About the job

Job summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence.

Here you’ll find a community to belong to – whether that’s alongside project teams with a shared vision or as part of an employee network of like-minded individuals. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

Discover more about our work:

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of around 27%, to help work work for you.

Nationality, visas and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

These roles requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Some of the roles may also require you to have lived in the UK for the last 10 years and obtain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. You’ll join us once Security Check (SC) clearance is obtained, and then the more enhanced DV checks will continue after you’ve started your employment.

Job description

Are you interested in becoming a Junior Cost Controller in Finance? Excited by the opportunity to shape and define the project delivery of some of the biggest and complex defence programmes in the UK today? You could be the person the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) are currently seeking to join our ever-expanding team, with a Junior Cost Control Finance role available based at HMNB Devonport.

Project Delivery is a key function within the SDA and plays a vital role in ensuring the success of projects by providing Estimating, Cost Control, Planning and Scheduling, Risk Management and Project Management. What makes us unique is that we are involved in all phases of a project from the proposal through to completion and then decommission, ensuring work is delivered on time and within budget.

You will be working as part of the Submarine Disposal Team, supporting the project delivery team with responsibility for financial reporting relating to the care, maintenance and dismantling of ex-service submarines, along with other site-specific disposal activities.

As a Cost Controller you will be responsible for the consistency and accuracy of management cost information and financial performance reporting the as well as the support for it once it is in use and disposal of nuclear submarines.  The main part of this role is to record, analyse and report project costs and undertake related cost control activities, ensuring all financial and performance reporting requirements are met. You will also be required to provide assurance that projects comply with SDA and Departmental policy in respect of all cost activities, providing support to, and working under the guidance of the Cost Control Finance Lead and the wider team.

Working at Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe, you will be able to witness first-hand the output of your project. All whilst utilising and developing your knowledge and experience in line with business needs to support our armed forces. If you have the pride, passion and commitment, with the drive to develop your skills and experience of leadership and delivering successful outcomes, then you will find yourself in good company in the SDA. 

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

What you’ll be doing

• Produce accurate and timely forecasts ensuring any variance and financial risk commentary is accurate and insightful
• Provide financial input, challenge, and information at the Project Manager/Control Account Manager monthly forecasting reviews to empower stakeholder decision making
• Enter and reconcile cost information into various project financial systems from business case approvals, options and change requests, ensuring a clear audit trail. Consistently monitor project cost spend against these approvals
• Challenge and interpret supply chains cost data to support accruals and project forecasting. Produce accurate supporting data and inputs for the Annual Budget Cycle process in conjunction with the Project Manager/Project Controls Manager, consolidating project data to produce the PCR forecast for the benefit of the whole delivery team. Oversee the collation of the 1* Senior Leadership Group Screening Packs
• Produce accrual and general journals and option proposals to ensure robust supporting evidence is included. Actively support the Cost Control Finance lead with any audit and compliance requests
• Liaise with Finance & Accounting colleagues to ensure the correct financial treatment. Work with Project Managers to make necessary corrections in Contract, Purchasing & Finance.
• Communicate key project financial performance data to key members of the project, programme, and SDA leadership.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Previous experience in budgeting and forecasting
• Experience of working independently and within a team
• Experience providing advice on specific financial subjects to stakeholders

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Financial Analysis, Management Information & Reporting
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,800, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,396 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

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills

Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

1. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

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

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.