Air Strategic Finance - In-Year Management Assistant Head

Job summary

Are you a motivated, organised, and pro-active individual looking for an exciting opportunity within a fast-moving Finance function? Can you lead effectively with confidence and influence? Do you have a passion for leading, mentoring, and supporting teams and driving continuous improvement? If so, then there is an opportunity to join our large, diverse and inclusive Air Finance team supporting the Royal Air Force and wider defence at HQ Air Command, RAF High Wycombe.

We are seeking a Grade 7 in the In-Year Management team as part of our Strategic Finance function. The role is both challenging and high-profile, enabling the individual to engage with and influence the highest levels of strategic thinking and financial decision making in Air Command and the wider Ministry of Defence. This role will be responsible for managing the In-Year

Reporting team overseeing spend of around £8bn. The position entails regular engagement with key Air stakeholders, including Director Resources, Head of Air Finance, and Air Command’s military Resources and Plans team. There is additional engagement with key external stakeholders including the Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ) and Strategic Finance in the Department of State.

Ideally, applicants should hold a full professional accountancy qualification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, ICAEW or equivalent at Level 7) to complement substantial finance experience. We will also consider applications from experienced part-qualified Level 7 accountants on condition they can commit to completing their qualification within 18 months of appointment.

This role will likely include occasional travel to MoD Main Building in Central London as well other MoD establishments nationally.

In line with the Civil Service Hybrid Working policy, all Air Finance team members are expected to attend their main duty office (in this case RAF High Wycombe) regularly. Candidates are advised to research transport options and journey times before applying for the role.

This role is suitable for hybrid working. Job holders may work from home or another MOD site, with regular attendance at High Wycombe as required based on individual, team and business needs

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Due to the nature of the role, part time and job share arrangements may be considered, subject to the requirement that full-time hours are fully covered (or business needs are met).

Job description

This position reports to the Grade 6 Head of In-Year Management, Financial Management and Reporting and MI. The position offers the individual the opportunity to interact with and impact top-tier strategic planning and key decision making within Air Command. You will regularly advise senior management including at the 2-star/Director level, both military and civilians. The role will include engagement across the Ministry of Defence including the Department of State, Military Strategic Headquarters and the National Armaments Directorate.

Please be aware that the role may be subject to change as the implementation of Defence Reform continues.

Key responsibilities for this post include but not limited to:

• Leading and directing in-year financial management across Air Command, working in partnership with Air Resources and Plans, Finance Business Partners and other stakeholders to deliver this objective;
• Leading and developing the In-Year Reporting team;
• Support reporting and decision-making on the in-year management financial position through advice to the Grade 6, Head of Air Finance and Director of Resources;
• Drive the continuous improvement of Air finance processes, particularly better coordination and join-up between the in-year management team, the wider Financial Management and Reporting and MI teams and Finance Business Partners. Encourage the sharing of knowledge and best practice while driving efficiency and effectiveness;
• Build strong relationships across a broad stakeholder base, including across Air Finance, Air Senior Leadership, Air Resources and Plans and beyond into other front-line commands, MSHQ and the Department of State;
• Provision of SME technical knowledge, financial insight and expertise to all stakeholders regarding MSHQ and MOD centre requirements

Person specification

It is essential that the successful applicant is able to demonstrate:

• Proven leadership skills and abilities;

• Strong financial acumen;

• An ability to work across teams and boundaries to deliver common objectives;
• An ability to work flexibly in a fast-paced and constantly evolving environment of change and ambiguity;
• Effective stakeholder management and engagement skills;
• A track record of successfully managing and developing teams and driving continuous improvement;

It is essential that the successful applicant has:

• Previous experience in a finance role;
• Extensive accountancy and financial management experience, preferably including a professional accountancy qualification (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent), or substantial progress towards gaining a qualification;

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,630, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,854 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Flexible working
• Training and personal development opportunities
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• 25 days paid annual leave rising to 30 days on completion of 5 years’ service
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• A highly competitive Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Subsidised membership to a fitness suite and lunchtime/evening Military led fitness classes
• Café and shop on site

Please note:

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.

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

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Please present your evidence using the S.T.A.R. format (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

Applicants are strongly advised to ensure that their submission uses the STAR format and demonstrates the behaviours detailed at G7 level in the Civil Service Success Profiles – Civil Service Behaviours booklet. Comprehensive coverage on Success Profiles can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

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 (750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provides evidence of your suitability for the role.

At sift, candidates will be assessed against their CV, Statement of suitability and the following:

Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership

In the event of a large number of applications, we will only use the CV and Statement of Suitability to assess your application during the sift stage.

At interview, candidates will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Working Together

You will also be assessed against Strengthsmapped from the Civil Service Success Profiles behaviours; Communicating and Influencing, and Changing and Improving: Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK

• Candidates will be asked to prepare a short 5 minute presentation – the topic will be advised closer to the interview date.

Further information:

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.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into 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.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 : Jeremy Ankers
• Email : jeremy.ankers101@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam5@mod.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: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

20230201 - Air Command's Applicant Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 499kB)Defence Civil Servant Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)Defence Internal Brief Notice Opens in new window (docx, 39kB)