Ministry of Defence

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Northwood Headquarters, Northwood, Greater London

About the job

Job summary

As the Defence integrator, UK Strategic Command (UKStratCom) sits at the heart of Defence, giving us the winning edge in an ever-uncertain and competitive world. Every single operation relies on the connectivity and skills we offer the whole of the Armed Forces.The UKStratCom Finance Function supports nine Service Directorates - the Headquarters; Defence Medical Services; Defence Intelligence; Defence Digital; Special Forces; National Cyber Force; Directorate of Overseas Bases; Defence Support; and Permanent Joint Headquarters. Following implementation of Finance Transformation (FinTx) in January 2025, the function is now made up of over 180 finance personnel across Finance Operations, Specialist Services, Finance Business Partnering Teams and Finance Military Operations.

The Change Management and Continuous Improvement (CI) Team Lead is a key role in the post-Fin Tx Finance Team. Reporting to the Deputy Director Finance Operations and Specialist Services, the incumbent is responsible for the ongoing implementation of the Fin Tx programme to Full Operating Capability and driving continuous improvement of our finance ways of working. Developing and implementing effective and efficient processes and data exploitation to provide valuable management information and decision support is a component part of the post. As Champion of Change and Continuous Improvement, the post holder will seek greater innovation and better value for money, including opportunities to build greater resilience and efficiency within the finance workforce.

Critically, there remains a substantial ‘backlog’ of tasks and activities relating to Fin Tx that will require resolution. This includes, but is not limited to: development, testing and implementation of processes, workbooks and tools; provision of support and training to business areas i.e. workshops, online training; development and implementation of the finance Communications and Engagement Plan. The role provides support to Director Finance, as Head of Profession, on development of finance as a career pathway and on ‘Managing Performance’ to ensure a collaborative performance management approach, between Budget Holders and Director Finance. As the function progresses, there is a need for ongoing drive towards the identification of opportunities for improvement, automation and efficiencies, as the MOD embraces 'Journey to the Cloud'. This role is the working lead on Journey to the Cloud for UKStratCom. 

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

Job description

The Finance Change Management and Continuous Improvement Team Lead works across all UKStratCom’s finance Service Directorates within our central Service Delivery Model. Working with the principal service users - the Higher Level Budget holders and other relevant stakeholders to identify, prioritise and action opportunities to improve current financial processes and ways of working through process re-engineering, data exploitation, automation, training, and tooling.

The role also requires building and maintaining an extended network of finance contacts within the wider MOD, including Main Building and other Front Line Commands to leverage good practice to the benefit of UKStratCom finance and the MOD Finance Function.

Roles and Responsibilities

Management and Development:

• Undertake line management, mentoring and countersigning tasks as required by the role. This role has 1 direct report and 0 countersigning roles.
• Undertake learning and development and up-skilling as required.

Finance CI Leadership:

• Using their technical Finance knowledge and detailed understanding of Finance processes, the CI lead will lead the identification and delivery of CI opportunities across UKStratCom;
• Working with the Deputy Director Finance Operations & Specialist Services to define and implement Strategic Command’s finance CI methodology;
• Engaging with the Finance and Business Management functions to develop a culture of CI that enables effective identification of opportunities to improve current processes and ways of working;
• Implementing and managing a backlog of opportunities and supporting the FinTx Programme Manager to prioritise delivery against programme and organisational goals;
• Managing and controlling in-flight opportunities, providing sufficient management information to report progress, risks, issues and to forecast delivery times to the Programme Manager and stakeholders;
• Leading and managing delivery and implementation of CI products by working with the CI team, the product customers, and relevant delivery services such as the Digital, Data and Automation (DDAT) Team and the Data and Management Information Service (DMIS);
• Championing a focus on benefits and value-creation by identifying, documenting, and baselining product benefits, as well as developing a plan to measure impact and benefits realisation over time;
• Liaising with relevant policy owners and identifying Product and Process Owners to support development, implementation, and ongoing support for new solutions;
• Providing assurance that any new solutions are legal and compliant, including, but not limited to, Data Protection rules and regulations;
• Engaging with counterparts across MOD to identify efficiencies through re-purposing of established solutions and / or collaborating on new initiatives;
• Embedding a continuous improvement culture across the finance function; and,
• Supporting and contributing to ‘Scrum’ methodology for agile delivery.

Finance CI Culture:

• Championing a focus on benefits and value-creation by identifying, documenting, and baselining product benefits, as well as developing a plan to measure impact and benefits realisation over time; and,
• Embedding a continuous improvement culture across the finance function.

Finance CI Product Development:

• This role is UKStratCom’s working lead on Journey to the Cloud.
• Liaising with relevant policy owners and identifying Product and Process Owners to support development, implementation, and ongoing support for new solutions;
• Providing assurance that any new solutions are legal and compliant, including, but not limited to, Data Protection rules and regulations; and,
• Engaging with counterparts across MOD to identify efficiencies through re-purposing of established solutions and / or collaborating on new initiatives.

Person specification

Essential 

• Qualified with an CCAB accountancy qualification or studying towards a CCAB accountancy qualification.
• An excellent leader and manager, who will empower their team to deliver whilst providing support and guidance to develop them, you will lead colleagues across Finance and the Service Directorates through significant change to ways of working, process re-engineering, automation, training and tooling.
• Significant Experience in a Finance environment with an ability to understand and interpret complex business and financial requirements and management information.

Desirable

• A strong communicator, you will explain developing CI processes and outputs to a variety of stakeholders at multiple levels of the organisation and will work with others across the TLB Finance Function to ensure provision of a high-quality and efficient service.
• Experience in Change Management or a Continuous Improvement environment, working with automation and building efficiencies into best practice.
• An understanding of how MOD / UK Strategic Command Strategic operates given the breadth and diversity and its highly delegated model.
• Experience of Agile Delivery and Scrum.
• An excellent ability to balance a range of competing priorities drawing on good judgement, initiative and able to coordinate the team accordingly.
• A self-starter capable of working independently from high-level strategic direction.
• Strong written and oral briefing skills.

Qualifications

Qualified with an CCAB accountancy qualification or studying towards a CCAB accountancy qualification.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,690, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,292 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Some of the many benefits you will receive: 

• Highly competitive pension scheme.
• Flexi-time scheme upon completion of six months service or the Line Manager has the ability to adopt flexible working sooner than the 6 month period.
• With Line Manager agreement move to an alternative Working Patterns (there are nine).
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (one day per year) to 30 days upon completion of five years’ service. If by chance you have previously completed service in the Public Sector in the past five years, you may be eligible to request 30 days leave immediately. (Evidence will be required).
• In addition to annual leave you will be entitled to eight Public Bank Holidays per year.
• Professional and Personal Development of skills with the opportunity to undergo an Apprenticeship in Human Resources.
• Opportunity to join more than one of our many networks (Race, LGBT+, Gender, Disability and Faith & Belief).
• Minimum of 18 Days Special Paid Leave in a rolling 12-month period for Public Duties commitments (such as a Magistrate).
• Special Paid Leave for community volunteering up to 12 days a year for Special Constables and six days a year for other volunteering.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
• Other facilities are Sports & Social facilities and a Gym complex, as well as onsite Mess & Retail shops.
• 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. 

The post does not offer relocation expenses. 

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. 

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. 

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts. 

Any move to MOD 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/. 

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. 

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. 

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Debbie Ames
• Email : debbie.ames883@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

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