Address
Form of work
SalaryLocation
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
This position is 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: Senior Financial Accountant – Legal Aid Agency
Grade: SEO
Number of Vacancies: 1
Business Group: Financial Reporting, Transactions & Governance
Directorate: Financial Management & Control
Location: National
Hours: 37
Post Type: Fixed Term Contract – 1 Year
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 Ministry of Justice sits at the heart of public service delivery and the government’s wider social reform agenda, working to protect and advance the principles of justice. The department has been at the forefront of the Government’s wider efficiency agenda making finance roles an exciting and challenging opportunity.
The Ministry’s functional leadership model for finance brings together specialists into a single, unified team across the Department with the vision of putting finance at the heart of decision-making. This change is being conducted through the Future Finance Programme.
The Financial Accounting (FA) team will support the department by providing a centralised, professional service that supports the entire department and individual business areas and entities, whilst adhering to the key principles in Managing Public Money, the Estimates Manual, Consolidated Budgeting Guidance, the Spending Controls Framework and Budget Holder Responsibilities.
Role Summary
Financial Accounting and Reporting SEOs are expected to produce the statutory financial accounts or estimates ensuring they meet HMT reporting standards. They will liaise with a range of colleagues and wider stakeholders to obtain and assure the information relevant to the production of these external reporting outputs.
Typical Role Responsibilities
Financial Accounting and Reporting SEOs are expected to produce the statutory financial accounts or estimates ensuring they meet HMT reporting standards. They will liaise with 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 SEOswith 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 skills.
Role Responsibilities/Tasks
- Leading the preparation, of financial statements, notes and related disclosures for annual report and accounts ensuring these are in line with financial reporting manual (FReM) and IFRS
- Ensuring the completeness of audit packs for Financial Audits
- Supporting the business on accounting issues, ensuring that appropriate government guidance has been consulted
- Updating and maintaining accounting policies, providing training, and upskilling where appropriate
- Liaising with NAO to ensure that evidence and robust explanations are provided to support the audit
- Liaising with stakeholders to ensure that accurate Estimates and ambits are provided to HMT
- Supporting senior team members in producing statutory financial accounts and estimates
- Providing analysis and drafting to support the Estimates Memorandum for Parliament, and additional analysis to support responses to PQs and FOIs.
- Reviewing current systems and processes to make sure they incorporate the appropriate financial controls and that system documentation is accurate and up to date.
- Responsible for monthly reconciliations of ledger balances within both in-house and outsourced systems and making sure discrepancies are resolved in a timely manner.
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 Making effective decisions.
In addition to Civil Service Behaviours identified above, the following are required:
- A Statement of Suitability is required consisting of a maximum of 500 words
- CV
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 E
- Presentation skills P
- Drafting skills P
- Excel skills E
- Interrogation of technical systems P
Qualifications
Recommended:
- Level 4 qualification with AAT, CCAB or CIMA
- Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent
- Working towards a qualification
- Financial experience over an extended period of time
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.
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 Making Effective Decisions.
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.
Contact point for applicants:
Job contact
Name: Noel Langley
Email: noel.langley@justice.gov.uk
Telephone:07974968445
Recruitment team :
Email: Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Person specification
Please refer to Job Description
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Accounting knowledge – we will test knowledge of accruals at interview
- Excel knowledge – we will give them an example and ask what Excel formulas they would use to solve the problem
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
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 12th February 2024
For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.
