Magistrates Expenses Team Manager

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.

Directorate: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Job Title: Magistrates Expenses Team (MET) Manager

Location: National, at any HMCTS site.

Based on current ways of working, work location is likely to be a combination of working from home and from the office, dependant on business needs.

Term: Permanent

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues within HMCTS, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice. We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and making a difference in people’s lives to deliver justice. If you are interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

The Magistrates Expenses Team (MET) is responsible for the administration of magistrate’s expenses. The MET Manager ensures that the administration is completed in accordance with the relevant policies and guidance. They act as a key contact for customers and judiciary, establishing working relationships with key Stakeholders across MOJ, senior colleagues, and the broader CFO team.

About you

As a leader within HMCTS you’ll be able to provide clear direction and focus, visibly championing the changes which deliver greater efficiencies. You’ll thrive in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement, and by delivering results.

You’ll be well organised, assertive, with good analytical skills and able to prioritise a busy workload with conflicting priorities. You’ll demonstrate your communication skills and your ability to remain calm and reliable under pressure.

Frequent contact with the magistracy, working closely with Legal Operations and The Legal Admin Support structure. Liaison with Ministry of Justice policy teams, HR, Judicial Office, and external partners such as our IT and payment service providers.

Your Key Responsibilities

• You will manage resources, staff, and facilities to ensure excellent customer service to all external and internal customers and management, ensuring all members are fully skilled to meet their work objectives.
• You will also be responsible for individual staff performance, addressing issues by applying appropriate HR policies.
• You will ensure financial accounting and personal data is appropriately managed and safeguarded as well as assign responsibilities for action and monitoring progress against plans.
• You will also monitor performance to ensure expenses are paid in a timely and appropriate manner.
• You will respond to queries from staff and stakeholders, providing prompt and accurate advice to customers, including the judiciary.
• Deal with customer complaints and resolve complex or difficult issues, ensuring these are dealt with in line with policy.
• Negotiate solutions where challenges arise and exercise judgement where discretion is appropriate.

Essential Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders and external IT providers.
• High level stakeholder engagement with judiciary and senior civil service amongst others.
• Confident in written communications with high level stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a culture of change and work with risk.
• Adaptable and able to prioritise and manage multiple workstreams.
• Knowledge of Microsoft software, particularly excel.

Further information:

Flexible working options

HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices, in line with MOJ policy.

Hybrid Working

There is a requirement for you to be 60% in office. This may change as per Business needs.

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and, on a case,-by-case basis in accordance with the MOJ’s flexible working and equality policies.

Part time request will be reviewed and agreed on a case-by-case basis, the minimum requirement for this role is 30 hours.

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances

This job is not eligible for relocation allowances, but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MOJ’s excess fares allowance policy.

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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

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.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

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.