Defence Nuclear Organisation - Cost Management

About the job

Job summary

Do you want to be at the heart of real Defence issues and play a key role in the United Kingdom’s (UK) national security?

Established in April 2016, the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) delivers nuclear capability to deter threats and protect our nation.

The DNO oversees all defence nuclear business (excluding operations) and is responsible for providing nuclear deterrence; sponsoring the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (all the organisations, programmes and people that sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent); and advising on UK nuclear policy, planning and international co-operation on nuclear matters.

The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for over 60 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, and that of our NATO Allies. To ensure that we have a credible and capable nuclear deterrent for as long as the security situation requires, we are building four new nuclear armed submarines – known as the Dreadnought Class – and replacing our nuclear warheads. These renewal programmes will utilise world-leading technology and are a showcase in science and engineering, highlighting the prowess of British industry.

Here at DNO we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but is also essential for a thriving and successful organisation. We know that diverse teams bring a wide range of perspectives, experiences and ideas, which lead to better decision-making, creativity and innovation. We have a culture where differences are celebrated and our people feel supported, included and empowered. Join us and be part of an organisation that truly values diversity and inclusion and makes a positive impact on the world. 

Within DNO, the Finance Directorate supports the spectrum of DNO via a functional operating model. The advertised roles support the Warhead Directorate that leads the UK nuclear warhead programme which provides a stockpile of reliable, safe, and effective nuclear warheads to support the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent now and in the future.

Our vision for the finance function is: Protecting Value, Driving Value, Adding Value and putting finance at the heart of decision making to support and enable delivery of Defence outputs.

There may be occasional travel to other MOD sites across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

The post will be advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Financial Analyst and Costing role is responsible for Cost Estimating and Cost Modelling activities across the Warhead Programme and will provide cost modelling Services to support Business Cases.

Responsibilities

Responsible for providing Subject Matter Expertise (SME) advice and guidance on financial analyses, ensuring robust quality cost estimates are provided to Senior leadership across the Warhead Programme to inform decision making.

Typical responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Building effective stakeholder engagement

• Building successful partnerships and maintaining relationships with Finance Business Partners, Programme teams, Cost Assurance and Analysis Services (CAAS) and the wider Finance community.
• Developing confidence and trust in the ability of the Warhead Finance Operations team to support across the areas of responsibility.

Providing insight to the Business, Finance Leadership Team, and wider Finance teams

• Providing intelligent analysis of complex financial cost models, drawing out common themes and understanding linkages and dependencies.
• Provide insights derived from cost modelling scenarios.
• Providing incisive explanations and clear summaries/interpretations and translating data into meaningful outputs for senior leadership.
• Support Business Cases through provision of robust cost modelling, to enable decision makers to make informed decision.

Optimising Performance

• Align with CAAS to ensure that cost modelling is being carried out in line with best practice and in line with agreed frameworks.

Routine Requirements

• Working with Project Lead and Project Team to define Cost Modelling requirements, agree scope, timescales and resources to deliver.
• Defining underlying cost assumptions and provide challenge throughout the process.
• Collecting data to populate the Cost Model and normalise data to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity.
• Applying estimating methodologies as defined by CAAS.
• Working with the Project Team to quantify risks and economic impact.
• Applying data analytic techniques to provide cost drivers, sensitivity and scenario analyses.
• Liaising with CAAS to ensure compliance with set standards and participate in scrutiny reviews.
• Working with Finance Business Partners to ensure financial element of Business Cases aligns to the cost models.

Continuous improvement

• Dedicating time to sharing best practice and ideas for refining cost modelling, feeding back key proposed changes to CAAS and working with them to ensure consistency across the MOD finance function.
• Seeking feedback on the services provided, testing, and evaluating their effectiveness, whilst assessing the level of effort to deliver against the benefit received.
• Continuously strive to improve the service provision, promptly addressing issues and ensuring that processes or ways of working are adapted, and customers are informed where there is an impact.

Managing the Team

• Supporting individual’s personal development, careers and developing leadership skills within their team. Ensuring you and the team make time to develop themselves and their peers.
• Being open to challenge and new ideas, sharing of knowledge and experience, encouraging others through building a supportive team environment.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following desirable criteria:

Experience of:

1. providing intelligent analysis of complex cost models, drawing out common themes and understanding linkages and dependencies
2. defining cost assumptions and providing challenge throughout the costing process
3. applying data analytic techniques to provide cost drivers, sensitivity and scenario analyses
4. working with project teams to define Cost Modelling requirements, agree scope, timescales and resources to deliver
5. Level 4 qualification with AAT, CCAB or CIMA, or working towards qualification CCAB, CIMA or equivalent and financial experience over an extended period.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• On-site gym
• On-site nursery
• Cycle Loan (Advance on Salary)
• Thank You Scheme
• Defence Sports & Recreational Association (DSRA)
• Defence Discount Service

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 2nd July 2023

For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.