Do you want to be at the heart of real Defence issues and play a key role in the United Kingdom’s (UK) national security? Established in April 2016, the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) delivers nuclear capability to deter threats and protect our nation. The DNO oversees all defence nuclear business (excluding operations) and is responsible for providing nuclear deterrence; sponsoring the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (all the organisations, programmes and people that sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent); and advising on UK nuclear policy, planning and international co-operation on nuclear matters. The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for over 60 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, and that of our NATO Allies. To ensure that we have a credible and capable nuclear deterrent for as long as the security situation requires, we are building four new nuclear armed submarines – known as the Dreadnought Class – and replacing our nuclear warheads. These renewal programmes will utilise world-leading technology and are a showcase in science and engineering, highlighting the prowess of British industry. Here at DNO we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but is also essential for a thriving and successful organisation. We know that diverse teams bring a wide range of perspectives, experiences and ideas, which lead to better decision-making, creativity and innovation. We have a culture where differences are celebrated and our people feel supported, included and empowered. Join us and be part of an organisation that truly values diversity and inclusion and makes a positive impact on the world. The role has line management responsibilities. You will manage two direct reports, with a total span of eight, and will be an experienced line manager who confidently empowers, motivates and coaches your team to enable effective delivery. This post is advertised at 37 hours per week. Job description This role is at the heart of ensuring effective and timely delivery of the deterrent. You will lead the financial approvals process and secretariat for all business cases in DNO, ensuring the process is well understood and adhered to across all levels. This includes ensuring seniors leaders have a good view of investment cases in the approvals’ pipeline and highlighting potential issues before they arise. You will also look after financial governance for the DNO, including setting out letters of delegation and monitoring the effectiveness of internal controls. For each strand of the team, the role will give you the opportunity to: Approvals: The team supports DNO finance and business areas throughout the entire approvals process for business cases and investment appraisals. You will be managing the pipeline of future requirements, clearly explaining the rationale for processes, understanding the strategic rationales for cases and ensuring that complex aspects of the process are understood by all stakeholders. This is an exciting growth area for the team, where you will be working with senior stakeholders to ensure accuracy, consistency and clarity in reporting so that decision makers all the way to the top have the right information at their fingertips when making multi-billion investment case decisions. Governance: You will act as the fraud focal point for DNO and advise on financial governance to ensure adherence to relevant DNO, MOD and cross-government requirements, ensuring roles and responsibilities across the business are clear and well understood. This will include giving senior leaders assurance on key aspects of internal governance, for example on our internal controls and assurance framework and liaising with internal auditors. The role is highly visible not just within Finance but in DNO and MOD overall, and gives you both day-to-day variety and opportunities for growth. Stakeholder engagement and collaboration are at the heart of our ways of working, and you will be a solutions-focused leader who can help shape and refine the teams’ service offering to our users. Innovation and continuous improvement will also be important in the role, and you will be encouraged to dedicate your and your team’s time to learning and sharing best practices within DNO and across MOD. You’ll be refining processes, seeking feedback and testing and evaluating effectiveness of what we do to ensure our service levels meet expectations but equally are at the right level of effort to deliver against benefit received. Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application. Person specification Essential Qualifications: Qualified Level 4 AAT or Certificate Level CCAB/CIMA or equivalent-Proof Must be provided by those candidates selected at interview Desirable: Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent or working towards qualification. Qualifications Required: Qualified Level 4 AAT or Certificate Level CCAB/CIMA or equivalent Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Making Effective Decisions Working Together Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Making Effective Decisions Benefits Alongside your salary of £59,690, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,292 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts. Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. Candidates can apply online via the Civil Service Jobs website by completing the application form before the deadline shown. Apply using the Civil Service Jobs apply button, filling in all required details in all sections. Using the Success Profiles link for information on format and style, ensure you provide evidence for all Behaviours and Experience sections requested in the appropriate competency style. Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience. Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (500 Words) At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability and the following: Making Effective Decisions At interview, you will be assessed against the following: Making Effective Decisions Working Together Communicating and Influencing Delivering At Pace Please note that not following the appropriate format will mean that you may be unable to reach the required grades for sift or interview. You have 250 words to answer each Behaviour (competency style).The sift will be carried only on the lead behaviour “Making Effective Decisions”, together with your CV and statement of suitability (500 words only). When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected. Qualifications: Required: Qualified Level 4 AAT or Certificate Level CCAB/CIMA or equivalent Desirable: Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent or working towards qualification Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit. The requirements for the role have been bench-marked and these will be used to sift all candidates, with those meeting the minimum requirements invited to interview. Interviews will be conducted over Microsoft Teams. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3mod.gov.uk. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements Open to UK nationals only. Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name :DNO-ExternalRecruitingmod.gov.uk Email :DNO-ExternalRecruitingmod.gov.uk Recruitment team Email :DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3mod.gov.uk Further information Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: infocsc.gov.uk. Attachments Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 31kB) MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)