Cost Assurance Analysis Service (CAAS) - Estimating Capability Development Scheme (ECDS)

Job summary

Join CAAS and build a career in defence costing through a structured 21‑month development pathway.

Cost Assurance Analysis Service (CAAS) are looking for enthusiastic, driven individuals to undertake an innovative 21-month development scheme, providing delegates with a strong background in estimating & its specialisms (please see candidate pack linked below).

The Estimating Capability Development Scheme (ECDS) provides individuals with an excellent introduction into estimating. With a highly competitive starting salary, excellent benefits and dedicated, expert trainers, this scheme offers a supportive and structured career pathway into the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and its delivery agencies.

CAAS is an established, professional and independent organisation within the MOD, operating from 13 UK locations. It has a proud 100+ year track record of supporting cost management and its outputs are critical to providing independent cost assurance advice and analytics across Defence.

CAAS is the MOD’s source of independent costing advice and exists to support the Department’s decision making and delivery of value for money. This is achieved through providing a range of specialist cost estimating, cost engineering, business analytics, and accountancy analysis products and services to MOD customers. CAAS is based predominantly at MOD Filton, Bristol with additional regional hubs at or near to key Defence suppliers.

These positions are advertised at 37 hours per week.

Following completion of all pre-employment checks, successful candidates can expect to start around the end of September 2026, when the scheme is scheduled to commence.

Job description

Training and Induction

Successful candidates will be assigned a Permanent Duty Station (PDS) at one of the advertised locations. All staff are expected to work full time and must be available for six weeks of structured training delivered in 1–2 week blocks in Bristol between 5 October and 4 December 2026. For eligible locations, travel and accommodation will be provided for the attendance of Bristol based training. This training phase provides a guided introduction to cost, schedule and risk estimating, blending classroom learning with on-the-shoulder tuition and supported self-directed study. You will be assessed throughout to help you build confidence and capability from the outset.

Development Pathway and Placements

Following the initial training period, you will embark on the remaining 18 months of the 21-month scheme. During this time, you will undertake a series of placements across CAAS, each designed to expose you to different aspects of cost estimating, cost engineering, scheduling, risk and related disciplines. You’ll complete varied tasks that gradually increase in complexity, enabling you to develop the professional skills required to contribute independently to projects. Mentoring, on-the-job learning and tailored development activities will support your progress throughout.

Assessment and Progression

All candidates must pass a Knowledge Based Assessment (KBA) as part of the scheme’s probationary period. The programme is designed to lead you towards practitioner level capability, positioning you for longer term success within the profession. At the end of the scheme, you will have the opportunity to be interviewed for promotion to Higher Executive Officer (HEO). If successful, you will be deployed into a permanent HEO role.

Working Arrangements

After the initial training phase, CAAS operates a blended hybrid working model. Staff are expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working hours on site, unless exceptional circumstances apply. This balance ensures access to support and collaboration opportunities while providing flexibility in how and where you work.

More information on CAAS and ECDS can be found within the Candidate Information Pack attached to this advert.

During the initial training phase you are required to commit to working full-time. Upon successful completion of training, part-time working options may be discussed.

Person specification

Essential:

Working knowledge of MS Excel

A minimum of three A Levels, grades BBB with at least one in a STEM based subject

Or 2 years experience working in a Finance or Analysis environment

Desirable:

A degree or HND in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) based subject

Advanced MS Excel (use of formulas)

Qualifications

- A minimum of three A Levels, grades BBB with at least one in a STEM based subject
- Or 2 years experience working in a Finance or Analysis environment

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 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 working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements 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

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 and Experience.

Behaviours and Experience.

For your application to be considered, you must provide your CV ensuring it includes the following: job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

- Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability for how they meet the requirements of the role. (250 words)

At interview and application, you will be assessed on the following behaviours from the Civil Service Success Profiles :

- Communicating and Influencing

- Working Together

If you are successful at the sift stage and invited for interview, you should be prepared to provide clear examples of difficult situations that you have dealt with and the results you achieved. Focus specifically on what you did and the impact you had on delivery.

Sift is expected to complete late March with Interviews held face to face in either London, Bristol, Rosyth, Portsmouth or Manchester during later April – early May.

Candidates progressed to interview will be expected to deliver a 10-minute Power Point presentation in relation to estimating the cost of either a holiday, a house, or a wedding. This presentation should include how you planned against a budget, what options were considered, and any potential risks to your activity. This will be followed by a 5-minute Q&A session to cover estimating skills.

Presentations must be sent to CAAS-Cap-ECDS@mod.gov.uk no later than 48 hours before your interview slot.

Please note: Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for Security Check (SC) clearance. Appointment is conditional upon obtaining and maintaining SC clearance; if clearance is not obtained, any conditional offer will be withdrawn. Please ensure you meet the minimum criteria before applying.

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-Resourcingteam3@mod.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.

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 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 : CAAS-Cap-ECDS@mod.gov.uk
• Email : CAAS-Cap-ECDS@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@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

Candidate Pack - ECDS 2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 1011kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)