Finance Business Partnering SEOs

Ministry of Justice; North Shields; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice is recruiting for a Finance Business Partner to support prisons and probation across the North East and Yorkshire regions. You will build strong relationships with budget holders, translate financial information into clear narratives, and influence financial decision making with robust analysis.

Regular travel to MoJ sites, a base location within the region, and flexible, hybrid working arrangements are available.

Qualifications

• Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent
• Part qualified (actively working towards full qualification)
• Lead behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
• Teamwork: Working Together
• Service quality: Managing a Quality Service
• Change and improvement

Responsibilities

• Budget management: influence public money use and monitor delivery
• Identify budget risks and opportunities with stakeholders
• Translate financial data for non-finance stakeholders
• Advise on governance, policy compliance and controls
• Provide coaching and training to the business
• Provide ad-hoc analysis and presentations using data

Skills

Communicating and Influencing

Working Together

Managing a Quality Service

Changing and improving

Education

CCAB / CIMA or equivalent

Part qualified (actively pursuing full qualification)

Job description

Occasional (bi-monthly / quarterly) travel may be required to other MoJ sites including MoJ HQ in London (currently Petty France and Canary Wharf), Finance Business Partnering SEOs are responsible for building strong relationships with their stakeholders, understanding the business, and explaining financial information for budget holders in an understandable manner. As a Finance Business Partner, you will be a key member of the finance function, working with other members of the team, wider MoJ Finance colleagues and key stakeholders from the business areas we support. Post locations are flexible within the North East and Yorkshire region. Regularly visiting sites is a core part of the role and provides valuable insight into how prisons and probation operate day to day. This hands‑on exposure enables you to build strong relationships and provide financial support that is grounded in operational reality. Successful candidates will be allocated a base location within the region (likely to be an MoJ HQ, JCC, or JSO) and the expectation is that candidates will fund travel costs to and from that base location. You will support Senior operational managers and their teams as well as working flexibly across the region to support the Strategic Finance Lead as required. Postcodes have been included for your reference and location will be discussed at interview. Travel Requirements Guidance on office attendance remains that civil servants are expected to spend 60% of their time in local office/Government building. Successful candidates will be allocated a base location within the North East and Yorkshire region which will be one of the locations listed above. The role holder will be required to regularly visit prisons across the region to meet with stakeholders and attend meetings. These sites are located in the North East and Yorkshire region (see postcodes above). National travel will be required occasionally. The expectation is that candidates will fund travel costs to and from their base location. If required to attend a location other than their base location, post-holders may be entitled to claim some or all of any extra expense (beyond the usual base location travel costs) in line with the T&S policy.

Role Responsibilities Overview

• Budget management - Influencing how public money is used in prisons and probation settings by working with budget holders to develop robust plans and monitoring delivery
• Risks and issues - identify and monitor budget risks and opportunities, supporting stakeholders to develop mitigating actions
• Reporting - translate financial information to non-finance stakeholders, providing the narrative behind the numbers to influence decision making
• Governance - understand and advise on governance and compliance issues

Role Responsibilities/Tasks Detail

• Developing an understanding of the business, its stakeholders, and deliverables
• Building and maintaining relationships with customer budget holders
• Providing advice on compliance with policy, standards, accountabilities, and controls
• Translating, owning, and adding insight to financial data to provide clear information and evidence to support business activities and requirements
• Providing guidance at appropriate level budget holder meetings and boards
• Reviewing and providing input to business cases/ strategic documentation
• Identifying and applying relevant costs, benefits, and investment appraisal techniques
• Providing relevant coaching and training to the business
• Providing ad‑hoc analysis and presentations to drive and support business decisions, such as efficiency and cost reduction options, using all available data and analytics tools, 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., A sift based on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing, 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 250 Communicating and Influencing Working Together Managing a Quality Service Changing and Improving Experience We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability Statement of Suitability Guidance for the Statement of Suitability A Personal Statement of up to 750 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role. Evidence of Experience CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability Technical Technical Questions Application Form Question Word Limit 250 Specific qualification requirements Please answer 'yes' to meeting the qualification requirement if you have one of the below criteria - 1) Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent, or 2)Part qualified (actively working towards full qualification) Please upload a document which evidences the above essential qualification requirementInterview stage assessments Interview Dates Not expected before 16 October 2026 Behaviours Communicating and Influencing Working Together Managing a Quality Service Changing and Improving, Technical Test Level of security checks required Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

Qualifications

• Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent, or
• Part qualified (actively working towards full qualification), Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
• Working together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and improving

Experience

• A Statement of Suitability is required consisting of a maximum of 750 words, Communicating and influencing (Lead Behaviour)
• Working together
• Managing a quality service
• Changing and improving

Technical test on the day - the details of which will be provided on the day. You will also be assessed on strengths, these are not shared in advance of interview.

Specialist Allowances In addition to salary, a pensionable, non-contractual specialist allowance may be applicable if you are fully qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent. Specialist allowances apply to certain roles only, are non-transferable to other roles and are subject to annual review.

His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). MoJ is responsible for everything that goes into running the UK's criminal and civil justice systems, creating the foundations for a safe, fair and prosperous society. We are one of the largest government departments with over 88,000 staff based across England and Wales. We are responsible for 500 courts and tribunals, 122 prisons, the policies underpinning the system and much more. The MoJ Finance Function is a high performing group with a commitment to provide the best possible information and advice to our business colleagues. This role sits in the HMPPS Finance Business Partnering Team and will provide direct Finance Business Partner support to prisons and probation in the regions along with working flexibly to support the Lead Finance Business Partner. It's a fascinating and varied business area to support and will give the postholder insight into the day to day running of prison and probation services and their aims and objectives.

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

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.
• 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.

Support

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 [e-mail]);

To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([e-mail]);

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.