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.

Directorate Finance Lead & Deputy Head of Communications Business Office

Overview of the job

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is one of the largest government departments and serves the public by upholding the rule of law and by delivering an efficient, fair, timely and effective justice system in which the public has confidence.

The MoJ values: Purpose, Humanity, Openness and Together, are core to delivering a world class justice system that works for everyone.

All of us in MoJ share the vision of delivering a world-class justice system that works for everyone in our society, protecting and advancing the principles of justice, and our MoJ values Purpose, Humanity, Openness and Together, are how we bring these principles of justice to life. Our four strategic priorities to deliver our vision are:

• A prison and probation service that reforms offenders
• A modern courts and justice system
• A Global Britain that promotes the rule of law
• A transformed department

We are looking for an experienced, motivated person to deliver an excellent service in a happy and fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will be organised, able to multi-task and handle a high volume of work, and have experience working closely with corporate finance.  You will be able to prioritise changing needs while meeting high-standards and competing deadlines. It is an exciting opportunity for an individual to develop their skills and knowledge in a busy, professional environment where your results and contribution will be recognised.

Reporting to the Head of Business Office, you will lead on coordinating the MoJ Communications functions finance support, as well as support the delivery of core business support functions (it is expected that finance work will comprise at least 60% of your time). This includes:

• Managing the directorate’s budgets and finances including monthly budget reviews, forescasting, year-end processes, year ahead planning and profiling, and analysing financial reports to ensure we are on track and managing our budgets effectively. Developing and implementing financial policies and processes to improve ways of working and to ensure we are operating efficiently and effectively, and delivering good value for money for the taxpayer.
• Ensuring compliance with financial regulations and controls including managing the Director’s spending control requirements for marketing and advertising spend.
• Managing relationships with financial stakeholders we work closely with. Working with finance leads to support with budget reporting and commissions for the directorate. Providing advice on financial aspects of recruitment.
• Working effectively with team members and relevant stakeholders to support with other business support activities including, but not limited to; Freedom of Information requests, Parliamentary Questions, recruitment, onboarding, learning and development, information assurance and reward and recognition. Acting as the information assurance lead for the directorate.
• Leading the implementation of efficient and consistent administrative practices, procedures and standards, identifying and implementing improvements for the directorate.
• Deputise for the Head of Business Office where required.
• Management opportunities are available.
• Contributing to the wider corporate activity within the directorate as required.

Skills and experience

Excellent finance, budgeting, and forecasting skills with a high level of attention to detail, and organisation, to ensure financial records are accurate.

Good communication skills; a high standard of written and verbal skills. An ability to liaise with staff and stakeholders at various levels effectively and communicate with clarity and confidence.

An ability to exercise sound judgement to proactively progress a variety of issues and tasks simultaneously.

A highly competent and organised individual with proven experience of working in a role providing high level corporate support.

The ability to work autonomously and within a team, exercising sound judgement and exercising initiative.

An ability to plan, organise and work well under pressure – managing conflicting demands effectively.

Able and willing to challenge the status quo, and to empower others they work with to challenge their own assumptions

Behaviours

• Delivering at pace (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating & Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service,
• Making Effective Decisions

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 and Strengths.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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.