Army - Finance Operations Reporting Manager

About the job

Job Summary

The Army has circa 8,000 civil servants in 300 locations and The British Army comprises of 112,000 experienced, committed and highly skilled Regular and Reserve soldiers. The British Army protects the United Kingdom’s interests at home and abroad, providing a safe and secure environment and is supported by the civilian workforce. Army HQ at Andover is where the Army is commanded from and the Chief of the General Staff has the responsibility for preparing, training, and equipping the forces under his command for operations worldwide. You will be part of crafting the future of the Army Finance function.

The Director Resources is responsible for planning and leading the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) and ensuring that decisions at the highest level of the Army are taken with full understanding of their financial implications. We will provide you with an exciting and worthwhile career supporting the Armed Services and will actively encourage and support further training and development.

Management Reporting is responsible for reporting the financial position at strategic level for the business area(s) they support to provide insight and highlight the key issues, risks and opportunities to the Business and Finance Leadership team. Continually checking to ensure that the management reporting meets end user needs and is presented to best convey key messages using continuous improvement principles. Ensuring that financial reporting is accurately completed both within corporate reporting systems and for input of accounting entries to support decision making.

We are currently recruiting for an experienced individuals to lead the delivery of HLB Financial Operations, ensuring that Financial Operations is effective and complementary of other finance processes. The post-holder's technical knowledge, insight, and ability to work constructively with people at all grades will make them a valued contributor to the decision-making process and a champion for change. The post-holder will need to establish and develop effective working relationships with contributing teams and individuals across the Army and wider Finance Profession.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. You will be required to work at Army HQ, Andover office 3 days per week.

Please be advised that the Army is conducting a review of its current Finance Operating Model. At the time of advertisement this post is deemed to have an enduring requirement and it is not anticipated that this post will be likely to change in the immediate future, however, is in scope of the ongoing review.

Job description

This is a challenging role, and responsibilities will include:

• Oversee team priorities and resourcing.
• Use insight and MI to effectively manage performance in a specific area of finance operations.
• Managing core finance operations e.g. Accounting Systems, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Payroll in an efficient and effective manner.
• Responsibility for ensuring sufficient monitoring tools are in place to highlight and eliminate financial control weaknesses, working with control owners as necessary.
• Developing and implementing appropriate policies and procedures for change control, in compliance with government standards.
• Effectively managing internal control and delivery risks with emphasis on customer service.
• Providing intelligent analysis of complex financial information, drawing out common themes and understanding linkages and dependencies.
• Ensuring all business areas have adequate support, monitoring against the agreed service provision and flexing team members to fill any temporary gaps, as required.
• Ensuring all required information is provided, outputs are accurate and meet the expected standards. This applies in relation to:
• Standardised reports / dashboards for monthly financial reviews and ABC screenings highlighting areas of concern to the relevant Finance Business Partner to discuss with their Business area(s).
• Input of budget profiles, In Year reporting and ABC information into corporate reporting systems, consistently achieved across all business areas for all aspects.
• Producing standardised templates / forms for recurring requests, advising what information is required and enabling efficient review.
• Financial approval of low value items, such as working functions, training, and professional subscriptions. Ensuring compliance with the relevant processes and policies and that an appropriate procurement route is utilised.
• 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 input and support to change programmes, where there is an impact to how your team will provide their services.
• Management of team members, empowering, motivating, and coaching to enable effective delivery.
• Developing and embedding the use of standardised processes to deliver a consistent output to customers.
• Making all major decisions affecting direction and execution of work within the area of responsibility, referring upwards where decisions relate to significant issues of policy, resource allocation or management of work area.

Person specification

To be successful in the role, you will need to be able to demonstrate:

• Experience of leading a team with excellent people management skills with the ability to promote team cohesion, adapt to changes and improvements
• Experience in leading and/or influencing organisational change
• Ability to work flexible and adapt to changing priorities
• Strong communicator, able to communicate at all levels and excellent presentation skills
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders and teams
• Highly developed planning and organisational skills in a financial environment and experience of delivery and meeting tight deadlines.

Essential Skills:

• Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent or working towards qualification and experience in relevant strategic/policy roles with clear evidence of strong numeric ability.
• Experience of leading a team with excellent people management skills with the ability to promote team cohesion, adapt to changes and improvements.
• Ability to work flexible and adapt to changing priorities.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,670, Ministry of Defence contributes £16,706 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

As a civil servant working alongside the Army, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects and a job that makes a difference.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• An environment with flexible working options
• Flexible Working Hours upon completion of 6 months service
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Professional and Personal Development on skills
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service
• 8 Paid Public Holidays per year
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Free car parking; a Sports & Social Club, Gym and site shops.

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 16th September 2024

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