Skip to content
This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £71,381 - £80,419, London salary range is £75,674- £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
02-Jan-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 6
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
12467

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
Job Title/Position Head of Strategic Finance
Band/Grade               G6
GFF Core Job Family Strategic Finance
Number of Vacancies 1
Business Group        Chief Operating Officer Group
Directorate               Strategic Finance and Partnerships
Location                      National

Background and Job Description

The Finance Strategy & Planning Team is responsible for setting the financial strategy for the Ministry of Justice and delivering our medium-term financial plan. We work with colleagues in every area of the department and at every level to make sure that finance is at the heart of decision making and that when developing our strategic plans, we understand and have gained buy-in from policy, operational and corporate colleagues. We also represent the department to HM Treasury, for whom we are the main link, including in negotiations over the department’s financial settlement.

FSP is a friendly multi-disciplinary team, representing policy, finance, and strategy experience. We work hard to foster an inclusive atmosphere and value a broad range of experiences in the team. We have a good record of colleagues leaving these roles on promotion and to other high-profile roles in Private Office and at the centre of Government.

The G6 Head of Finance Strategy is a critical leadership role in the team’s work. They head up a team of 4 G7s and are one of the main conduits between MoJ and HMT. The role involves working closely with teams within the department to understand their funding needs, including challenging assumptions around affordability, value for money and feasibility. It also involves negotiating directly with HMT to ensure that funding and approval to spend is secured when it is needed. This is a particularly exciting time for the financial strategy team as they steer the department through the multi-year spending review and internal departmental allocations process. The role is high profile, fast paced and varied. 

Responsibilities

  • Providing effective leadership to the finance strategy team, line managing 4 G7s directly and overseeing a team of 9 FTE as well as forming a key part of the FSP SLT.
  • Work closely with Directors, Directors General and Ministers on the key financial issues facing the department. This will include during setpiece fiscal events, such as the next Spending Review, as well as the annual budget setting process.
  • Maintaining a high-quality, collaborative relationship with the HMT Spending Team.
  • Leading on fiscal events for the Department and leading the annual budget setting process for MoJ (i.e. allocations), working collaboaratively across the Department to ensure that trade-offs and risks are exposed and resolved.
  • Building strategic, financial capability and understanding across the department, through outreach and engagement at all levels of seniority.
  • Testing the affordability and value for money rationale of new policy measures with policy and operational colleagues, acting as a critical friend to challenge assumptions where appropriate and using expertise to advise on handling strategies. Ensuring that ministerial decisions are informed by an understanding of the financial impacts.
  • Working with policy and operational colleagues to ensure that financial risks and opportunities are identified and to develop strategies to mitigate risks and exploit opportunities.

Key Skills, Knowledge and Experience

  • Able to work independently, proactively, passionately, and confidently on high-profile areas across the Department and lead others to achieve quality and on time delivery of outputs
  • Comfortable and confident in working at pace to manage a full workload with conflicting short and long-term priorities.
  • Able to build positive relationships with partners in other teams and departments, and to use those relationships to influence others through excellent interpersonal and communication skills, tailored to the recipient. This includes the ability to critically consider and confidently challenge stakeholders regarding their delivery or information and translating across functions to obtain a joined-up approach.
  • Leading policy development and making decisions in complex policy areas, using analytical skills and different evidence sources to provide Ministers or senior officials with high-quality advice
  • Considerable experience in providing written and oral briefings to Ministers and/or senior officials
  • Strong negotiation skills, with the ability to remain resilient in the face of substantial and sustained challenge.
  • Leading collaboratively with structure, by constructing clear timelines and processes, with interdependencies and owners, to lead others to successful delivery with clear products and outcomes for the process
  • Fostering and leading a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration between policy, programmes, the business, finance, and other corporate services

Professional Skills

Key for Levels of Professional Skills

A = Awareness

W = Working

P = Practitioner

E = Expert


Subheadings - Core


Professional Skills - Level


Strategic Analysis and Insight - E

Oral and Written presentation skills - E

Data and analysis interpretation - W

Influencing Senior Leaders and Ministers (including drafting skills) - E

The Budgeting Framework - P

Proactive problem resolution - E

Understanding the role of NAO - A

Negotiating with Pragmatism - E

Supporting the PAC Agenda - W

Government Financial reporting and governance requirements  - W


Subheadings - Useful


Professional Skills - Level


Budgeting, Forecasting and Costing - A

Risk management and fraud - A

Taxation - A

Performance and risk management - A

Commercial acumen - A

Investment appraisal and evaluation - A

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

Sift

Behaviours - Please provide examples of how you have met each of the behaviours (or list other criteria) below:

  • Leadership (lead behaviour)

Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:

Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK

Experience – Please provide:

  • CV anonymised
  • Statement of suitability (1000 words) - Please use your statement of suitability to set out how you meet the key skills, knowledge and experience, and professional skills (in particular at practitioner and expert level), as set out in the job description.

If we receive a large number of applications, we will carry out an initial sift on the lead behaviour of Leadership.

Candidates invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out in person at 102 Petty France, London (full details will be sent to candidates invited to interview). During the interview, we will be assessing you on the 5 Behaviours listed below, and Strengths from the Success Profiles framework.

You will also be asked to give a short presentation, the details of which will be sent to candidates

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours 

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits 

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension 

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

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.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 12467

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 12467

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Leadership, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Leadership
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please use your statement of suitability to set out how you meet the key skills, knowledge and experience and professional skills, in particular at practitioner and expert level, as set out in the job description.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
not before w/c 12 Jan 26
Behaviours
Leadership
Making Effective Decisions
Delivering at Pace
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.