Lead Management Accountant (Ref: 82763)

Location

East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, Scotland, South East England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber

About the job

Job summary

These positions are based nationally.

Job description

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.

Job Title/ Position Management Accountant

Grade SEO

Number of Vacancies 3

Business Group Chief Operating Officer

Directorate Financial Management & Control – Management Accounting

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

A fantastic opportunity to join the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Management Accounting team which sits at the heart of MoJ finance. It provides a centralised, professional service that delivers value benefiting a range of stakeholders, in particular Finance Business Partners, ensuring they and the business are supported in a timely, constructive, and consistent way to enable decision-making.

The role:

• The role sits within one of the operational management accounting teams supporting one or more of the MoJ operational agencies, HQ functions and arm’s-length bodies. It is key to the accurate and timely production of management accounts providing meaningful financial data and reports.
• Reporting to the Senior Management Accountant, the post holder will typically lead a geographically dispersed team of between 5 and 10 finance professionals and may have line management of up to 4 direct reports.

Key responsibilities of this role are:

• Lead the preparation, interpretation, and presentation of in-year financial information into the monthly financial reports.
• Responsible for challenging and influencing decision making at directorate/function level through analysis, interpretation, and insight of key management information, making best use of data sources available to identify trends, patterns, and variance analysis.
• Provide assurance on integrity of information in financial systems, advising on the correct accounting treating of complex transactions.
• Provision of finance expertise and timely financial information to Finance Business Partners and the Business, while driving efficient and effective service delivery.
• Collaboration with finance colleagues across MoJ finance, to meet finance related intra-departmental dependencies, to include Financial Accounting and Governance colleagues.
• Lead the team to deliver the month end activities in a timely manner and to the required standard.
• Develop an engaged workforce, where people are supported in learning and development opportunities to improve capability and individual ambition.
• Collaboration with colleagues across the wider MA team to develop close and effective working relationships and practices, enabling resilience and consistency in delivery, building on cross team working and removal of areas of duplication.
• Support senior managers and the wider team in implementation of improved, new ways of working, sharing of best practice, adopting smarter processes building on a consistent approach and service delivery.

The Person:

• Person specification and requirements:
• Innovative, naturally curious in looking for opportunities to improve how things are done.
• Ability to prioritise to meet deadlines.
• Thrives in a busy, challenging environment.
• Ability to consolidate financial and other information to deadlines and experience of presenting financial interpretation and recommendations at Senior Manager level.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills with the ability to network, negotiate and influence effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Track record in delivering high-performance service delivery and continuous improvement.
• Ability to adopt an initiative-taking problem-solving approach in responding to the changing needs of the business.
• Skilled in data analysis and interpretation.
• Ability to explain financial information (tell the story) succinctly to/for non-finance colleagues through insightful management reporting.
• Experience in dealing with auditors.
• Ability to manage projects.
• Good skills and experience in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Ability to develop yourself and others within the working environment, visibly valuing diversity, inclusion, and well-being.
• Good coaching and leadership skills with the ability to manage a team.
• Experience of managing a geographically dispersed team is desirable, but not essential.

The post holder will be required to work flexibly and undertake other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post. This may also include working closely with other MoJ finance staff to develop solutions/problem-solve, engaging in project work to drive financial improvements.

Working in the MoJ Management Accounting team, provides people with clear development pathways, an entry route for careers across Finance and a network of Management Accountants to share best practice and celebrate successes.

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.

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• 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 Managing a Quality Service.

• A Statement of Suitability is required consisting of a maximum of 250 words.

Professional Skills

Key for Levels of Professional Skills

• A = Awareness
• W = Working
• P = Practitioner
• E = Expert

Professional Skills - Level

• Understanding of International Accounting Standards - W
• Understanding of Government Accounts - W
• Understanding of budgeting guidance - W
• Data analysis - P
• Data visualisation - W
• Interrogation of technical systems - E

Qualifications

Recommended:

• Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent
• Level 4 qualification with AAT, CCAB or CIMA foundation level
• Working towards qualification
• Financial experience over an extended period

The MoJ is committed to offering apprenticeship programmes to new or existing staff at all grades. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to apply to a range of programmes, including the finance route to become a qualified accountant.

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.

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.

Post holders may be required to travel to other MoJ sites for business reasons on occasion. If required to attend a location other than their base location, post-holders may be entitled to claim some or all of any extra expense (beyond the usual base location travel costs) in line with the Travel & Subsistence policy.

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 a large volume of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may go forward to a full sift or 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 assessed further alongside other elements of the post. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates in advance of the interviews.

Where candidates meet the minimum criteria for the role but are not first placed, they may be held on a merit list. If there are further vacancies for HEO roles within the MA team in the next 12 months candidates may be taken from the merit list without running a new recruitment campaign.

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

Person specification

Please refer to job description.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,868, Ministry of Justice contributes £10,804 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.