Finance Officer (Ref: 21949)

Job summary

This position is based nationally.

Job description

HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Job Title: Finance Officer

Grade: EO

Directorate: HMCTS Finance, Governance and Performance

Location: National

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time/Flexible Working

Successful applicants will be expected to be office based 3 days per week in any HMCTS Office (subject to business availability).

Introduction

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.

Job Description

We have ambitious plans to transform the services we provide to users of the justice system. The Government is investing significantly in our change programmes to modernise the court estate, upgrade and replace technology, streamline working practices, refurbish buildings, reduce maintenance costs, and deliver an improved experience for court users.

The HMCTS Finance, Governance and Performance function plays a pivotal role in supporting senior stakeholders and their teams through this transformation. By providing robust financial support and insight, we help build the organisational capability needed to deliver change and realise its benefits.

Finance Officer (Management Accounts Team)

As a Finance Officer within the Management Accounts Team (MAT), you will support the administration of the month-end reporting cycle, ensuring the timely production of accurate, fit-for-purpose financial information. You will work closely with finance and operational colleagues to support key financial processes and the delivery of management information.

You will also play an important role in maintaining, developing and improving a range of transaction processes and reports, helping to ensure that postings to the HMCTS accounts are accurate, robust and compliant.

Successful candidates will have access to extensive professional development opportunities through the Government Finance Function, supporting both their current role and future career development.

In this role you will

Your role as finance officer will encompass several key responsibilities listed below (but not limited to):

• Support the preparation of month end accounts and provide narrative for their interpretation and presentation.

• Provide analysis and assurance on the integrity of transactions in the general ledger and month end accounts.

• Preparation of journals, ensuring they are posted in accordance with policy and procedure and in line with the correct accounting treatment of transactions.

• Ensure month end activities are delivered in a timely manner and to the required standard.

• Provide ad-hoc financial analysis and insight for the area you cover.

• Ensure effective controls and procedures are in place to maintain the accuracy of the data in our financial systems, for your area.

• Work collaboratively with other finance staff to both deliver and improve on the finance processes and products owned by the MAT

• 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 post.

• Monitor team inbox ensuring enquiries are answered in a timely manner and prioritising enquiries escalated to you to achieve a quick solution.

• To prepare and be responsible for uploading of Forecasting Workbooks throughout the month.

Essential skills

• Customer service: the ability to deliver a quality customer service; organised to ensure service delivery objectives are met and be flexible to meet tight deadlines.

• Work collaboratively; the ability to develop effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes. Working with remote colleagues as part of a team.

• Excellent communications skills: both written and verbal.

• Strong organisation skills; the ability to co-ordinate multiple tasks

• Adaptable and willing, with the ability to work in a culture of change; continually improving (products, processes, and priorities) to meet the current and future needs of the organisation.

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates

Desirable skills

• Knowledge of month-end activities that feed into the financial accounts.

• Good IT skills (particularly Excel and PowerBi).

• Knowledge of using Oracle Financials (Hyperion) and Smartview.

• Knowledge of HMCTS and its business.

• AAT, or equivalent, or the ability to evidence financial experience.

For successful candidates without finance experience, full training will be provided. There may also be an opportunity to study towards finance qualifications.

Application process:

Stage 1 - Sift:

To apply for this position, you must submit the following as part of your application:

An anonymised CV, setting out your career history, key responsibilities and achievements. Your CV will be assessed against the essential criteria outlined within the Essential Skills section of this advert.

Behaviours 250 words:

• Managing a quality service

• Communicating and influencing

Examples illustrating the Civil Service Behaviours listed under the Application form stage assessments section.

Should we receive a high volume of applications, a pre-sift may be conducted on Managing a quality service behaviour. Candidates who pass the pre-sift will be fully assessed on all the sift criteria.

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply - Application Guidance

Stage 2 - Interviews:

Successful candidates who passed the sift will be invited to interview via Microsoft Teams. At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Strengths and Behaviours. Details can be found under the interview stage assessment section on the advert.

• Working together

• Managing a quality service

• Changing & Improving

• Communicating and influencing

For further guidance on the interview process please click here

Important information

Salary details

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.

Existing Civil Servants applying on promotion, will usually be appointed on the salary minimum of the new pay band, or receive an increase of 10 percent on the current base salary, whichever is higher (This is restricted to the pay maximum of the new band).

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

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