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.
Overview
You will be working in the Ministry of Justice finance team, supporting Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The post-holder will be responsible for two areas of work:
- Financial strategy and planning: Leading on the development of HMPPS’s financial strategy, working alongside the CEO and the HMPPS Leadership Team.
- Change portfolio: Leading finance business partnering services for HMPPS’s change portfolio, for example including the Prison Education Services, OneHMPPS - our corporate change programme and Property Transformation.
You will be leading a small high performing team and will have the opportunity to work alongside a wide range of senior stakeholders within HMPPS and the Ministry of Justice, and HMT.
This is a great opportunity for a high-performing individual to develop the skills and experience for an SCS role, given the breadth of the role and level of exposure.
Responsibilities
Your role will be integral to ensuring that HMPPS makes the best use of its resources and delivers change activities in line with its plans.
You will lead a small, high performing team of three Grade 7’s and four SEOs.
Financial strategy and planning
You will be responsible for developing HMPPS’s financial strategy, including:
- Providing financial leadership and strategic advice on a £6bn budget to the HMPPS CEO and Director Generals for Prisons and Probation. This includes the annual budget setting process aligning financial allocations with priorities, and in-year advice on strategies to manage risks and opportunities that emerge.
- Working with the HMPPS Strategy team to coordinate our response to fiscal events and ad hoc efficiency reviews and ensure that our financial allocation aligns with the MoJ Outline Delivery Plan and HMPPS business plan.
- Developing our medium-term financial plan, including strategies for managing future risks and opportunities.
- Joining up HMPPS delivery and financial planning with the HMPPS Finance Business Partnering team, MoJ Financial Planning and Strategy team, MoJ Policy, Cabinet Office, and HM Treasury.
Supporting the Leadership team will require you to work collaboratively with colleagues from across HMPPS - in strategy, HR, planning and performance - and also work effectively with central Ministry of Justice finance teams and private offices, and with HMT.
Change Portfolio Finance Business Partnering
You will advise and support colleagues in the business who are delivering major change programmes. Your role will be to ensure programmes are affordable and value for money, with a sound long term strategy, supporting the business to effectively monitor risks and opportunities as well as supporting Accounting Officers in their statutory duties.
As the Senior Finance Business Partner for the Change Portfolio, you will be responsible for:
- Supporting projects and programmes throughout the business case cycle, as gold contracts move through the re-procurement and MoJ governance process.
- Handing over completed projects to BAU FBPs, to implement new services or re-procurements.
- Advising the Change Portfolio Board, including reporting and providing challenge across the portfolio.
- Supporting our Intelligent Client Function, which works alongside the MoJ Property Unit to delivery property services for the Prison Service.
- Advising on the Strategy, Planning and Performance directorates spend, which includes internal change programmes.
Delivery of results through others and effective negotiation at senior levels are key to successfully meeting the expectations of the role. You will also need to work closely with our commercial team.
You will also have the opportunity to take on a leadership role within the Finance Directorate. This will involve leading on initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion, staff engagement and career development. As a senior manager you will also regularly have to coach and mentor junior members of the team and the wider profession to help build professional capability.
Key skills and knowledge
This is a broad role, covering both financial strategy and finance business partnering, and would suit an experienced grade 6 from either of those specialisms. You should be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:
- A strategic approach to problem-solving, seeing the big picture whilst also being across the detail.
- A strong track record in team leadership and developing high performing teams.
- Credibility with senior stakeholders, comfortable presenting at Executive Team level, able to lead the conversation and influence decision-making.
- Comfortable working at pace: working collaboratively across organisational boundaries, prioritising and delegating effectively to your team.
- Good knowledge of government finance and financial management, with a proven ability to apply these.
- The ability to analyse and communicate complex financial information in a clear and understandable way.
Professional competencies
Success Profiles Â
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.
Civil Service Behaviours
The following Grade 6 Civil Service Behaviours are essential to this post and will be assessed upon application:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
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
In the event that 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 Seeing the Big Picture.
Specific Experience Required
- Commercial mindset, gained from working in or with other specialists such as commercial, digital, HR and/or supporting the delivery of major change programmes.
- A Statement of Suitability is required consisting of a maximum of 250 words
- CV
Professional Competencies / Requirements
- You should be qualified under one of the main five Consultative Committees of Accounting Bodies [CCAB] i.e. ACCA; CIPFA; ICAEW; ICAI or ICAS, or CIMA.
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 number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Seeing the Big Picture. 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.Â
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.
Interview dates: Expected WC 9th May 2022, 16th May 2022
For further information please feel free to contact Tamsin Wallwork, tamsin.wallwork@justice.gov.uk Â
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