Finance Operations Manager - National Security Secretariat
Cabinet Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Saturday 21st September 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Administration / Corporate Support
Estates
Finance
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
The National Security Secretariat (NSS) keeps the UK safe, secure and prosperous by bringing together the UK’s national security community, providing high-quality support to the Prime Minister and the National Security Council and maintaining centre-to-centre relationships internationally. Working within the wider Cabinet Secretariat and led by the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser (NSA), we assist the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in the development, coordination and implementation of its highest priority objectives.
Our overarching strategy is set out in here, which describes the Government’s vision for the UK’s role in the world over the next decade, and the action we will take to 2025.
The NSS value professional and personal development for all of our staff and recognise that a continued focus on learning and development (L&D) will enable us to grow our capability. We are also committed to fostering a culture which welcomes new ideas and fresh perspectives, and supporting diversity and inclusion, including through flexible patterns and ways of working.
We can offer stretching and engaging work to enhance career development and gain highly transferable skills. We expect our staff to rise to new challenges, demonstrating the agility required to respond to urgent and changing events, and to work collaboratively to achieve results both within NSS and across government. A role with the NSS is a real opportunity to impact the lives of our citizens and make a difference every day.
About the Strategy Unit
The Corporate Policy and Support Team sits in the Strategy Unit (SU) within the National Security Secretariat.
The Strategy Unit plays a unique role in government, combining strategy, governance, policy development, programme appraisal and corporate support in a single, close-knit team. Responsible for overall implementation of the refreshed Integrated Review (IRR), which set the UK’s national security and international objectives to 2025, it is a friendly and inclusive Unit that wants to do things differently, championing new thinking and embracing modern ways of working. Its ambition is to model best practice in every aspect of its work - from a collaborative and supportive team culture, to a focus on strengthening strategy making and implementation across the national security and foreign policy community.
Job description
We are seeking a Finance Operations Manager who will play a pivotal role in our organisation. Reporting to the Head of NSS Corporate Services, this critical position encompasses a broad spectrum of responsibilities including finance, estates/ accommodation, and information management within the Cabinet Office.
Key Responsibilities:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of NSS Directorates to inform financial decision-making.
- Serve as a vital link between NSS and Central Finance, understanding diverse business areas and performance priorities.
- Elevate financial management standards, focusing on productivity, effectiveness, and value for money.
- Manage and monitor budgets, develop financial reports, and conduct variance analysis.
- Contribute to Spending Reviews, risk management, and business planning.
- Cultivate financial and commercial awareness among non-finance staff.
- Lead initiatives to secure and enhance NSS’s accommodation and information management services.
- Directly manage one apprentice and potentially other responsibilities as required.
Person specification
- Innovative Mindset: You are a visionary, constantly seeking novel solutions and embracing change with enthusiasm.
- Technical Proficiency: Possessing excellent technical accounting skills and the ability to apply them effectively across various financial disciplines.
- Strategic Influence: Credible with the ability to steer decision-making among senior colleagues and stakeholders.
- Analytical Clarity: Capable of dissecting complex financial data and presenting it in an accessible manner.
- Leadership and Communication: Demonstrating exceptional presentation and relationship management skills.
- Data skills: Strong numeric and technical skills, including but not exclusively adept in use of applications such as MS Excel, Google Sheets.
Qualifications
- CCAB, or equivalent, qualified (or with considerable financial/ commercial experience and/or the ability to gain formal CCAB qualifications within a reasonable time.)
Statement on Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are critical to the successful delivery of our work. We need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce.
We make three firm commitments to incoming staff:
- Your role will be both rewarding and stretching. The National Security Secretariat works hard to deliver on the Prime Minister and NSC’s priorities. Working here means you will be working on the most important, high-profile security and international issues facing the Government.
- You will be provided with the opportunity to develop your career. These posts provide an excellent opportunity to develop skills and experience in a wide range of disciplines. You will become part of a connected national security community, with a managed approach that matches your short and long-term aspirations to clear career pathways, and ensures that you can make and protect the time for learning and development opportunities.
- Our culture will embrace a diverse work-force. We come from all walks of life. We value the fact that our different backgrounds, cultures, genders, experiences and ways of working bring us together as a more effective team. We strive for a collegiate and inclusive working culture that means our voice at every level is heard. Fundamentally, there is no one ‘right’ answer, so our individuality is one of our biggest assets. Each one of us has a part to play in helping the Government to keep the UK secure.
Owing to the subject matter, the majority of the work is office based and the job holder may be required to do office-based work over a period. NSS also recognises that we have responsibilities outside of work so we are open to considering full time, part-time or other flexible arrangements, where possible and taking account of business needs.
Additional information:
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Changing and Improving
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Changing and Improving
Application process.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Changing and Improving.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
As part of their application, candidates will be required to submit -
- a CV outlining experience, skills and qualifications
- a Personal statement
- a behaviour example
Your personal statement (750 words max) should explain how your knowledge, skills and experience (using examples) meet the requirements for this role.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Changing and Improving. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The interview will assess both behaviours and strengths.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Interview location - 70 Whitehall, London SW1A 2AS
Sift will be conducted a week following the closing date of the advert (21 September). The interviews will likely take place within two weeks of the sift (w/c 7 or 14 October).
Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to Cabinet Office 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
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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 : NSS-Finance@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
- Email : NSS-Finance@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
