19258 - Head of Agency Financial Accounts
National, National
Full Time
12 hours ago
$71,381 - $85,257 GBP
Key skills
CArtificial IntelligenceAgileLeadershipBudgetingTeam LeadershipCollaboration
About this role
General Information
Salary
The national salary range is £71,381 - £80,419, London salary range is £75,674 - £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
09-Jul-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 6
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
19258
Descriptions & requirements
Job description
Job Title/ Position: Head of Agency Financial Accounts
Band/Grade: G6
Number of Vacancies: 1
Business Group: COO
Directorate: FMC
Location: National, occasional travel required
Hours: 37
Working Pattern: Permanent
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 Ministry of Justice sits at the heart of public service. It works to protect and advance the principles of justice that underpin our democracy. Common with other public services the department has also been at the forefront of the Governments wider efficiency agenda, supporting fiscal consolidation by driving innovation across our frontline services to improve productivity and through carefully prioritising diminishing resources.
The Ministry’s Financial Management & Control directorate brings together multiple teams from across the Ministry into consolidated teams and centres of excellence to deliver high quality financial management and reporting services for the Ministry.
The Ministry is looking to recruit a technically strong team leader to head the Agency Financial Accounts team, which are responsible for the preparation of the accounts for HM Courts & Tribunal Service, Legal Aid Agency, Office of the Public Guardian and Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. We are looking to recruit an experienced practitioner with an ability to analyse complex information, provide written and verbal advice and explanations that can be easily understood by both finance professionals and non-finance stakeholders. Experience of financial accounts production is essential.
The Head of Financial Accounts - Agency will also play a key role in developing the MoJ Financial Accounting Centre of Excellence. Alongside strengthening capacity and capability, we need to ensure that the financial accounting function is agile and able to quickly prioritise work across the organisation to meet competing demands, therefore it is expected that this position will gain a solid understanding of accounting practices across the whole of the Ministry and is able to take on specific tasks/prepare advice in all areas as required.
Successful candidates may be seconded to other parts of the Ministry and its Agencies.
Role Purpose
This role will be responsible for the preparation of statutory financial accounts for four of the Ministry of Justice’s agencies, providing transparency and accountability over their performance and finances.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities are as follows:
- Leading the production of unqualified HMCTS, LAA, OPG and CICA Annual Report and Accounts, and submissions for consolidation into MoJ departmental accounts and the Departmental WGA submission
- Leading the relationship with National Audit Office during external audit of annual report and accounts
- Providing sound technical accounting advice, acting as subject matter expert on the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM), Managing Public Money, Consolidated Budgeting Guidance and Cabinet Office spending controls
- Attending and contributing to Board, Executive Committees and Audit Committees as required
- Supporting the continuous improvement of business and financial control processes and helping build and develop financial capability and professionalism both inside the function and across the business
- Identifying and ensuring appropriate management of risks to delivery;
- Co-ordinating the response to emerging issues across the wider finance function;
- Managing and coaching staff within the Financial Accounting Centre of Excellence, and ensuring that all professional training and development requirements are met
Travel
Occasional travel may be required.
Key skills and knowledge-
Successful candidates will:
- be strong leaders who can build highly effective teams and influential relationships;
- be innovative in how we provide and use financial accounts and information;
- be a credible and authentic leader, with the ability to engage and motivate people to deliver results;
- show the ability and willingness to make difficult decisions and stand by them; and,
- be able to communicate effectively to inspire your team and stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.
- Proven ability to meet tight deadlines within unpredictable and demanding environments whilst delivering high quality products.
You will have:
- Comprehensive knowledge of IFRS and/or FReM reporting requirements and experience of dealing with external auditors. (assessed via CV and 250 word technical question)
- Excellent team leadership skills (assessed via Leadership behaviour)
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven record of building strong working relationships with stakeholders; and (assessed via behaviour, Communicating and Influencing)
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.
Sift
The following Grade 6 Civil Service Behaviours are essential to this post and will be assessed via 500 word examples.
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details, including by grade:
Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK
Experience of financial reporting under IFRS and/or FReM requirements will be assessed based on a candidates’ CV.
Required Technical skill
Please describe your ability to make complex accounting judgements under IFRS/FReM reporting requirements and experience of dealing with external auditors.
Professional Competencies / Requirements
CCAB qualified accountant (i.e. ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) or a recognised equivalent.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, leadership. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.
Candidates invited to Interview
Interview will be held in person – further details will be sent to shortlisted candidates. During the interview, we will be assessing you on the Behaviours listed above and Strengths from the Success Profiles framework.
You will also be asked an experience question relating to financial reporting under IFRS and/or FReM requirements and a Technical question regarding accounting judgments.
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 19258
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 19258
Job Description Attachment
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BC381- JD - G6 Head of Financial Accounts Agency.docx (Job Description Attachment)
Application form stage assessments
Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Leadership, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
500
Leadership
Seeing the Big Picture
Communicating and Influencing
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Experience Questions
Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Experience Questions
Technical
Technical Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Accounting Judgements
Specific qualification requirements
CCAB qualified accountant (i.e. ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) or a recognised equivalent.
Interview stage assessments
Interview Dates
Not expected before w/c 10 August 2026
Behaviours
Leadership
Seeing the Big Picture
Communicating and Influencing
Experience
Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here.
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Experience Questions
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Technical
Accounting Judgements
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.