We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology, and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuring you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently – we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. However, recognising the benefits of face to face working, there is an expectation that you would be in the office at least 60% of the time (3 days a week).
About the job
The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. The British Army comprises of 112,000 experienced, committed, and highly skilled Regular and Reserve soldiers, protecting the United Kingdom’s interests at home and abroad, providing a safe and secure environment supported by the civilian workforce. The Army is commanded from the Army Headquarters Andover and the Chief of the General Staff has the responsibility for preparing, training, and equipping the forces under his command for operations worldwide. You will be part of this by crafting the future of the Army Finance function.
The Director Resources is responsible for planning and leading the Army TLB and ensuring that decisions at the highest level of the Army are taken with full understanding of their financial implications. We will provide you with an exciting and worthwhile career supporting the Armed Services and will actively encourage and support further training and development.
This Deputy Head Finance Operations is a key leadership role responsible for understanding and reporting the financial position at strategic level providing insightful analysis and highlighting the key issues, risks, and opportunities to the Finance Leadership team and the Business. Ensuring that management reporting meets end user needs and is presented to best convey key messages using continuous improvement principles. Ensuring that financial accounting and reporting is accurately completed both within corporate reporting systems and for input of accounting entries to support decision making.
We are seeking a qualified and experienced Finance individual to lead the Financial Operations for the TLB, to maintain a strategic understanding of the overall financial position of the organisation and business areas. The post-holder's technical accountancy knowledge, insight, and ability to work constructively with people at all grades will make them a valued contributor to the decision-making process and a champion for change. The post-holder will lead a large team and will establish effective working relationships with stakeholders from across the Army and wider Finance Profession.
Please be advised that the Army is conducting a review of its current Finance Operating Model. At the time of advertisement this post is deemed to have an enduring requirement and it is not anticipated that this post will be likely to change in the immediate future, however, is in scope of the ongoing review.
Job description
This is a challenging leadership role responsible for understanding and reporting the financial position at strategic level providing insightful analysis and highlighting the key issues, risks and opportunities to the Finance Leadership team and the Business.
Typical responsibilities include but are not limited to:
* Taking accountability and ownership for the production and management review of the organisation’s financial accounts, highlighting key issues and material changes
* Ensuring that financial reporting and accounting is accurately completed both within corporate reporting systems and for input of accounting entries to support decision making
* Maintaining a strategic understanding of the overall financial position of the organisation and business areas. Anticipating and responding to changes in the business, helping develop solutions to high-risk areas of activity
* Providing advice and guidance to their team, the wider Finance staff, and the Business on all aspects of Financial Accounting
* Ensuring appropriate controls are in place, understood, and fully adopted, to protect value, and promoting zero-tolerance to fraud and corruption
* Providing the consolidated financial position at various levels within the organisation.
* Utilising information obtained from Finance Business Partner reviews to provide a draft of commentary
* Producing instructions for completion of both IYM and ABC, setting and agreeing the internal timelines for completion, taking into account Strategic Head Office requirements
* Inputting, drafting, and presenting reports to Audit Committee and other key stakeholders on the key features of the financial accounts and status of key issues and risks
* Being accountable for an effective auditor liaison, leading engagement with Strategic Head Office and/or auditors where impacts are material or issues complex, monitoring progress of audits, outstanding audit issues and implementation of recommendations
* Providing accounting / tax advice where issues are escalated by the team, engaging with the Technical Accounting and Tax Centres of Excellence to agree accounting treatments as required
* Supporting Strategic Head Office in implementing new accounting standards, or changes made to existing rules, feeding in the organisational impact
* Providing support and guidance to ensure material losses follow the appropriate approvals route
* Ensuring data integrity for use in the MOD Annual Report and Accounts (ARAc), estimates and other statutory external reporting processes overseeing the following:
o Continuously strive to improve the service provision, promptly addressing issues and ensuring that processes or ways of working are adapted, and customers are informed where there is an impact
o Leading the input and support to significant change programmes, where there is an impact to how your team will provide their services.
* This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Person specification
To be successful in the role, it is essential that you can demonstrate:
* Experience of leading a team with excellent people management skills with the ability to promote team cohesion, adapt to changes and improvements
* Experience of working in senior finance role(s)
* Experience in leading and/or influencing organisational change
* Ability to work flexible and adapt to changing priorities
* Strong communicator, able to communicate at all levels and excellent presentation skills
* Ability to develop collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders and teams, spanning the junior to senior level
* Highly developed planning and organisational skills in a financial environment and experience of delivery and meeting tight deadlines
Essential Skills and Experience:
* Qualified with CCAB, CIMA, or equivalent with financial experience over an extended period
* Experience in relevant strategic financial roles
* Clear evidence of strong numeric ability
Qualifications
Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Changing and Improving
* Making Effective Decisions
* Communicating and Influencing
* Leadership
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Changing and Improving
* Making Effective Decisions
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Finance Competence Framework: Competence 4 – In Year Financial Management
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £70,540, Ministry of Defence contributes £20,435 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other benefits for Army civil servants include:
* 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
* Highly competitive pension scheme
* Personal and professional development of skills
* Alternative working patterns for many roles
* Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
* Enhanced parental and adoption leave
* 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
* Learning and Development opportunities tailored to your role
* Free parking
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 14th February 2025. For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below. #J-18808-Ljbffr