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.

Those who make it through the initial sift will be invited to complete a Civil Service Success Profile interview. As part of the interview process, candidates will be required to complete a numerical test and task management exercise prior to interview which will take approximately 30 minutes.

Further information on both exercises will be provided to candidates who pass the sift stage. Candidates will not be required to prepare for the test.

Finance & Workforce Manager (Higher Executive Officer – 1 role available) – Cross Functions, Data & Analysis, Ministry of Justice

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Finance & Workforce Manager to be part of a small yet high profile team at the centre of the Directorate responsible for Finance, Commercial and Reporting. Over the past year, Data & Analysis budget has significantly increased and continues to grow, and we want a proactive individual who can help support our Finance team.  

The successful candidates will be a self-starter and use their own initiative to support the Head of Financial Systems by ensuring the smooth running of the monthly workforce, finance reporting process and have a clear understanding behind financial month end reporting which includes knowledge of Accruals and forecasting. The role will need to be filled with an individual who has relevant finance experience and knowledge.   

The Ministry of Justice
The Ministry of Justice is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. We work to protect and advance the principles of justice. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society. A key priority is to become strongly data and evidence driven by ensuring it is used to improve our business performance and the justice system for our citizens. 

Corporate Services Team

Data and Analysis moved into a new structure in January 2021 which has provided the foundations to radically redefine our services to generate greater insights that drive profound improvements across the justice system and the Directorate's work environment. 

Over the next 2 to 3 years, we will be continuing to transform and improve Data and Analysis, implementing new ways of working and operating as part of a multi-year change programme.  

As part of the new structure, a new business unit, Corporate Services Function, was introduced. These teams focus on:  

• Finance, People and Recruitment
• Business Planning, Prioritisation and Tasking 
• Transformation
• Information Assurance, Data Ethics and Enquiries  

It is our vision that we will inspire people at different stages of their professional career with varied responsibilities. We will focus both on the people we have now and plan for what we need in the future, adapting to meet changing needs of the business and expectations of our people. We will develop every person to be their best, providing opportunities for career progression and supporting our talent in a way that delivers positive changes around diversity and inclusion. 

What you’ll do 

Managing Budgets​ 

• Manage monthly staff tracking and commissions including recharges
• Managing learning and development budget and Rewards & Recognition budget to advise directors on forecasting spend for each quarter
• Manage the research project expenditure as part of the overall monthly finance process
• Completion of the Directorate Budget Profiling spreadsheet to ensure all spend is clarified and up to date with noted next steps and mitigation.

Maintaining Financial Records and managing regular financial transactions​  

• Maintain records of Data & Analysis’s finance decisions and profiles including invoices linked to Analytical professions bids, payment for centrally allocated staff and professional membership fees
• Identifying efficiencies and opportunities for cost reductions across the business.
• Build strong relationships with Central Finance and relevant stakeholders across the department 

Management Information

• Support Management Information and the smooth running of the monthly workforce and finance reporting process on behalf of Data & Analysis
• Assist with the business planning process including end and mid-year year governance statements

Who you are 

Essential Criteria

• Ability to balance a varied workload, prioritising and communicating with team members as required
• Experience of supporting or managing finances/budgets
• Experience of Microsoft Excel
• Ability to work with data and information to support planning and delivery of activities
• Ability to balance a varied workload, prioritising and communicating with team members
• Building relationships with stakeholders and partners 

Highly Desirable

• Relevant finance qualifications i.e. CCAB
• Knowledge of purchase order and invoice cycle
• Experience of liaising with finance business partners and business unit finance procedures and processes. 

How to apply

You’ll need to submit an anonymised CV and Statement of Suitability as part of your application. You will not be considered if you do not provide both.

Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long and should show us your work history and previous experience. It should be well structured, succinct and written in clear language.

Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 750 words and should give us examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. Consider giving an example for each bullet point, in the ‘Who you are’ section and use work you have completed to demonstrate how you meet each one.

Selection process
There will be an initial sift of applicants through comparing submitted evidence against the ‘Who you are’ bullets. This usually takes two weeks, depending on the number of applications.

It will not be possible to provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at the application stage.

Numerical test and task management exercise

Those who make it through the initial sift will be invited to complete a Civil Service Success Profile interview. As part of the interview process, candidates will be required to complete a numerical test and task management exercise prior to interview which will take approximately 30 minutes.

Further information on both exercises will be provided to candidates who pass the sift stage. Candidates will not be required to prepare for the test.

Interviews are expected to take place from June 2024.

Behaviours
The following behaviours will be tested in the interview:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

We highly recommend learning about Success Profiles and using the Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection (STARR) framework when structuring your answers. In your examples you should include evidence on ‘how’ you demonstrated the requirements and the impact of your work, as well as ‘what’ you did. 

For Further Information
If you have any queries about the role or wish to discuss, please contact Onyi Umeh on (onyinye.umeh@justice.gov.uk) or 07583 035 957

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 Experience.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.