Programme Accountant - SEO

Band B

Location: London / National

Salary Range: London - £41,747 - £47,591 / National - £36,049 - £41,095

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).

Merit List:

HMCTS run a Merit List, where candidates who are unsuccessful at interview, by only a few points, can be offered other roles, at the same band, for up to 12 months!

So, it is always a good idea to apply for a role, and try as best as you can at interview, as you never know what future opportunities it may open! You will be able to view your status via the application screen. If you have been added to the Merit List, your status will show either Merit or Reserve list.

Introduction:

Do you want to be part of one of the largest tech programmes in Central Government? Do you want to be empowered to be creative, curious and have your ideas listened to?

These are exciting times at Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). As an agency of the MoJ, we support the judiciary across England and Wales, and we are looking for talented people to help us achieve our ambitions. It will be challenging, important and rewarding.

DTS is creating a place in which it is great to do work and part of our offer is brilliant training opportunities and support from expert colleagues. As well as that you’ll find flexible working, an inclusive culture and a place where your opinion is valued.

Job Description:

The role is central to the relationship between the Infrastructure Programme, Projects, business areas and the Finance function. The role will proactively engage with the Deputy Programme Director, Project Managers, Finance and Commercial Business Partners and Suppliers and use their analytical and influencing skills to ensure the programme and project business cases and budgets are well constructed, costs are managed and monitored including tracking invoices and payment release, as well as providing regular reports on programme and project budget performance such as actual, committed, forecasted costs.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Acting in an intelligent customer role to actively work with the programme stakeholders to understand cost drivers and performance priorities and interpret financial implications of decisions.
  • Developing a deep knowledge of diverse programme and business areas, their needs and priorities, looking at the bigger picture to make sure that the programme understands the financial implications of decisions and available choices.
  • Providing analysis to support decision making and using benchmarking to highlight opportunities and add value.
  • Building, maintaining and influencing strong relationships with key stakeholders and budget holders, acting as the link between the programme, finance and commercial colleagues, ensuring that variances, forecasts and planning assumptions are reported and understood.
  • Responsible for ensuring a strong partnership exists with key stakeholders to support programme budget performance and delivery of plans.
  • Identify and analyse areas of programme costs providing regular briefs for programme leadership and finance business partners review.
  • Ensuring that the programme leadership can make decisions based on accurate financial information, by bringing business intelligence and operational knowledge to budget setting, forecasting and financial reporting.
  • Supporting with the identification of sustainable programme benefits and cost savings targets and initiatives.
  • Supporting on the construction of business cases through financial challenge and the identification of cost implications of options considered.
  • Supporting the compilation of resource and managed services statement of works and managing the subsequent tracking of resources, service invoices, payment release and accruals.
  • Tracking and reporting on programme and project purchase orders.
  • The post holder is required to 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 this post.

Skills & Experience:

  • A minimum of two years’ experience in a programme or project finance or analytical role.
  • A high level of competence in budget management, planning, forecasting and risk identification combined with excellent problem-solving skills. Strong Excel, attention to detail and data analysis skills combined with a clear understanding of how to present complex financial information in a clear and understandable way to gain decisions.
  • Will work constructively with the Infrastructure programme team, suppliers and finance business partners and provide programme and project budget performance (monthly/ annual) metrics in a presentable form which will facilitate senior management budget decision-making process.
  • Will need to analyse large numerical datasets, identify salient trends, resolve root cause(s) of billing/ invoice discrepancies and ensure payments are released in line with standard operating procedures as per supplier statement of works.
  • Understand own level of responsibility and empower others to make decisions where appropriate.
  • Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions.
  • Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making.
  • Display confidence when making difficult decisions, even if they prove to be unpopular.
  • Consult with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered.
  • Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits and risks.