About the job Job summary There is currently an exciting opportunity to join the Scrutiny and Approvals Team based at Army HQ Andover. The Army Scrutiny & Approvals Team (ASAT) are responsible for improving the quality of Investment Appraisals and Business Cases across the Army as well as being responsible for providing an independent non-advocate scrutiny function within the TLB. ASAT supports Director Resources in the scrutiny of Army funded investment decisions, both equipment and non-equipment, from project inception to final approval with a particular focus on requirement and financial scrutiny and value for money. The team are responsible for the underpinning process and policy guidance and aim to provide advice, assistance and share best practice to projects of any value. The post is part of a team responsible for the scrutiny and assurance of business cases generated as part of the Armys delegated approvals processes working to the Assistant Head of Scrutiny and Approvals. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Job description In this post you will be: Providing assurance and scrutiny across the Army Programme for investment decisions, for In Service Support and the Equipment Programme. Provide advice and guidance on the construction of all investment casework, including investment appraisals, business cases, project evaluations and other casework. Provide and deliver a continuous programme of training workshops and awareness briefs across a variety of sites within the Top Level Budget (TLB) Review and provide formal feedback on all draft Investment Appraisals, Business Cases and Project Evaluations over the TLB threshold of 10M (but some at a lower threshold, e.g. infrastructure cases) Scrutinise and staff completed casework to the Army Investment Committee. Engage with projects over the MOD Investment Approvals Committee thresholds, providing guidance, advice and TLB level scrutiny and coordinate staffing within TLB. Provide guidance on the approvals processes within Army TLB to relevant organisations and Individuals. Act as the lead Secretary to the Army Investment Committee. Opportunity to develop presentation skills through teaching of the ASAT course The successful candidate will have the opportunity to complete an Accountancy Apprenticeship as part of the Learning and Development opportunities offered for this role (AAT/CIMA) Person specification Essential Criteria: Given the high profile of this post it is essential that the applicant has previous experience of scrutiny and approvals and be able to provide examples of this. Candidates will need to demonstrate their experience of providing formal feedback Candidate will need excellent writing skills, as well as using good communication skills Candidates need to be confident in working with senior staff It is essential that youve have experience at leading a team and particularly coaching and mentoring individual team members to enhance their performance. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to complete an Accountancy Apprenticeship as part of the Learning and Development opportunities offered for this role (AAT/CIMA) Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Working Together Delivering at Pace We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Finance Competence Framework 6 Investment Appraisals Competence 6.1 in particular how to apply value for money scrutiny to expenditure proposals. Benefits Alongside your salary of 44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes 12,917 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, Experience and Technical skills. 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. At application you will be assessed against the following: CV with job history Statement of suitability of no more than 750 words outlining how you meet the essential criteria detailed within the person specification. At application you will also be assessed against the following behaviours: Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace At interview you will be assessed against the following behaviours: Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace Seeing the Bigger Picture Working Together At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Technical Skills: Finance Competence Framework 6 Investment Appraisals Competence 6.1 in particular how to apply value for money scrutiny to expenditure proposals. At interview you will also be asked a question relating to the Finance Competence Framework 6 Investment Appraisals Competence 6.1 in particular how to apply value for money scrutiny to expenditure proposals Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed but will be held in person. We endeavour to stick to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs. 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 security check (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 This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) 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 theCivil 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 : Amanda Freemantle Email : amanda.freemantle635mod.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.