Finance Business Partnering SEOs in North Shields

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. 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. 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. 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). 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. 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.

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

• 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. 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.

Qualifications

Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent, or Part qualified (actively working towards full qualification).

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates Not expected before 16 October 2026.

Technical test

Level of security checks required: Baseline Personal Security Standard (BPSS).

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.

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.

Benefits

• Annual Leave: Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.