Financial Management Development Scheme Information for Applicants GFP2013
Departmental Responsibilities and Priorities The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is one of the largest government departments. It works to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. MoJ is responsible for these parts of the justice system: courts; prisons; probation services; attendance centres. The Department also works in partnership with the other government departments and agencies to reform the criminal justice system, to serve the public and support the victims of crime. It is also responsible for making new laws, strengthening democracy, and safeguarding human rights. MoJ is carrying out a significant transformation of its organisation and the justice system. Transforming Justice is helping to create a more effective, less costly and more response justice system. In 2013 MoJ s priorities are to: reduce reoffending by using the skills of the public, private and voluntary sectors reduce youth crime by putting education at the centre of youth justice build a prison system that delivers maximum value for money reduce the cost of legal aid and ensure it helps those cases that genuinely need it improve the way our courts are run and put the needs of victims first The Department has 38 agencies and public bodies, some of the largest ones with which MoJ works include: HM Courts and Tribunals Service HM Prison Service Probation Service National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Legal Aid Agency Youth Justice Board Find out more by visiting: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice Number and Types of Role Offered We are offering up to 7 graduate trainee accountant places. All will involve a variety of financial management roles in business partnering; financial planning and strategy; performance management; project and programme finance; financial accounting and corporate reporting. There are lots of opportunities in both the corporate centre of MoJ and operationally in interesting high profile areas. Location All are likely to be London based. Institutes supported CIMA, CIPFA, ACCA and ICAEW 2
Support for Study Towards Professional Qualifications A 3 to 4 year programme of study towards a professional accountancy qualification. We cover the full cost of study including initial registration with the professional body and training provider, materials, tuition, examination, exemption fees and annual institute membership subscription. Generous study leave arrangements which include training days, revision courses and the examination (see table below). A qualified, accountancy Mentor who will support you throughout your studies (and early career). An Accountancy Trainee buddy. A more experienced trainee doing your chosen qualification and who can give informal support to you as you go through your course and start in the Department. The Institutes have accredited our Finance Profession Training Scheme, which opens additional channels of support. We also have good partnering arrangements with key training providers, which bring further benefits to trainees. Criteria for Entry Minimum 2.2 university degree. Civil Service Nationality Rules apply. Other Development Management and Leadership training opportunities will be open to you, as well as the learning opportunities that are run for the MoJ Finance community. From the outset, you will have a programme of work placements that will provide all the practical experience you will need to be successful in obtaining your professional qualification. The MoJ Finance Profession Training Scheme provides a range of additional development and networking opportunities, including sponsorship to cross-government events. Salary Progression and Benefits The starting salary for a Band D, which would be your entry Pay Band on appointment, is currently 24,007-28,000 (Inner London Pay Range). We expect you to progress, through promotion, to a Band B Specialist role (the current minimum salary is 38,707 based in Inner London) within 4-5 years. You will have the potential to be future leaders and high performing trainees may achieve greater progression and reward through career advancement within the Ministry of Justice. All graduate recruitment trainees will start their career in the MoJ as a Pay Band D (Executive Officer) (unless already a member of the civil service and higher graded). This grade is the third grade up in the Department s grading structure. Depending on performance levels and successful completion of stage 2 of the accountancy studies (the definition of which is shown in the table below), you may then have the opportunity to be considered for promotion to Pay Band C (Higher Executive Officer/NOMS Manager G). After promotion to Pay Band C, individuals compete for promotion in the same way that other staff do. We believe that the scheme will provide a range of experience and training that positions individuals to make the most of their potential. We expect qualified accountants to achieve Pay Band B (Senior Executive Officer) within two years of qualification. 3
Summary of MoJ trainee pay and progression arrangements Stage CIPFA CIMA ACCA ICAEW Additional reward On joining scheme - - - - Nil On completion of stage 1 Certificate Certificate Fundamentals Knowledge On completion of stage 2 Diploma Level On completion of stage 3 Final Test of Professional Competence (FTPC) On qualification Managerial Level Strategic Level and T4 Fundamentals Skills Professional Stage Knowledge Modules Application Modules Nil Allowance 1,050 (national) 1,500 (inner London) Advanced Stage Allowance increase to 2,100 (national) 3,000 (inner London) Allowance increase to 3,150 (national) 5,000 (inner London) Hours We offer flexible working hours arrangements. Probation You will be subject to satisfactorily completing a 6 month probation period for this role. Pension There is a choice of pension scheme to join (usual PCSPS options apply). Leave Annual leave entitlement is 23 days on appointment, increasing to 25 days after one year and 30 days after 5 years. All staff are also entitled to public holidays (8 per year) and privilege holidays (2.5 per year), which are in addition to annual leave entitlement. Study Leave There are a range of study options to choose from (ranging from day release, evening courses, weekend courses and distance learning with on-line learning support) and you will be provided with study leave to attend your training. MoJ Professional Qualification Exam Leave Table Exam leave Per 3 hour Paper (Post-Certificate level) Days Referral Papers (Re-sits) Per 3 hour Paper Study Leave 6 Study leave 3 Revision Leave 3 - - Exam Leave 1 Exam leave 1 Total 10 Total 4 Days 4
Equal Opportunities We welcome applications from candidates regardless of ethnicity, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other relevant factor. Our jobs are designed to recognise flexible working practices. FMDS Experience - Joshua Collins I joined the MoJ s scheme as part of the 2012 intake. With support and advice, I chose to sit the ACCA qualification due to the balance between Management and Financial Accounting. I opted to study via day release at a learning provider that is close to where I live. I found that this manner of studying suited my needs best and, through careful workload management and planning in advance, allowed me to manage the commitment. My first placement was a Management Accounting role in Corporate Finance as the Budget Manager for two prominent internal directorates. This is a common starting role for members of the FMDS as it introduces core elements of Management Accounting in terms of forecasting and budgeting. My current placement is with the Legal Aid Agency. I forecast spending of the Legal Aid Fund, which is paid out to lawyers representing legally aided defendants. This is a technical role which involves running large amounts of data through incredibly complex forecasting and statistical models. To accommodate for this complexity, I have been taught SQL and VBA skills that are very relevant to accountants as the required technical proficiency continues to rise. In addition to my business as usual responsibilities, I have been fortunate enough to be involved in a variety of other projects. The most rewarding project was organising a conference for MoJ s finance trainees. I organised workshops and talks that would be relevant and interesting to trainees and developed my communication and team working skills through collaboration with the working party. MoJ s scheme structure, combined with the exemptions gained from my degree for ACCA have allowed me quickly to achieve the required competencies to be considered for promotion. 5