About the job

Job summary

The Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), headed by a 3-Star military officer, the Chief of Joint Operations. It is the tri-service military headquarters from which UK overseas operations are planned and overseen.

PJHQ J8, headed by a Senior Civil Servant, is responsible for the financial management (costing, forecasting and governance) of spending at overseas operational locations. 

The SO2 role, heads a small team, responsible for co-ordinating PJHQ J8 Fin ops governance and assurance plan, collating the necessary evidence to demonstrate  Operations meet UKStratCom and other audit bodies audit requirements. The role is also the lead for low value procurement, enabling and supporting Operations with non contract procurement.  

Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities.  Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions. 

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

Job description

SO2 J8 Fin Ops Assurance, is responsible for co-ordinating PJHQ J8 Fin Ops Governance and Assurance.  To lead on the coherency and continuity of Fin Ops, both overseas and J8, for finance delivery and assurance activities. Ensuring J8 can demonstrate assurance is comprehensive and meets as a minimum, UKStratCom Compliance Review criteria of Substantial Assurance

 The post holder is responsible for the following areas of activity;  

• Liaison with deployed PJHQ, Civilian Secretariat and finance staff and deployed military personnel to support and advise Operational Theatre’s ensuring Governance and assurance processes are understood, adhered to and practiced.
• Co-ordination of ARAc and ICAF Quarterly Returns and compilation of evidence to meet TLB, DIA and NAO assurance requirements and audit. 
• Review, development and implementation of the J8 Fin Op’s Governance and Assurance framework, and to align with UKStratCom Template.
• Non Contract Procurement – To ensure Fin ops drive forward compliance with TLB and FMPA guidance, to reduce reliance on Cash Offices where appropriate.
• The line management of an SO3 is responsible for management of pan operations LVP and Fin Op’s portfolio of Electronic Procurement Cards (ePC)
• To develop and maintain Fin Ops Governance and Assurance processes and controls. To design appropriate controls to support the new delegation framework.
• To act as PJHQ J8 Fin Ops Fraud Focal Point
• To support and monitor spend on projects in the UK and overseas

Person specification

The role is ideal for a person studying for a recognised accounting qualification, or who has a strong background in financial management.

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.

Applications will be online

Applications will then be sifted by a panel, from which those successful will be invited for interview.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include: job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

At sift and interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together 
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

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 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.