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 the Integrated Review 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

The Finance and Operations Manager works primarily to the Head of NSS Corporate Services.  This is a critical, wide-ranging post responsible for the delivery of finance for critical business in Cabinet Office.  The role also oversees estates, facilities management and information management for the NSS.  

You will be responsible for making continuous improvements to services and processes, developing them to address the changing needs of the organisation and for helping drive change. You will engage with senior stakeholders on questions of prioritisation and resource allocation and will work closely with the Cabinet Office’s central corporate functions to make sure that NSS’s financial governance is fully effective and applied consistently across all parts of the organisation and at all levels.  

The Finance and Operations Manager role calls for strong technical and influencing skills and sound understanding of the business unit to provide advice, challenge and scrutiny to senior colleagues. Finance Analysts make sure that budgets are well constructed, managed and monitored and support senior managers in the production of business cases and plans to deliver improved performance, reduced risk and better value for money. 

Combining technical knowledge with the ability to work constructively with senior teams they make a valued contributor to the decision-making process and are champions for change within the business, in external relationships and in wider government projects. 

Post holders establish and develop effective working relationships with a number of stakeholders, including the Directors, Deputy Directors, Internal and External Audit. 

This role is central to the financial management of the National Security Secretariat and for accommodation and information management services.  You will use your technical skills and sound understanding of NSS to provide advice, challenge and scrutiny.  You will ensure that budgets are well constructed, managed and monitored and provide support in the production of business cases and plans to deliver improved performance, reduced risk and better value for money. 

Accountabilities

The job holder’s responsibilities will include:

• Developing a deep knowledge of NSS Directorates, their needs and priorities, looking at the bigger picture to make sure that the business understands the financial implications of decisions and available choices;  
• Acting as a critical liaison point between NSS and Central Finance, building in depth understanding of different business areas and performance priorities;
• Raising standards of financial management, including on questions of productivity, effectiveness and value for money;
• Setting budgets, tracking spending, developing financial reporting and forecasting, variance analysis;
• Contributing to Spending Reviews, risk management and business planning processes;
• Supporting the development of business cases;
• Building financial and commercial awareness of non-finance staff within the business;  
• Leading work to secure and improve NSS’s accommodation;
• Overseeing the application of NSS’s information management processes;
• Direct line management of one apprentice; and,
• Such other additional responsibilities may be required for the role.

Person specification

• Excellent accounting skills across a wide range of financial disciplines and a proven ability to apply them effectively
• Knowledge of government finance and fiscal events, including Spending Reviews
• A high level of competence in budget management, planning, forecasting and risk identification combined with excellent problem solving skills
• Credible with senior colleagues and stakeholders with the ability to influence decision-making
• The ability to analyse and communicate complex financial information in a clear and understandable way
• Well-developed presentation and relationship management skills including an ability to engage effectively with multidisciplinary teams
• Strong people skills, with the ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships with a range of senior stakeholders across government
• Strong leadership skills, with experience of managing and motivating a team to deliver
• Excellent data analysis and technical skills, including MS Excel, Google Sheets
• 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:

1.  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.
2.  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.
3.  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.

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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,500, Cabinet Office contributes £12,015 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, 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)

Expected sift date – w/c 10 June 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 24 June 2024
Interview location - 70 Whitehall, London SW1A 2AS

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:

• 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.

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 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

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.