Joint Head of Purchase to Pay Operations (Ref: 9815)

Ministry of Justice; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK is seeking a Joint Head of Purchase to Pay Operations. You will transform P2P processes while managing a team and engaging with stakeholders across Finance and Commercial teams. This role requires strong leadership, communication skills, and expertise in P2P policies. The position offers opportunities for professional growth in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Salary and Civil Service pension with employer contribution

Access to learning and development

Flexible working options

Inclusive culture and diverse environment

Annual Leave, Public Holidays, Season Ticket Advance

Qualifications

• Ability to articulate and deliver complex change to a large, non-specialist audience.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team to deliver an excellent service.
• Excellent communication, networking and negotiating skills.
• Experience of creating training materials and process guidance.

Responsibilities

• Lead on implementing the policies, processes, and communications needed for P2P.
• Jointly manage changes in processes for business readiness.
• Lead the department’s existing P2P Support team to improve service delivery.

Skills

Strong knowledge of best practice P2P policies and processes

Excellent communication, networking and negotiating skills

Ability to articulate and deliver complex change

Ability to lead and motivate a team

Reporting and analytical skills using a major ERP system

Intermediate/Advanced Excel

Education

GCSEs/A Levels

Tools

Oracle

SAP

Workday

Job description

Overview

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a major government department at the heart of the justice system. We serve the public by upholding the rule of law, and by delivering an efficient, fair, timely and effective justice system in which the public has confidence. We Enforce the decisions of the court: we punish offenders and work to reduce reoffending; we prevent victims by changing lives. In partnership with an independent judiciary, we run the courts and tribunals service, helping individuals, businesses and families resolve their disputes. We protect vulnerable members of society and children and help to ensure victims of crime get justice. We provide legal aid and advice for those cases where it is justified. We develop policy on all aspects of law and justice, both domestically and internationally, helping to build a legal and rights framework that is clear and proportionate, and that commands confidence around the world.

The role sits within the Financial Reporting, Transactions and Governance team within the Ministry’s Financial Management, Control, Risk & Governance Directorate. The 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.

Stakeholders and customers include the finance and commercial functions, senior leaders in MoJ, including the Chief Operating Officer, the Permanent Secretary and the Executive Committee, HM Treasury, and Parliament (the Justice Select Committee).

Role purpose

A Joint Head of Purchase to Pay (P2P) Operations is sought to support the substantive postholder in transforming and managing P2P processes in the Ministry of Justice, working with colleagues in Finance and Commercial teams. The successful applicant will work closely with other P2P Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), practitioners and senior leaders to develop and implement transformed P2P processes, including how it will interface with existing teams. They will liaise with senior stakeholders from across the business to understand users’ needs and obtain buy-in. They will jointly lead and manage teams delivering these important services.

Responsibilities

• Lead on implementing the policies, processes and the communications and engagement needed to transform and transact P2P processes.
• Agree and implement new policies working with other lead SMEs and ensure understanding of and compliance with policies, backed by robust processes.
• Jointly manage changes in processes, putting in place measures to ensure business readiness.
• Lead the department’s existing P2P Support team and the MoJ HQ Transaction team and further develop their capabilities to deliver an excellent service, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Work flexibly and undertake other duties reasonably requested by line management commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility.

Key skills and knowledge

• Strong knowledge of best practice P2P policies and processes
• Excellent communication, networking and negotiating skills
• Ability to articulate and deliver complex change to a large, non-specialist audience
• Ability to lead and motivate a team to deliver an excellent service
• Reporting and analytical skills using a major ERP system and Intermediate/Advanced Excel (e.g., Oracle, SAP, Workday)

Success Profiles

Success Profiles enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by assessing the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach focuses on finding the right candidate for the specific role.

Civil Service Behaviours

The following Grade 7 Civil Service Behaviours are essential to this post and will be assessed upon application:

• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Experience and ability

Ability

• Ability to articulate and deliver complex change to a large, non-specialist audience. (Changing and Improving)
• Ability to lead and motivate a team to deliver an excellent service. (Managing a Quality Service and Delivering at Pace)
• Excellent communication, networking and negotiating skills. (Communicating and Influencing)

Experience

• Experience of creating training materials and process guidance (Managing a Quality Service and Delivering at Pace)

Desirable criteria

GCSEs/A levels. Please note that whilst we don’t assess or score ‘desirable’ criteria, we may consider evidence provided that demonstrates meeting the desirable elements of the role, only after essential criteria is assessed and where there is a need to differentiate between closely scored candidates.

Travel

The team is dispersed geographically; regular travel will be required, especially to Birmingham.

Application process

Success Profiles - GOV.UK

Behaviour-based application: please provide examples for the behaviours listed under Specific Experience or Ability Skills Required. See below for the required behaviours and experience questions.

• Changing and Improving (lead behaviour)
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Experience – please tell us your experience in leading teams within a Purchase to Pay (P2P) environment.

CV – please provide an anonymised copy

If we receive a large number of applications, we will carry out an initial sift on the Experience question of leading teams in a complex Purchase to Pay environment.

Interview

Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. You will be assessed on the following:

• Behaviours: Changing and Improving, Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace
• Experience: Leading a Purchase to Pay team
• Technical: P2P expertise for invoice holds, accruals, and performance

Strengths will be assessed at interview. This is not shared in advance.

For any queries about the role please contact DianeRogers [e-mail]

Benefits

• Salary and Civil Service pension with employer contribution (as stated)
• Access to learning and development
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• Inclusive culture and diverse environment
• Annual Leave, Public Holidays, Season Ticket Advance

Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 25th September 2025. For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances, and answers to general queries, please visit the Candidate Information Page.

Apply via the MOJ careers page using the link provided in the original material.