PJHQ Financial Operations Digital, Data and Reporting Manager

Job summary

The Finance Military Operations (FinMilOps) team delivers a TLB finance service responsible for providing financial advice, business intelligence, support, and assurance for all aspects of military operational spend against budgets. This includes Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) military operations spend, primarily in PJHQ and MAB, but also across other Top Level Budget and CSOC. In addition to the service provided by the core CSOC finance function, these directorates require financial support adapted to operational context, considering speed of relevance, non-standard requirements, and Operational Security (OpSec).

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Digital, Data, and Reporting Manager is responsible for cohering data and reporting across all FinMilOps, To drive continuous improvement within FinMilOps, ensure processes are robust, standardised, and efficient across the FinMilOps function, that financial MI is available and useful in the operational landscape, and that FinMilOps is engaged with change initiatives across Defence. A key output is the overall Ops Spend forecast and risk reporting across CSOC and into Strategic Finance and CSOC Finance Committees.

The post holder is responsible for the following areas of activity.

• Lead on management reporting, collating FinMilOps data across CSOC in particular PJHQ and MAB to provide a single version of the truth in reporting to Strat Fin and CSOC and other adHoc requirements. Working closely with financial reporting and other colleagues in the unified finance function.

• Developing and maintaining a detailed understanding of the operational finance landscape and culture, owning the standardisation of IYM management and instructions for operational budgets, data management processes, and embedding good financial management practices across FinMilOps and operational theatres.

• Lead on the identification and development of digital solutions to support FinMilOps. Implement, lead, improve, and promote the use of systems, tools, and data management to build useful management (MI), applying standards and scrutiny and driving value for money.

• Ensure communication is audience focused, clear, concise, and consistent. Assist interested parties in their understanding of policy and progress. Ensuring innovation and change is positive and consistent.

• Conduct regular cross-cutting deep dives, analysis and bench marking activities driving value for money and seeking opportunities for empowerment.

• Ensure the FinMilOps function is linked into emerging and ongoing change initiatives across the TLB, the operational landscape, and broader Defence, such as Journey to the Cloud, Project Solarium, and Palantir. Including setting requirements for Secret and AS finance capabilities to inform systems development.

Person specification

We are looking for a hard-working and enthusiastic individual with strong interpersonal, organisational and collaborative skills to join our motivated and upbeat team! Providing Business Support directly to a Grade 7, responsible for pan global assurance on MoD’s operations, working closely across the FinMilOps community, and with personnel deployed forward. You will be required to engage effectively with multiple partners across different grades in both PJHQ and across external organisations. The applicant needs to be a well organised, self-motivated individual who has the ability to prioritise and manage a full workload whilst balancing business needs.

AAT or Certificate level CCAB / CIMA (Level 4) is desirable.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Northwood HQ is a well-served site, offering a variety of facilities such as gym, nursery, salon and local shop. Transport links are good with a regular shuttle service to Moor Park tube station and limited access to free on-site parking (subject to capacity and on first come first served basis). There are several catering options and opportunities to join the Northwood Officers' Mess. As a civil servant, flexible working is encouraged and opportunities for professional and personal development are available and tailored to your role. The Permanent Joint Headquarters promotes and values a culture of inclusion and diversity within its 400 staff of military and civil service personnel. Additional benefits include a Civil Service Pension, and an annual leave allowance starting at 25 days, increasing annually thereafter.

The post attracts the London weighting Allowance of up to £3,300PA (full time and pro-rata for part-time). 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.

• 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.

Candidates will be required to complete an online Numerical and Civil Service Judgement test.

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 Personal Statement (500 words max).

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Personal Statement and the following:

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

In the event of a high number of applications, the sift will be based on the CV and Personal Statement only.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

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.

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.

The Civil Service Judgement Test is not bankable and therefore must be taken on every vacancy where it is applied.

Should you be invited to complete the online tests, please allow sufficient time to complete the tests and the remainder of the full application form; only candidates who are successful at the test stage will be invited to complete the remainder of the application by clicking ‘Submit Application’. Your application must be completed by 23:55 on the closing date of the vacancy. Late submissions cannot be accepted. The tests are not timed, as they work by giving you harder questions if you answer the previous question correctly, and easier if you get it wrong. You should allow up to an hour for each test, and each test must be completed before you will be invited to complete the second part of your application. Internet access will be required for the duration of the test. Please refer to the attached Candidate Guidance for further information.

Candidates that reach the minimum required pass mark will have their results saved as a banked score against the following tests:

• New Civil Service Verbal Test
• New Civil Service Numerical Test

When a candidate has a banked score they’re not asked to re-take the same test providing it is set at the same level. Scores will be banked for a 6 month period from the date of test completion. If a candidate is invited to take the same test against multiple vacancies, the banked score will be recognised against all vacancies and all active applications will progress.

CSJT scores cannot be banked as each test is generated from the behaviours required for a specific role which will vary between recruitment campaigns.

If you require any particular arrangements (for example due to a disability or health problem) to be made in order for you to complete the online test you MUST contact the DBS Enquiry Centre on 0800 345 7772 BEFORE accessing the online test.

Opening times Mon -Friday 0800- 1600 hrs.

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 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 : Wayne Mitchell
• Email : wayne.mitchell222@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : 01923 955828

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 Opens in new window (pdf, 1777kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Terms and Conditions of Service Opens in new window (docx, 24kB)