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  Assistant Capital Accountant

Grade HEO

Number of Vacancies 3

Business Group Financial Transactions, Reporting and Governance

Directorate Financial Management and Control

Location National with occasional travel to London

 Hours 18.5 (part time) – 37 (full time)

Post Type Fixed Term Appointment (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 (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 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 Financial Management and Control 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.

The Financial Accounting and Capital Accounting teams 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 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.

Typical Role Responsibilities

1. Assist in the production of quarterly and annual Financial Accounts.
2. Work with business groups to better understand capital expenditure and nature of non-current assets, and action updates to the fixed asset register.
3. Provide support to the finance community in business groups to improve adherence to best reporting practices and understanding of technical issues.
4. Assist Band B capital accountants in the production of key notes for the MoJ and agency accounts and related financial accounting activities.
5. Ensure that notes produced comply with statutory disclosures and are delivered to accounts delivery timescales. 
6. Produce audit files for all notes prepared with clear trails to support the numbers disclosed.  Address all management review points on audit files produced.
7. Preparing reconciliations and challenging variances, ensuring robust financial controls are in place across the business.
8. Providing admin support, including minute taking at finance forum meetings.

Corporate Finance has the objective to develop a more flexible team.  As a result, all team members at all grades will be expected to work flexibly and assist in other areas as and when required.

Whilst experience of both management and financial accounting is not required a willingness to learn and develop skills within both areas is.

Please note that there are part-time and full-time roles available. Please mention in your statement which you are interested in.

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/HEOs with the required numeracy and data analysis 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 considering joining 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.

Role Responsibilities/Tasks

Support senior team members in delivery of outputs by

• Analysing the monthly balance sheet reconciliations, challenging transactions where necessary
• 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
• Completing the NAO disclosure checklist challenging where necessary and escalating potential issues to senior managers or decision makers
• Interpreting financial data against relevant accounting standards and being able to explain it in a non-technical format

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.

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• 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

In addition to Civil Service Behaviours identified above:

• A Statement of Suitability is required consisting of a maximum of 750 words. Please note that there are part-time and full-time roles available. Please mention in your statement which you are interested in.
• CV

Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with key stakeholders across organisation e.g., Finance Business Partners, Management Accountants
• 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

Recommended:

• Level 4 qualification with AAT, CCAB, CIMA or equivalent
• Qualified with CCAB, CIMAor equivalent
• Working towards qualification

In addition to salary, a pensionable, non-contractual specialist allowance will be applied to this role. Specialist allowances apply to certain roles only, are non-transferable to other roles and are subject to annual review.

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

You 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.

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.

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 capital.accounting@justice.gov.uk

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,827, Ministry of Justice contributes £8,896 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.