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. 

Are you looking for an exciting and challenging role that offers the opportunity to work with a wide range of stakeholders? Are you a problem solver with attention to detail?  Then you are welcome to join the TLB Plan team.

This role supports the DNO in year management processes with responsibility for monitoring of the TLB’s operating costs and promoting good financial management.

You will be expected to perform month end activities, ensure accuracy of data, and provide supporting information to assist the team in the production of financial reports.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Responsibilities:

Typical responsibilities include but are not limited to:

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

• Producing standardised reports / dashboards for monthly financial reviews and ABC screenings, along with supplementary information to the Finance Business Partners and Finance Leadership Team as appropriate.
• Although team members may support specific Business area(s), all team members will be expected to be flexible and cover Business areas as required.

Routine Requirements

• Lead on the upload of the monthly forecast for operating costs.
• Lead on the monthly reconciliations for operating costs, ensuring all monthly actions are completed in line with the finance timetable.
• Prepare and upload of the monthly accrual and adjustment journals.
• Lead on the monthly transparency returns and the accountability report.

• Engage with the Business where evidence for manual accruals is insufficient and flagging issues, by exception, to the appropriate Finance Business Partner

• Provide financial advice around governance and procurement, liaising with Commercial Officers where needed.
• Ensure GL accounting balances are to up to date including the identifications and correction of misbookings.
• ePC card holder, including the upload of the monthly transactions on to the Online transaction log (OTL).
• Process ePC payments relating to Thank You Awards, Eye Test  Vouchers; Professional Membership fees/subscriptions and training.
• Ensuring the integrity and accuracy of transactions on financial systems, with effective controls and checks in place.

• Ensure all required information is provided, outputs are accurate and meet the expected standards. This applies in relation to:
• Manage the completion of routine activities that provide the foundation for accurate reporting including:

Continuous improvement

• Dedicating time to sharing best practice and ideas for refining standardised processes and procedures feeding back key proposed changes to process owners, enabling consistency across the DNO 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 issues highlighted during internal or external audit, engaging relevant stakeholders to enable corrective action. Promptly addressing any misinterpretation of guidance, sharing with team members to promote embedding the lesson(s) learnt.
• Managing the input and support to change programmes, where there is an impact to how your team will provide their services.

Managing your team within Financial Operations

• 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.
• 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.

Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post. Successful candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before starting the role.

Person specification

Desirable Qualifications: AAT Level 4 qualification with AAT, CCAB or CIMA, or working towards qualification CCAB, CIMA or equivalent and financial experience over an extended period.

DNO is committed to supporting staff in studying towards further finance qualifications.

Due to the nature of the work, the role is only open to individuals with an existing DV clearance, or those with a SC clearance willing to undergo DV checks. If you currently only have SC, it may be possible for you to start the role ‘at risk’ with your existing SC and acquire the DV clearance whilst in the post.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,528 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Candidates can apply online via the Civil Service Jobs website by completing the application form before the deadline shown. Apply using the Civil Service Jobs apply button, filling in all required details in all sections. Using the Success Profiles link for information on format and style, ensure you provide evidence for all Behaviours and Experience sections requested in the appropriate competency style.You have 250 words to answer each Behaviour.

*Please note that not following the appropriate format will mean that you may be unable to reach the required grades for sift or interview* 

This post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per the Civil Service Nationality Rules. For further information please see the attached documents.

At Sift, you will be assessed on;

• CV  - to include job history, full details of education and qualifications and previous experiences and skills. Please also include any relevant responsibilities and achievements.
  
  
• Personal Statement- which should be a maximum of 250 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential / desirable requirements for the role.

• Behaviours:
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Leadership

If a large number of applications are received, then the initial sift will be based on the CV, Personal Statement and the behaviour Communicating and Influencing only.

However, evidence should be provided against all behaviours requested.

At Interview, you will be assessed on;

• Behaviours:
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Leadership

• Experience

Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit. 

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 into 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.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.