question relating to financial reporting under IFRS and/or FReM requirements
Technical
You will be asked a technical question relating to accounting judgments.
Experience
You will be asked an experience question relating to financial reporting under IFRS and/or FReM requirements
Technical
You will be asked a technical question relating to accounting judgments.
Person specification
Qualifications
Please refer to Job Description
CCAB qualified accountant (i.e. ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) or a recognised equivalent.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Accounting Judgements
Alongside your salary of £71,381, Ministry of Justice contributes £20,679 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances 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
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
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)
- 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)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities
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