Job role: Financial Controller

Grade: G7

Directorate: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice.  We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

About the role

As a Financial Controller in HMCTS’ Management Accounting Team, you will be reporting to the Head of Management Accounts. You will oversee delivery of robust, transparent and timely financial management information for the business and spend area(s) that you support. You will lead and support a team through a programme of change and improvement, providing innovative, well-considered solutions to organisational wide issues. You will maintain collaborative relationships across the wider finance community, ensuring key stakeholders are supported in a timely, constructive and consistent way. Working together, you will develop and deliver the activities to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the products and processes delivered.

Your role will encompass several key aspects (but not limited to):

• Lead a nationally located finance team of approximately 20-25 finance professionals, overseeing delivery of robust, clear, and timely financial management information and insight, and delivery of the improvement portfolio.

• Be responsible for ensuring the integrity and accuracy of data, and the efficiency of the monthly management accounting products and processes delivered by your team (i.e. Journals, reports, variance analysis and forecast/budget workbooks).

• Maintain collaborative customer-focused relationships across the wider finance community, working seamlessly with Finance Business Partners to ensure the business are supported in a timely, constructive, and consistent way.

• Demonstrate visible, approachable leadership and strategic direction to the Management Accounting team(s), maintaining a continuous dialogue in respect of change, performance and celebrating successes.

• Show personal commitment to change, innovation and continuous improvement. Looking outwards in the identification of innovation opportunities to deliver better more streamlined, efficient and effective value for money solutions to business process issue.

• As the management accounting subject matter expert, provide specialist, technical financial knowledge in support of the directorate.

What are we looking for? (Person Specification)

The ideal candidate for this position should demonstrate:

Essential

• Full or nearing completion of CCAB qualification (incl. CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA, ACA or equivalent)

• Proven experience of management accounting, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of financial data, products and processes.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders.

• Strong excel and analytical skills, with an ability to present complex financial information to a variety of audiences.

How to apply

Application stage

Please submit a

• An anonymised CV

• Statement of suitability demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria (up to 750 words)

• Behaviour statements illustrating the Civil Service Behaviours “Changing and Improving" and “Leadership" (up to 250 words each).

Please ensure you cover both ‘what’ you do but also ‘how’ you do it. (i.e., the effective skills, knowledge & experience needed to undertake the role). 

In the event of a high volume of applications, the panel may perform an initial sift based on the lead behaviour, Changing and Improving. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift. 

Interview stage 

If successful at sift you will be invited to attend a formal interview remotely via Microsoft Teams.

Shortlisted candidates should expect a strength-based question, and questions relating to the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving

• Leadership

• Managing a Quality Service

• Communicating and Influencing

There will also be a short presentation based on your skills and experience as a management accountant and leader. The discussion question will be provided in advance to candidates that are invited to interview.

Further details

The post is eligible for an accountancy allowance, currently £2000, for fully qualified CCAB accountants for both National and London base locations. This specialist allowance is non-contractual and subject to annual review.

Occasional travel to other HMCTS locations may be required as part of these working arrangements. 

HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. HMCTS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, subject to the demands of the role and business needs. Applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

About our benefits

We reward our people for their hard work and commitment. We have a number of family

friendly and flexible working polices that will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition, we offer a range of employee benefits which include generous annual leave, a highly competitive contributory pension scheme, childcare benefits, season ticket and bicycle loans.

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.