Financial Accountant – Judicial Pensions Scheme (Ref: 90127)

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

This position is based Nationally

Job description

Business Group Financial Transactions, Reporting and Governance

Directorate Financial Management, Control, Risk and Governance

Location National with occasional travel to London

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.

Overview

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is here to protect the public, reduce offending, and deliver swift access to justice. We are responsible for:

• Prisons
• Probation
• Courts and tribunals
• A range of services to help victims of crime, children, vulnerable people, and those seeking access to justice.

The MoJ 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 Financial Management, Control, Risk and Governance 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.

Role Summary

The role advertised is in MoJ’s Financial Accounting and Reporting team, which produces financial accounts for the group, agencies and arm’s length bodies, and is within the financial accounting team for the Judicial Pensions Scheme (JPS) providing a professional service in delivering the annual report and accounts for the JPS for sign-off by the Permanent Secretary as the Accounting Officer.

The Financial Accounting and Reporting team produces statutory financial accounts and estimates ensuring they meet HMT reporting standards. This requires adherence to a tight audit timetable and continued liaison with a range of colleagues and wider stakeholders such as the third-party pension administrator, Government Actuary Department and the National Audit Office, to obtain and assure the information relevant to the production of accounts and liaise with the auditors to see the accounts to a clear audit certificate.

Typical Role Responsibilities

Financial Accounting and Reporting HEOs are expected to perform analysis and interpret data to provide assurance to senior managers over the validity of the data. HEOs will gather supporting information and query data in line with accounting standards and suggest solutions to decision makers. They will ensure data is clear and supportive and can be used as evidence for audit purposes.

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 EO.
• Business Partnering EOs or HEOs interested in more technical financial issues.
• Finance EOs or HEOs with the required numeracy and technical accounting skills.

From Outside Finance

This role may be suitable for EOs on promotion and HEOs with the required numeracy and data analysis skills, an interest in financial accounting and who are wanting to join the profession.

Progression Routes

Staff in this role typically move into other HEO roles in Finance or progress to Financial Accounting and Reporting SEO or wider finance SEO roles.

Responsibilities

Support senior team members in delivery of outputs by:

• Analysing a number of reports received monthly and yearly from the third-party pension administrator, challenging transactions where necessary.
• Completing monthly bank account reconciliations and reconciling ledger balances to produce accurate monthly journals for the finance system in a timely manner, for review by senior managers.
• Ensuring the integrity of data collected for external reporting purposes and that good controls and checks are in place to maintain accuracy.
• Reviewing, analysing, and interpreting financial data for use in the annual report and accounts and estimates processes, providing insight for senior managers and decision makers.
• Manage the JPS annual accounts excel model feeding into the annual accounts, ensuring data accuracy.
• Interpreting financial data against relevant accounting standards and being able to explain it in a non-technical format.
• Answering queries from external auditors and resolving issues raised in management letters.
• Maintaining a strong working relationship with other MoJ colleagues, the NAO and other external stakeholders.

Other duties

The post holder will be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any 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 and engaging in project work to drive finance improvements.

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.

Civil Service Behaviours

The following HEO Civil Service Behaviours are essential to this post and will be assessed upon application:

• Delivering at pace
• Making effective decisions
• Changing and improving

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 Delivering at Pace.

Specific Experience Required

In addition to the Behaviours identified above;

• A Statement of Suitability is required consisting of a maximum of 250 words along with a work history as part of the application.

Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with key stakeholders e.g., GAD, NAO, judicial policy and legal colleagues and pensions operations team.
• Ability to effectively negotiate with stakeholders.
• Ability to organise effectively and manage own workload and priorities.

Professional Skills

Key for Levels of Professional Skills

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

Professional Skills Level

Understanding of International Accounting Standards A

Understanding of Government accounts W

Data Analysis W

Interrogation of technical systems E

Excel skills P

Drafting skills W

Qualifications

• Level 4 qualification with AAT, CCAB or CIMA
• Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent
• Working towards qualification
• Some financial experience

In addition to salary, this role is eligible for a pensionable, non-contractual specialist allowance for those who are full members of a professional accountancy body (CCAB or CIMA). Specialist allowances apply to certain roles only, are non-transferable to other roles and are subject to annual 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 Delivering at Pace.

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.

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.

This will be discussed and agreed upon completion of pre-employment checks.

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.

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.

For further information please feel free to contact Petula Herbert, Petula.herbert@justice.gov.uk .

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

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 – Test using excel formulas at interview

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,827, Ministry of Justice contributes £9,509 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 Tuesday 17th September 2024

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