Air Command - Financial Management & Reporting Lead
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 4th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
This is an opportunity to join a high-performing team providing top quality management accounting and reporting support to Royal Air Force senior leaders and the Ministry of Defence.
As the senior manager responsible for the internal Financial Management and Reporting (FMR) and MI and Data teams, you will oversee the engine room at the heart of Air Finance. You will be managing a large team of over 50 personnel broken down into 10 sub teams with three Grade 7 direct reports, all based at historic RAF High Wycombe in the beautiful Chiltern Hills.
You will be providing insight to the Business, Finance Leadership Team, and wider Finance teams.
A key part of the role is driving the automation of transactional activities and reporting, and the post holder will lead a dedicated small team of developers and systems experts producing dashboards and delivering continuous improvement. Air Finance is renowned for the progress it has already made in modernising and reshaping the function to make it fit for today and the future. We are looking for someone who shares our passion and drive to keep us moving forward.
The majority of the FMR team work with Finance Business Partners (FBPs) and the wider Command to maintain up to date accurate Business Plans, monthly reporting packs, with updated forecasts and budgets, and dealing with all the underlying transactions to support longer term planning and in year management. A large number are new to Finance, and we have a healthy number of Finance Apprentices in the team, studying for different levels of finance qualifications. You will be overseeing the personal and career development of all your team members, nurturing a positive, supportive environment, and promoting a ‘can do’ culture.
Along with three other Grade 6 colleagues and the Head of Air Finance, you will be part of the Finance Senior Leadership Team, and you will be expected to actively contribute to the overall leadership and management of the Finance Function, as well as the wider Director of Resources team. This includes maintaining focus on our vision that delivers valued Finance services to Air Command and building on our culture of continuous improvement.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week Please.
Air Finance: An agile, high-performing team integral to effective decision making for a world class Royal Air Force
Job description
- Accountable for the delivery of the Finance Management and Reporting and MI & Data teams, ensuring they are delivering in an efficient and cost-effective way, whilst meeting expectations around quality of service.
- Support the Head of Finance as part of the Finance Leadership with other Finance Agenda items e.g., people capability, thought leadership.
- Building and maintaining technical knowledge of good practice across Finance, using this knowledge to drive continuous improvement, and high performance.
- Leading the team, providing strategic direction for the function, being a visible and approachable leader.
- Communicate top-down messages to the function effectively and efficiently.
- Accountable for key stakeholder relationships e.g., providing the link between the Finance leadership and the teams.
- Act as a point of escalation, working across Air Command to resolve any issues.
- Share information, updates and insight regarding the Finance Transformation with Air Command and Central government.
- Accountable for setting reflective and challenging KPIs and team targets (aligned with the strategy), managed through providing guidance and direction to the teams.
- Actively manage the talent and career paths of all direct reports, providing support for all to be successful in their roles
- Drive a culture of process automation, wherever possible eliminating manual activities and providing a more effective service to internal and external clients.
- Promote a positive and supportive team culture, especially ensuring that all team members have appropriate personal and professional development plans.
Person specification
Essential
- Strong leadership skills with evidence of successfully managing and developing teams.
- The ability to collaborate and be self-motivated as well as work in an environment of change and ambiguity.
- Being adaptable and willing to review priorities to meet the current and future needs of the business and the teams.
- Sound financial competence and appropriate technical expertise.
- Strong interpersonal skills with a track record of working with a wide range of senior people.
- Evidence of stakeholder management and engagement skills.
- A flexible approach to work is crucial to ensure team outputs are produced on time and to quality.
Desirable
- The candidate should ideally hold a Level 7 CCAB/IFAC Finance Qualification (ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, ICAEW or equivalent).
- The panel will consider applications from candidates who meet the other skills and experience requirements and can evidence substantial progress towards achieving a relevant Level 7 qualification. They should be prepared to complete their training within 18 months of commencing this role. Support for costs and reasonable time off for studying/examinations will be available.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Financial Accounting
Benefits
Benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Flexible working
- Training and personal development opportunities
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- 25 days paid annual leave rising to 30 days on completion of 5 years’ service
- In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
- A highly competitive Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Subsidised membership to a fitness suite and lunchtime/evening Military led fitness classes
- Café and shop on site
Part-time or Job-share will only be considered provided full time hours can be covered.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this 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 Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Please present your evidence using the S.T.A.R. format (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
A 500-word statement of suitability and CV will be required for this position; this cannot be uploaded to the advert. You will submit using the CV template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard, detailing job history, full qualifications, previous experience and skills.
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
At sift and interview, you will be assessed agaisnt the following Success Profiles Behaviours:
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership
- Communicating & Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Technical Skills:
- Financial Accounting
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
MOD Hybrid Working Policy requires colleagues to work at their post location, or other office locations according to business needs, for an average of 60% of working hours. This is particularly relevant as the post holder will be the senior manager for a large team who will be working to this policy. Please consider whether you can meet this requirement before applying for this role. If you would like to discuss this further, contact Ian Baker ian.baker107@mod.gov.uk or Sue Jeacock sue.jeacock169@mod.gov.uk using the supplied details.
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Sue Jeacock, Finance Operations Lead
- Email : sue.jeacock169@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
info@csc.gov.uk.
