Strategic Finance Advisor

Location 

London (Main Building) or any other MOD UK location.There will be a requirement to travel between sites on a regular basis. 

About the job 

Job summary 

The Strategic Finance and Investment Approvals Group sits at the heart of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The Group leads on financial management, strategic financial planning and control, and approval of a multi-billion pound programme. The group is friendly and supportive, operating a flat structure, by fully empowering our people. We’re a diverse team bringing a mix of policy, finance, strategy and project skillsets, and experience both within national security and a range of other departments. 

We are the strategic finance function for the department, bringing financial insight and scrutiny to all areas of the Department’s work.The Group plays a vital role developing strategic financial policy, securing and managing funding to achieve the department’s strategic objectives, and advising MOD Ministers and the Executive Team on financial strategy and financial management. 

About the team: 

The Defence Spending team leads on engagement with key business areas of Defence – Top Level Budgets (TLBs). These TLBs include RAF, Army, Navy and others. We play a pivotal role in providing strategic financial advice to senior stakeholders, including the Accounting Officer, Executive Team and Ministers and developing strategic financial policy on securing and managing funding for Defence. The team operates in a friendly and collaborative environment, working closely with both civilian and military advisers.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

Job description 

About the roles: 

We are seeking a Strategic Finance Advisor to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders within your TLB. This role involves gaining a strategic understanding of financial drivers, providing insightful financial guidance, and coordinating with various teams within the Strategic Finance Investment Approvals Group. You will play a pivotal role in the decision making processes for both in-year and long-term financial planning via the spending review. 

These roles are key within the team, leading interesting and challenging work with a lot of opportunity to develop and engage with senior stakeholders. We are an expanding team and would welcome applications from those coming from a policy or strategy background as well as those in finance. It is not essential to have a formal accountancy qualification, but you would need to be comfortable working with financial data. 

These posts are responsible for: 

• Stakeholder engagement: Building an in-depth understanding of your TLB through regular engagement, linking their financial performance to strategic objectives and delivery outcomes. Maintaining a strong understanding of TLB programmes, approvals, efficiencies and deliverables to enable insight  that drives decision making.
• Spending control and challenge: Lead and support reviews of TLB finances, including monthly performance reviews and quarterly deep dives, using insight to provide scrutiny to forecasts and writing briefing for seniors when required. Use your knowledge of your TLBs to provide a strategic review of business case submissions and Accounting Officer Assessments.
• Strategic financial advice:  Contribute insight on your TLB into the overall departmental position for both in-year financial management and long-term planning via the Spending Review, ensuring that a well-rounded, evidenced view is represented.
• Risk Management: Monitoring and supporting the management of financial or delivery risks within in your TLB, escalating significant risks to wider teams
• Cross Cutting Projects: Lead and support a range of cross cutting strategic finance projects tackling departmental and cross government issues, ensuring alignment with Defence’s vision. 

Person specification 

The successful candidates will: 

• Work independently, proactively, passionately and confidently on a high-profile area across Defence.
• Exhibit strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions, teams and Departmental boundaries to influence senior stakeholders and Ministers and providing innovative.
• A strategic thinker, with the ability to understand and enable delivery of Departmental priorities, while ensuring affordability and adherence to Managing Public Money principles.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to deliver often difficult messages to senior audiences.
• An understanding of Government Finances is desirable. 

Behaviours 

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

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

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,917 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%
• It is desirable, but not essential to hold or be studying towards a Level 7 CCAB or CIMA accountancy qualification. We are happy to support those already studying towards an accountancy qualification or thinking of studying towards achieving one.

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