About the job

Job summary

The MOD finance function is at the heart of critical decisions that relate to the Defence of the UK and our allies, accounting for and providing financial insight in a fast paced environment responsible for generating military capability and running some of the most complex projects and programmes in the UK. The Operational Finance team sits at the heart of the function and is a friendly and supportive group, empowering our people to the fullest extent possible.

The post within the Finance Transformation Programme offers the successful candidate the opportunity to help shape the finance business processes and also to work with key stakeholders to move our finance systems to Software as a Service. You will be working with colleagues from across the Department both within finance and other functions, and with colleagues from across the Government Finance Function.

If you’re interested in becoming a world class leader, developing your career with us – starting with this interesting and challenging role – or doing things differently and inspiring colleagues, then the Ministry of Defence is the place for you.

Job description

This role is responsible for the Ministry of Defence’s Finance Function Information System Enabled Change programme.. The postholder will also have responsibility for leading the Programme Management Office and the transformation of Finance Transaction Processing across the Department as we introduce Oracle Fusion and will work alongside the Deputy Director responsible for Financial Planning and Analysis using Oracle Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) and another Deputy Director responsible for Building People Capability.

The role is also responsible for leading on the legacy Finance systems change programme and managing the relationship and performance of Defence Business Services, the Department’s shared service centre, on behalf of the Finance Function. 

The current responsibilities of the role include:

• Leading the Finance Transformation Programme Management Office ensuring effective planning, risk management, financial management and governance of the programme along with the development of business and benefits cases through Assurance and Approvals processes.
• Leading the Finance Transformation Finance Transaction Processing team with a scope covering General Ledger, Project Accounting, Asset Management, Tax, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Cash and Treasury Management in designing and delivering transformed processes on Oracle Fusion Financials to deliver an enhanced user experience, data driven decision making and productivity and efficiency through High Level Detailed Design, Implementation and Early Life Support.
• Leading the Finance Legacy Systems Change Programme. This includes minor change, live support issues and systems training material, relating to both the Department’s management accounting system hosted on Cognos and the Department’s financial accounting system which is hosted on Oracle e-Business Suite.
• Leading the Corporate Data Exploitation Programme which focuses on the delivery of reporting and dashboarding products, to advance Management Information capability from the existing corporate system Cognos.
• Managing the relationship with, and the performance of, Defence Business Services (DBS), Defence’s Shared Service Centre, on behalf of the Finance function.
• Maintaining data integrity and controls of financial systems and processes.
• Engaging across the Finance Function to build momentum for change.
• Support the Programme Director and Senior Responsible Officer in the implementation of programmes.
• Ensure strategic alignment of programmes with other MOD and across government programmes and initiatives.

Person specification

• Experience of delivering Oracle transactional and financial systems in a large complex organisation.
• Excellent and proven leadership skills and an ability to operate in an open manner, which builds trust and respect both internally and externally.
• Experience of building and motivating diverse teams to meet complex objectives, fostering an inclusive environment.
• A persuasive communicator, particularly in terms of presenting to senior boards and giving presentations to large groups of technically experienced staff.
• Strong collaboration skills and can work with others outside your immediate line management chain to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Experience of building exceptional working relationships with key stakeholders to implement business change.
• Professionally qualified accountant either CCAB or CIMA.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a strong field of candidates when there is a need to distinguish between candidates. This will be as a second sift, after the essential criteria has been considered:

• Programme or Project management experience.

Benefits

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement listed for this role. This should be completed no later than 23:55 Wednesday 24th January 2024 and will involve providing the two documents outlined below via the Civil Service Jobs portal:

• A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A Personal Statement (no more than 2 pages) explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role. 

Both documents are weighted equally in their scoring, so it's important to consider this when uploading your application. Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. 

For further information about the role and full application process, please refer to the candidate pack attached below. If you wish to receive any material in a different format for accessibility, then please contact People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.