4259 - Finance Business Partner: DG Operations – Prison Analysis - 4259 - Ministry of Justice

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job Title/ Position : Finance Business Partner: DG Operations – Prison Analysis

Grade: SEO

Number of Vacancies: 1

Business Group: Finance Business Partnering

Directorate: COO - Finance Business Partnering

Location: National

Hours: 37.0

Post Type: Permanent

Role Type/ Team: Finance

Overview

The Finance Business Partnering Group within prisons provide Finance Business Partners (FBPs) to support HMPPS, act as a trusted advisors and provide independent challenge. FBPs have a level of authority and respect to proactively influence decision making and drive continuous improvement, and play a central role in planning the workforce requirements to support a safe regime. Within the current economic climate the role of the finance business partner is especially important; acting as the liaison between financial processes and budget holders, and supporting senior prisons leaders to navigate through times of exceptional inflationary cost pressures and initiating and supporting plans to mitigate against this.

The DG Ops. prison analysis FBP team is small: Led by a Grade 7 and with 3 x SEO (including this post). The work they do however impacts across all prisons in England and Wales and there is a direct influence into national outcomes.

The team that this role sits in is responsible for reporting on the in-year performance of all areas that sit under the prisons remit of the Director General Operations for HMPPS. The post holder will work with the wider team on the monthly production of information to stakeholders. The team also leads on any in-year efficiency exercise, fiscal events and change.

The post holder will become the subject matter expert for all spend and budget requirements relating new accommodation as it comes online.

The post holder will finance business partner one of the prisons headquarters groups, providing expert advice and support to staff with a non financial background, to aid decision making. Influencing skills are important.

In addition to salary, a pensionable, non-contractual specialist allowance will be applied to this role. Specialist allowances apply to certain roles only, are non-transferable to other roles and are subject to annual review.

Role Summary

FBP SEOs are responsible for developing expertise, 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.

The post holder will arrange budget transfers and ensure processes around budgeting and forecasting within the wider Prisons Group for this budget are efficient, this includes identifying and resolving any issues that arise. They will maintain a record of all decisions made and will be part of the decision-making process, feeding into submission to the Prisons Leadership team and on occasion, Ministerial submissions.

Strong analytical skills are essential for this post. The post holder should be able to take complex financial information and interpret it and present it in a way that makes the biggest impact. Excellent Excel skills are essential.

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

Key skills:

· Stakeholder Engagement – develop and maintain strong partnerships with senior prison leaders and senior leaders within the Finance Directorate.

· Budget management – work with budget holders to develop robust budget plans and monitor delivery

· Risks and issues – identify and monitor budget risks and opportunities, supporting stakeholders to develop mitigating actions

· Reporting – to be able to translate financial information to non-finance stakeholders, providing the narrative behind the numbers to influence decision making

· Critical friend to the business – feel confident to challenge and advise business colleagues on their spending plans and keep a focus on outcomes and business priorities. Give advice to support decision making, encouraging options analysis and appropriate governance. Use your insight to add value.

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

Practitioner and expert rated skills will be assessed at interview

Core - Level

Budgeting, forecasting, and costing - P

The Budgeting Framework - W

Commercial acumen - W

Investment appraisal and evaluation - W

Strategic analysis and insight - W

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

· Proven experience within a similar role and experience of working in a large and complex organisation

· Full or nearing completion of CCAB qualification (incl. CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA, ACA) or willing to study towards being fully qualified.

Entry Routes

Suitable for staff with the required skills and / or experience from within or outside Finance

Progression Routes

Staff in this role typically transfer to Management Reporting SEO, Financial Accounting and Reporting SEO or Business Support SEO roles, or progress to Financial Business Partnering G7, Management Reporting G7 or Financial Accounting and Reporting G7 roles.

Behaviours Required

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours, and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.

· Managing a Quality Service – Lead behaviour

· Communicating and Influencing

· Working Together

· Making Effective Decisions

Please refer to the Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which can be found here, to complete this application: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

Application process:

Sift

Please provide examples of how you meet the behaviours listed below please show evidence of this Professional Skill – ‘Budgeting, forecasting, and costing’:

· Managing a Quality Service – Lead behaviour

· Communicating and Influencing

· Working Together

· Making Effective Decisions

If we receive a large volume of applications, we reserve the right to conduct the sift based on one lead behaviour. The chosen lead behaviour for this campaign is Managing a Quality Service

Experience:

· A Statement of Suitability. Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to explain how your experience meets the requirements of this role.

· CV (this must be anonymised)

Technical (you will confirm you have these or nearing completion):

· Proven experience within a similar role and experience of working in a large and complex organisation

· Full or nearing completion of CCAB qualification (incl. CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA, ACA) or willing to study towards being fully qualified.

To apply please complete the online application form. Applications will be sifted by a panel who will look at the Civil Service Behaviour framework and what is evidenced in your application.

Interview

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the role requirements within the application behaviour responses.

Candidates who are successful following the sift process will be invited to interview, where the Behavioural elements and Strengths will be tested further.

Behaviours:

· Managing a Quality Service – Lead behaviour

· Communicating and Influencing

· Working Together

· Making Effective Decisions

Presentation - As part of the interview candidates will be asked to deliver a short presentation, the topic of which will be shared prior to the interview. The presentation will assess these Professional Skills - Oral and written presentation skills and Data and analytics interpretation.

Interview dates: Expected from WC 28th April 2025

For further information please feel free to contact Emma Deane at emma.deane1@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

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: 4259

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: 4259

Allowance

Finance allowance if qualified

Ministry of Justice

4259 - Finance Business Partner: DG Operations – Prison Analysis

General Information

Descriptions & requirements

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