17690 - Finance Business Partner - 17690 - Ministry of Justice

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job Title/ Position Finance Business Partner
Grade SEO (Lateral or on Promotion)
Number of Vacancies 1
Business Group PFI Expiry - Operational Contracts and Change
Directorate Operational Contracts and Change Finance Business Partnering Directorate
Location National
Post Type Permanent
Role Type/ Team Finance

Overview

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the provision of legal aid, administration of justice through courts and tribunals and detention and rehabilitation of offenders. Within the MoJ, you will provide Finance Business Partnering to senior business leaders responsible for delivery of services across Prison and Probation groups including, but is not limited to, the Youth Custody Service, Rehabilitation Services, Contracted out Services and Change Portfolios. Our business colleagues operating within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (an Agency within the MoJ), are highly committed professionals who seek to protect the public and rehabilitate offenders.

More information can be found at: www.justice.gov.uk

There is one SEO, Finance Business Partnering role available within the Finance Business Partnering Group supporting the Operational Contracts and Change Portfolios.

As a Finance Business Partner, you will be a key member of the finance group, working with other members of the team, wider MoJ Finance colleagues and key stakeholder from the Business Area we support.

The post is part of a small geographically disbursed finance team.

Role Summary

Finance Business Partnering SEOs are responsible for building strong relationships with their directorate, understanding the business, and explaining financial information for budget holders in an understandable manner.

The SEO Finance Business Partner (FBP) – PFI Expiry will play a critical role in providing financial leadership, insight, and support to the PFI expiry process within the Contracted-Out Services and Change Portfolios. This role ensures robust financial evaluation, risk management, and decision support for key stakeholders involved in transitioning PFI contracts to Manage and Maintain operating models.

The post holder will work closely with competition, commercial, legal and BAU teams to drive financial sustainability and value for money while ensuring compliance with HM Treasury (HMT) guidance and MoJ financial policies.

Typical Role Responsibilities

SEO FBPs are developing expertise and responsible for building strong relationships and understanding the business within a directorate or possibly supporting a lower risk Director led unit. They aim to communicate financial data and other information clearly and provide valuable financial advice, challenge and support, strategic insight, and business solutions.

As a Finance Business Partner, you will need to understand the PFI Expiry business area that you support and the way they operate. You will build trust with the SRO and decision makers so that your advice is actively sought.

You will have a level of authority and respect to proactively influence decision making and help drive continuous improvement in the finance ITT (Invitation to Tender) and ISFT (Invitation to Submit Final Tender) documents. In conjunction with the Lead FBP, you will be in charge of the preparation and customisation of the Tender financial documents. You may be required to specifically take ownership of the Finance Review Template (FRT) and to review and adapt it to the particulars of each prison in scope for upcoming competitions. You may work extensively with the finance and commercial BAU teams to ensure the FRT is aligned with the contract Payment Mechanism and satisfies the BAU requirements.

As FBP in the PFI expiry group, you will be an integral part of the evaluation of the finance submissions from bidders, ensuring bidders’ cost modelling is robust and sustainable and that submissions are fully transparent and unambiguous. You may also become involved in Abnormally Low Tender investigations.

You will be the financial advisor to a range of commercial and competition colleagues. You may be required to help develop business cases or to help demonstrate value for money. At all times you will be upholding the integrity of financial management in the public sector and the need to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. You will be a trusted adviser to stakeholders, providing support and independent challenge.

You may become involved in developing and managing financial plans related to PFI expiry. This may include monitoring and reporting on financial performance against budgets and forecasts.
This role will build on your experience of finance fundamentals and provide the opportunity to help in managing finance and supporting delivery.

The post holder will be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post. This may also include working closely with other MoJ Finance staff to develop solutions/problem-solve, engaging in project work to drive finance improvements.

Travel

In addition to the standard expectations for hybrid working, there will be some ad-hoc travel required to other locations to attend some team and stakeholder meetings in person.

Role Responsibilities/Tasks

• 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
• Preparing and customising financial documentation for the ITT and ISFT competition stages
• Taking ownership of the Finance Review Template (FRT), incorporating all required changes for specific competitions and aligning with BAU requirements
• Participating in tender evaluations as a finance evaluator after receiving the required training
• Participating in building and presenting finance cases
• Identifying continuous improvement opportunities and ensuring they are acted upon
• Working with budget holders to develop robust budget plans and monitor those plans.

Interpersonal Skills

• Possesses emotional intelligence and can think empathetically, considering the strategic goals of others
• Fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration between the business, finance, and other corporate services
• Can tailor their communication style to a range of audiences, including internal and external stakeholders
• Uses facts and evidence to aid negotiation and influencing
• Helps others to understand the interdependencies between business and finance
• Proactive and passionate, inspiring others to continuously improve
• Ability to "speak the language" of finance to business, and vice versa, acting as the critical translator between the two

Professional Skills

Key for Levels of Professional Skills
• A = Awareness
• W = Working
• P = Practitioner
• E = Expert

Core Level
Budgeting, forecasting, and costing P
The Budgeting Framework W
Commercial acumen W
Investment appraisal and evaluation W
Strategic analysis and insight A
Oral and written presentation skills E
Performance and risks W
Data and analytics interpretation P
Useful Level
Taxation A
Interpretation of accounts A
Government financial reporting A
Supporting the PAC agenda A
Understanding the role of the NAO A
Risk management and fraud A

Qualifications

You will be a full member of a professional accountancy body (CCAB or CIMA) or be willing to work towards the qualification.

An allowance will apply for fully qualified members of a professional accountancy body (CCAB or CIMA). The allowance is non-contractual and subject to annual review.

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework

Behaviours

Please provide examples of how you have met each of the behaviours below:
• Communicating and Influencing (Lead)
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture

Experience

In addition to Civil Service Behaviours identified above, please provide:

• Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words demonstrating how you are suitable for this role, with reference to the professional skills outlined above, in particular at practitioner and expert level.
• CV (anonymised)

If we receive a large volume of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing and the Statement of Suitability.

Interview Stage

Candidates who are successful following the sift process will be invited to a virtual interview.

At interview you will be assessed on behaviours (listed above) and strengths. You will also be asked to deliver a 5-minute presentation on a pre agreed topic that will be shared in advance of the interview. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates in advance of the interviews.

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

To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

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 17690

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 17690

Allowance

An allowance will apply for fully qualified members of a professional accountancy body (CCAB or CIMA). The allowance is non-contractual and subject to annual review.

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

250

Communicating and Influencing

Working Together

Managing a Quality Service

Seeing the Big Picture

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

Your statement of suitability should demonstrate how you are suitable for this role, with reference to the professional skills outlined in the job description, in particular at practitioner and expert level.

Evidence of Experience

CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Ministry of Justice

17690 - Finance Business Partner

General Information

Descriptions & requirements

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Application form stage assessments

Interview stage assessments

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