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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £42,914 - £46,182 London salary range is £49,325- £53,081 Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
07-Apr-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
15718

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview

This role is within a team based within the Financial Management, Control, Risk and Governance directorate.  The team support the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

The Finance Business Partner plays a pivotal role in strengthening the relationship between the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and the wider finance function. The post holder will provide expert financial insight, constructive challenge, and strategic advice to senior leaders, drawing on strong technical capability and a deep understanding of the OPG’s operational environment.

This role requires the development of effective and influential working relationships across the organisation, including with Deputy Directors, Programme Leads and Senior Managers. The post holder will support evidence‑based decision making, ensuring financial stewardship, value for money and alignment between operational delivery and financial planning.

The Office of the Public Guardian supports people in England and Wales to remain in control of decisions about their health and financial affairs and protects those who lack the mental capacity to decide for themselves. As an executive agency sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, the OPG delivers statutory services including the registration of lasting powers of attorney and the supervision of deputies appointed by the Court of Protection.

OPG operates on a cost‑recovery basis, with its activities primarily funded through the fees charged for the services it provides. The Finance Business Partner plays a critical role in ensuring that financial management, fee structures, income forecasting and operational delivery remain aligned to this model, enabling the organisation to meet its statutory obligations while maintaining long‑term financial sustainability

About the Role

SEO Finance Business Partners play a key role in supporting their directorate by building strong, trusted relationships and developing a thorough understanding of operational priorities. They translate complex financial information into clear, accessible insights for budget holders and provide constructive challenge to support informed decision‑making. As developing specialists, SEO FBPs contribute valuable financial advice, strategic analysis and practical business solutions, helping directorates plan resources effectively, manage risks and deliver value for money within a cost‑recovery environment.

This role is full time; job share may be possible.

Main Activities / Responsibilities

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Developing an understanding of the business, its stakeholders and deliverables
  • Building and maintaining relationships with customer budget holders
  • Providing advice on compliance with policy, standards, accountabilities and controls
  • Translating, owning and adding insight to financial data to provide clear information and evidence to support business activities and requirements
  • Providing guidance at appropriate level budget holder meetings and boards
  • Reviewing and providing input to business cases/ strategic documentation
  • Identifying and applying relevant costs, benefits and investment appraisal techniques
  • Providing relevant coaching and training to the business
  • Providing ad-hoc analysis and presentations to drive and support business decisions, such as efficiency and cost reduction options, using all available data and analytics tools

Essential Criteria

  • Possesses emotional intelligence and has the ability to think empathetically, considering the strategic goals of others (seeing the big picture)
  • Fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration between the business, finance and other corporate services (managing a quality service)
  • Can tailor their communication style to a range of audiences, including internal and external stakeholders. Uses facts and evidence to aid negotiation and influencing (communicating and influencing)
  • Helps others to understand the interdependencies between business and finance. Proactive and passionate, inspiring others to continuously improve (working together)
  • Ability to "speak the language" of finance to business, and vice versa, acting as the critical translator between the two (experience)
  • Part qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent/working towards or willing to work towards a qualification or fully qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent.

Applications from non-qualified candidates will be considered, who are willing to develop and work towards a recognised qualification in order to meet the full requirements of the role, or the role may be adapted accordingly for a non-qualified candidate.

In addition to salary, a pensionable, non-contractual specialist allowance may be applied to this role, only for fully qualified finance staff. If working towards a qualification an allowance can be applied once fully qualified. Specialist allowances apply to certain roles only, are non-transferable to other roles and are subject to annual review.

Application process

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

Sift

Please refer to the ‘essential criteria’ section in the job description, which details how each of the essential criteria will be assessed.

Behaviours - please provide examples of how you have met each of the behaviours below:

  • Communicating and Influencing (lead behaviour)
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Working Together

Experience – please provide your experience of your ability to "speak the language" of finance to business, and vice versa, acting as the critical translator between the two

Part qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent/working towards or willing to work towards a qualification or fully qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent.

Please answer 'yes' to meeting the above  if you are:
1) Part qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent/working towards or
2) Willing to work towards a qualification or

3) Fully qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent

If you are answering yes to option 2, please upload a note indicating your willingness to work towards the qualification.

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

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

If we receive a large number of applications, we will carry out an initial sift on the lead criteria of Communicating and Influencing  

Candidates invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely via MS Teams.

During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours below and Strengths (not shared in advance) from the Success Profiles framework.

  • Communicating and Influencing (lead behaviour)
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Working Together

For any further information about the role please contact Lewis Clements- lewis.clements@justice.gov.uk 
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 role: 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.

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.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.

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

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.

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.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

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:

  • 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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • 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) 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 15718

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 15718

Allowance

specialist allowance is as follows, London £2,500, National £3,250.

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing, 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
500
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Experience Questions
Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Evidence of Experience
Experience Questions

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
not expected before w/c 27th April 2026
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture
Managing a Quality Service
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.
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.