Finance Military Operations (J8) Head Finance Business Partner

Job summary

The role is part of the MAB Senior Leadership Team, primarily advising 2* Commander MAB.

The MAB Head FBP role is the senior financial advisor in MAB responsible for providing financial advice, business intelligence, support, and assurance for all aspects of both core and operationally funded spend against budget in MAB. This includes the provision of holistic advice on financial matters across MAB Ops and Core spend, reaching into MAB’s Chief Operating Officer and the Business Management function, the Cyber and Specialist Operations Command Unified Finance function, and the Finance Military Operations team.

This includes CSOC’s military operations spend in MAB, delivering the J8 function within the headquarters, and coordination with the other Front-Line Commands and delivery organisations in connection with delivering Commander led operations. This post provides single point of contact for Commander MAB across Core and Operational spend. The Head FBP will be abreast of the budgetary position in each operational region, as well as that of the Core position via the Core MAB FBPs.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The post holder will lead the embedded team for financing military operations and core finance business partnering within MAB, always maintaining the operational context. They will problem solve and enable operations at the speed of relevance, preserving operational security and they will hold delegated authorities to enable them to do so. They will work as part of the financing military operations pillar to provide a single picture ultimately to Commander CSOC, Military Strategic Headquarters, Department of State and HMT and they will support the development of common services where appropriate including assurance. This will help ensure that operational demand signal is reflected in finance processes and future systems.

The Head FBP will maintain strong relationships with senior and wider stakeholders, bring insight and influence through effective communication, and ensure Finance is considered in delivering against strategic plans and objectives.

The role is accountable to CSOC’s Deputy Director FinMilOps and will require significant engagement with Commander MAB and his Command Team, MSHQ, Strategic Finance, and Treasury senior officials. Within FinMilOps, the role will also require significant engagement with the MAB operational regions, in-country Commanders, FinMilOps Finance Services and the Permanent Joint Headquarters Head FBP. The Head FBP will be part of the CSOC Finance Senior Leadership Team. The Head FBP will also be an active member of the CSOC FBP service and Community of Practice.

The role is also required to work closely with the National Armaments Director Group across capability and infrastructure expenditure, to highlight risk and opportunity for delivery to MAB, as the customer.

Person specification

The ideal candidate will be very well organised and a strong communicator, who is able to quickly build good working relationships with a variety of stakeholders within the organisation and externally, use their initiative to solve problems and who can deal with a wide range of people.

Job holders need to be familiar with a number of finance specialisations including forecasting, financial planning, governance, requirement scrutiny and transactional processes (invoice payments, accruals, prepayments etc.).

The role requires a high standard of IT skills including the use of Excel and Word and a familiarity with Oracle-based systems.

The successful candidate will undertake line management, mentoring and countersigning tasks as required by the role. This role has 3 direct reports and 7 countersigning roles. The role also currently oversees the J8 business management team for Core Finance with one additional direct report and a further ten posts

They will be responsible for reporting to Strategic Finance through monthly review processes and other governance, along with developing and implementing strategies that align with CSOC’s objectives, ensuring operational excellence and adherence to government standards. They will cultivate a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across teams.

The successful applicant will be expected to be in West Brompton on a regular basis. Given the nature of operational requirements, access to higher-classification systems and attendance at in-person meetings will necessitate time in the office of at least 80% of the week and potentially more as required by business needs.

There is potential for the post holder to periodically visit operational theatres to conduct assurance checks, with the possibility of observing operational activity first-hand. This would be subject to successful completion of training and a medical.

Candidates must hold a recognised professional accountancy qualification, CCAB, CIMA or equivalent.

Qualifications

Candidates must hold a recognised professional accountancy qualification, CCAB, CIMA or equivalent.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £72,840, Ministry of Defence contributes £21,101 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).

• 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%

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.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Personal Statement:

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (1250 words)

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

In the event of a high volume of applications, an initial sift will be based on the lead behaviour which is Leadership

Applications must be submitted by 23:55 on Monday 31st August.

At interview, Candidates will be assessed against the following:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Interviews will take place on Monday 28th September, in person, in London. If you are unavailable on this date, please advise when you submit your application.

If you are invited for interview, you will be required to give a presentation. Details will be provided nearer the time. In the event that a large number of applications are received, applications will be sifted on leadership only.

AI may be used to assist in the preparation of your application. However, nothing in your application should be misrepresentative, inflate or invent your skills or experience, or create a persona that isn’t you. Before you submit an application, we will ask you to confirm that the information that you provide is true and accurate. We may reject applications where AI is used inappropriately at any stage of the process.

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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.

Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) generates and operates specialist capabilities, ready to fight across all domains to make the UK secure at home and strong abroad.

Always on, we are across every UK operation, delivering the capabilities you don’t usually see - or those you can’t.

From cyber warriors and medics to intelligence analysts, special forces, educators, and Defence attachés, our collective expertise delivers the warfighting edge Defence needs to deter threats and secure the nation today and prepare for tomorrow.

CSOC unites Defence’s cyber and specialist capabilities under a single, military command alongside the Royal Navy, British Army, and the Royal Air Force - acting as the UK’s fourth Military Command. For more information, please see here.’

Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to design the way in which the new Military Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, posts within CSOC are/or may become subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

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 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 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 : For further information about this post, please contact Barny Todd.
• Email : barnaby.todd101@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

CSOC Candidate Pack 2025 (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 1777kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Defence Internal Brief notice (1) Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)Candidate Information updated (2) Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)