Strategic Finance Advisor (Ref: 81296)

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Job Title/ Position Strategic Finance Advisor
Grade SEO
Number of Vacancies 1
Business Group Financial Strategy and Partnerships
Directorate 
Location National

Hours 37
Post Type  Permanent 
Role Type/ Team Finance

Ministry of Justice an Inclusive Employer

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer of choice and ensuring equity of opportunity for all. We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring in terms of their culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Overview

The Finance Strategy & Planning Team is responsible for setting the financial strategy for the Ministry of Justice and delivering our medium-term financial plan. We work with colleagues in every area of the department and at every level to make sure that finance is at the heart of decision making and that when developing our strategic plans, we understand and have gained buy-in from policy, operational and corporate colleagues. We also represent the department to HM Treasury, for whom we are the main link, including in negotiations over the department’s financial settlement. 

FSP is a friendly multi-disciplinary team, representing policy, finance, and strategy experience. We work hard to foster an inclusive atmosphere and value a broad range of experiences in the team. We have a good record of colleagues leaving these roles on promotion and to other high-profile roles in Private Office and at the centre of Government. 

Role Summary 

SEO Strategic Finance Advisors play an important role in the department’s work, at the intersection of finance planning, policy, strategy and operations. The role covers a wide range of policy areas.  You will lead within the team on a portfolio of issues, to ensure that finance is at the heart of strategic decision making.  You will report to a Grade 7 who will provide support and direction. You will be expected to develop proposals and make effective decisions within your scope of responsibility. The role requires you to have good written and numerical skills, and the ability to make sound judgements. You should be able to explain complex information clearly to a wide range of individuals including non-finance colleagues. You will also need to manage stakeholder relationships carefully and work collaboratively with a number of teams across the ministry and with the HMT spending team.

The role is high-profile, fast-paced and varied. You will be comfortable managing the conflicting demands of a focus on long-term objectives with emerging day-to-day issues. Good prioritisation skills are essential and you should be able to work well in uncertainty, proactively making links between relevant teams and projects to resolve issues.

You do not need experience of working in the finance function. The Finance Strategy team includes people from a range of backgrounds and the role would be well suited to someone from a policy or strategy background seeking to understand financial strategy, or someone from a finance background who is able to work at a strategic level to deliver departmental outcomes. First and foremost, you will be professionally curious and motivated to understand the needs of multiple stakeholders and to deliver high quality outcomes for the department.

Working in this team will provide unrivalled experience of the interaction of financial strategy with policy and operations, providing insight into both worlds. You will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to driving strategic decision-making and develop a good understanding of the big picture regarding overall ministerial priorities and how the work of the department supports the delivery of the government’s agenda on law and order.

Responsibilities 

• Managing, on behalf of the team, the relationship with business groups across the department including developing a detailed knowledge of how the business group operates, its key objectives and challenges and supporting the business group to resolve any financial issues. 
• For a defined portfolio of policies, lead the MoJ relationship with HM Treasury in support of the Department’s strategic objectives. 
• Acting as a critical friend to business groups and policy leads, challenging assumptions where appropriate and using your expertise to advise on handling strategies.  
• Providing high quality, accurate advice to Ministers and senior stakeholders on the financial implications of policy proposals or proposals that change key assumptions underpinning the strategic financial plan.  This will include quality assuring and challenging plans and proposals submitted by business groups. 
• Leading for Finance Strategy and Planning on one-off high-profile projects and key strands of cross departmental work that will feed into the overall financial strategy for the department or may have a downstream financial, operational or policy impact. 
• Reviewing cross-government policy proposals, including clearance requests and Cabinet Committee papers, to ensure that the financial implications are understood and managed appropriately. 
• Supporting the development and delivery of options for upcoming Spending Reviews, working with business leads across the department, including analytical services and private office, to ensure these align to Ministerial priorities. 
• Contributing to the wider work of FSP including delivery of L&D events and internal comms to increase the wider department’s awareness and knowledge of financial events and processes. 

Other duties

The post-holder will be expected to work flexibly within the team and be willing to take on additional responsibilities where necessary. 

Skills, Knowledge and Experience 

Essential

• Confident in leading on novel problems whilst maintaining professional curiosity, with a proven track record for problem solving.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including the ability to work across boundaries to influence and gain confidence of senior leaders.

This can be a fast-paced role and you will be comfortable managing the conflicting demands of a focus on long-term objectives with emerging day-to-day issues. Good prioritisation skills are essential and you should be able to work autonomously and take the initiative to make links between relevant teams and projects to resolve issues.

Entry Routes 
This role may be suitable for staff with the required skills and/or experience from within finance, policy or private office/strategic roles

Progression Routes

Staff in this role often move on promotion to G7 within Finance, Policy or Private office, or into other high-profile SEO roles. Posts include opportunities in other government departments (OGDs), including HMT. 

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.

You will be asked to provide a CV and a statement of suitability of up to 1000 words setting out your skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the role. You will be assessed against the following behaviours at interview: 

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

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

Professional Skills 

Key for Levels of Professional Skills

• A = Awareness
• W = Working
• P = Practitioner
• E = Expert
CORE

Strategic

Analysis and Insight P
 Oral and Written presentation skills      E
 Data and analysis interpretation      W
 Influencing Senior Leaders and Ministers
(Including drafting skills) E
 Proactive problem resolution P

DESIREABLE

Negotiating with pragmatism W
 The Budgeting Framework W
 Understanding the role of NAO W
 Supporting the PAC Agenda W
 Government Financial reporting and governance requirements W

Qualifications 

There is no requirement for this specific role to be qualified.

Travel

This role will require regular travel to the MoJ office in London, frequency will depend on business need and will be agreed with the Line Manager. As a guide, this may be once every 1-2 months, but is likely to be more frequent at certain times, such as during fiscal events. 

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). 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.

You are advised to access the JCC/JSO office map, which is updated whenever a new JCC/JSO site opens,  to determine potential travelling times and distances to MoJ locations before applying for a job.

Application Process

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. 

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 essential 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 alongside other elements of the post. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates in advance of the interviews.

A merit list will be held for a period of 12 months from which appointments for future vacancies may be made. 

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.

For further information please feel free to contact PIP@justice.gov.uk

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

• 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

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