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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Job description
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
DEPARTMENT NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE
POST VACANT HEO – Payroll Finance officer and business partner
LOCATION Belfast or London
DURATION 2 year loan or fixed term appointment with the possibility of a third.
SALARY Salary scale: Inner London £35,405 – £39,000 and National £31,265 – £34,446
CLOSING DATE 6 October 2023
Who we are
Inclusion and diversity
The Northern Ireland Office is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences.
We particularly welcome applications from Minority Ethnic (ME) candidates, as they are under-represented within the NIO at this level.
The Northern Ireland Office strives to be an inclusive employer and is recognised by its staff and externally as being an employer where Diversity and Inclusion are valued.
We hold a Diversity & Inclusion Charter Mark and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader organisation.
In March 2018 we won the award for Best Employer for Diversity & Equality in Northern Ireland (small employer category) in a Gala Award ceremony hosted by Legal-Island, a multi-award winning workplace compliance company based in Northern Ireland.
We have an active D&I network supporting colleagues through D&I Advocates, championed by our Directors.
We want all our people to feel valued for who they are and we are confident that you will find the NIO a warm, welcoming and inclusive place to work.
What we do
Background
The Northern Ireland Office represents Northern Ireland interests at a UK Government level and UK Government interests in Northern Ireland. We have a wide range of responsibilities, including: underpinning political stability in Northern Ireland; overseeing the Northern Ireland devolution settlement; leading on national security policy in Northern Ireland; addressing the legacy of Northern Irelands past; delivering elections and constitutional reform in Northern Ireland; playing a key role in rebalancing the NI economy; representing NI interests, including on the border with Ireland, as the UK exits the EU. Our small size and diverse portfolio create a stimulating, fast-paced and challenging working environment, with regular engagement with a range of Ministers and senior officials. We support flexible working and have a modern, flexible IT system which helps enable this.
About the Role
The Northern Ireland Office is seeking to recruit a payroll finance officer and business partner. The paybill is a significant part of the NIO discretionary budget and with a number of Arms Length Bodies, and ring-fenced funds ensuring the paybill is correctly charged and managed will form a key part in ensuring the NIO can maximise its budget usage.
The role will sit within the Financial Accounting and Reporting team but will also provide support to the Financial Management and Business partnering team, providing a great insight into NIO Finance.
The role will be responsible for posting of all payroll journals to the Account NI accounting system, supporting the cash management team in ensuring sufficient funds are available for outgoing payments, manage staff accruals and lead the holiday leave accrual, complete monthly payroll reconciliations, and prepare invoices for payroll costs that need to be reimbursed. Additionally the role will work closely with HR colleagues providing financial support and costing, will ensure the payroll figures are accurately presented in the monthly finance reporting and will also support key banking and financial services.
The post is based within the Corporate Operations Group in the Northern Ireland Office, a high performing and responsive team that provides high standards of corporate services to support the delivery of the NIOs objectives and deliver Ministerial priorities.
Key Accountabilities
- Posting of payroll journals to Account IN accounting system as part of the month-end process
- Funding requests to ensure sufficient balances at bank for outgoing payments on pay-day
- Process third party payments as advised by payroll provider
- Calculate staff accruals including retention of supporting audit evidence on a monthly basis i
- Prepare invoices for payroll costs and debtors control
- Liaise with HR and other teams, including ALBs, providing support on costing data to support workforce planning and payroll forecasting
- Prepare all necessary expense and balance sheet reconciliations
- Undertake analytical reviews of monthly payroll costs and challenge movements for line manager review, and presentation in monthly financial reporting.
- Support the NIO internal and external audit processes
- Assist in the completion of statutory returns
Essential Criteria:
- Demonstrable experience of supporting financial processes in a busy and complex finance function for a minimum of 12 months.
- Demonstrable experience of building positive and effective working relationships across a wide range of stakeholders
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to comprehend accounting information and distil into a format that is widely understandable to non-finance stakeholders.
- Demonstrable experience of using financial software, and advanced MS Excel skills (including sorting data, vlookups & pivot table etc.)
- Ability to work independently and prioritise workload
Desirable Criteria:
- Hold AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting and be studying towards the Level 3 diploma.
Please Note: please upload a suitability statement of no more than 1000 words setting out how you meet the essential and any applicable desirable criteria.
Behaviours:
We will assess you against the following Success Profiles behaviours:
More information on Behaviours and Success Profiles can be found here.
The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of behaviours and experience, and technical knowledge.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
As part of the application process you will be asked to submit a CV and personal statement of suitability. Your personal statement of suitability (maximum 1000 words) should outline how you meet the essential/desirable criteria.
Applications will be sifted on CV and Statement of Suitability.
The interview will consist of behaviour and technical skills questions.
Security Clearance
Security clearance to SC level is required for this post.
Eligibility Sift
An eligibility sift will be carried out on the basis of the information contained in the application form. It is therefore important that all applicants demonstrate in their application how and to what extent their behaviours are relevant to the above criteria. Those candidates who do not clearly demonstrate that they meet the experience and behaviours will not be invited to interview.
Pay and Allowances
The successful candidate will adopt the terms and conditions of the NIO for the length of their appointment.
Neither Detached Duty terms nor relocation costs will apply to this post.
Further Information
Further information about the post may be obtained from the Deputy Director for Finance via e-mail to graeme.smith@nio.gov.uk.
Applications
You can apply for this post through the Civil Service website at: civilservice.gov.uk. Once logged onto the site go to the civil service jobs page and then search for jobs in the Northern Ireland Office where the application form can be found.
Additional information received after the closing date will not be considered. Failure to provide sufficient information in support of an application prior to the closing date will not be considered as grounds for an appeal if an applicant is not shortlisted for interview.
Home Civil Service applicants who, because of disability, need assistance in completing the application form should contact MoJ Shared Services on 0845 010 3512.
All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.
This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment.
Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at sift stage. Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following interview.
Additional Information
Further information about us
We are a small and friendly department of approximately 170 staff. Due to our size we are able to offer staff more exposure to ministers and the opportunity to work on a far wider portfolio of responsibilities than might be the case in a larger department. This creates an interesting, though often challenging, work environment.
Other Benefits
The NIO offers a pleasant, modern work environment which allows consideration of a range of flexible working arrangements which support a good work/ life balance. These include flexible/ alternative working patterns, part-time and job-share options.
The NIO would support the completion of AAT qualification.
Benefits include:
interest-free season ticket and bicycle loans
Reward & Recognition scheme
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
The Northern Ireland Office operates the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, details of which are attached to the application form for this post.
In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com to be removed from the reserve list.
Further information on civil service careers can be found at www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles.
Please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk) in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages:
http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/
Person specification
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Accounting
Benefits
£8,896 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
- Telephone : 0845 241 5359
Recruitment team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Further information
