Defence Nuclear Organisation- Executive Officer Financial Reporting & Accounting (Warhead)

Do you want to be at the heart of real Defence issues and play a key role in the United Kingdom’s (UK) national security?

Established in April 2016, the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) delivers nuclear capability to deter threats and protect our nation.

The DNO oversees all defence nuclear business (excluding operations) and is responsible for providing nuclear deterrence; sponsoring the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (all the organisations, programmes and people that sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent); and advising on UK nuclear policy, planning and international co-operation on nuclear matters.

The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for over 60 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, and that of our NATO Allies. To ensure that we have a credible and capable nuclear deterrent for as long as the security situation requires, we are building four new nuclear armed submarines – known as the Dreadnought Class – and replacing our nuclear warheads. These renewal programmes will utilise world-leading technology and are a showcase in science and engineering, highlighting the prowess of British industry. 

Here at DNO we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but is essential for a thriving and successful organisation. We know that diverse teams bring a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and ideas, which lead to better decision-making, creativity and innovation. We have a culture where differences are celebrated and our people feel supported, included and empowered. Join us and be part of an organisation that truly values diversity and inclusion and makes a positive impact on the world. 

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week 

Are you a collaborative problem-solver, with attention to detail and unafraid of spreadsheets? We are looking for an enthusiastic and talented finance professional to join our friendly team.

In this Financial Reporting and Accounting role, you will be responsible for managing the production of financial reporting across the Warhead Programme, ensuring required processes are in place to give assurance on the quality of the numbers and providing suitably robust input to be incorporated into the MOD financial accounts.

You will work with Finance Business Partners and central consolidation teams to ensure that Warhead financial information is accurate, timely, and complete. You will be flexibly covering both annual budget planning as well as in-year financial management.

In the role you will use a range of skills, from interpersonal to professional and technical. Relationship management and stakeholder communication is a key part of the role to ensure data is robust, timely and can be relied upon to aid decision making. 

Responsibilities

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Building effective stakeholder engagement

• Building successful partnerships and maintaining relationships with the Finance Operations team and other Finance stakeholders.
• Developing confidence and trust in the ability of the Warhead Finance Reporting & Accounting team to support across the areas of responsibility.
• Steering and influencing senior leadership to make informed decisions that balance short term priorities (e.g. in year efficiencies) with longer-term sustainability.

Providing insight to the Business, Finance Leadership Team, and wider Finance teams

• Providing intelligent analysis of complex financial information, drawing out common themes and understanding linkages and dependencies.
• Providing incisive explanations and clear summaries/interpretations and translating data into meaningful outputs for senior leadership.
• Maintaining a strong understanding of the overall financial position of business area(s) and providing the consolidated financial position at various levels within the organisation and providing commentary using compelling and persuasive language to influence and challenge.

Optimising Performance

• Enabling self service capabilities where possible, allowing individuals access to information without any intervention.

Routine Requirements

• Input accounting entries into the General Ledger (GL) for business areas as directed, in accordance with the finance timetable and approval guidelines.
• Ensure GL accounting balances are to up to date.
• Provide inputs to evidence Finance Internal Control & Assurance Framework compliance as required.
• Process accruals, adjustments, and payment allocations to the correct Resource Accounting Codes (RACs).
• Carry out tasks to pay invoices within the relevant contracted timetables.
• Carry out tasks related to VAT reclaims within the required timeframe.
• Provide data to complete the governance returns (consultancy, efficiencies, assurance reporting) for signoff.
• Track assets under construction, and provide the details needed to hand over to the Asset Management Team once assets are operational.
• Ensure financial systems input is timely, complete & accurate, maintaining a full audit trail & ensuring data integrity.
• Ensure all required information is provided, outputs are accurate and meet the expected standards. This applies in relation to:
• Standardised reports / dashboards for monthly financial reviews.
• Input of budget profiles, In Year reporting and Annual Budget Cycle information into corporate reporting systems, consistently achieved across all business areas for all aspects.
• Ensuring compliance with the relevant processes and policies.
• Manage the completion of routine activities that provide the foundation to accurate reporting including:
• Correctly implementing accounting advice received or policy changes, including monitoring.
• Ensuring accounting entries are completed correctly in compliance with relevant internal and wider government policy, supported by a robust audit trail, with issues flagged as appropriate.
• Ensuring all mis bookings are to be corrected at source, removing any need for future manual intervention.

Continuous improvement

• Dedicating time to sharing best practice and ideas for refining standardised processes and procedures feeding back key proposed changes to process owners, enabling consistency across the MOD finance function.
• Seeking feedback on the services provided, testing, and evaluating their effectiveness, whilst assessing the level of effort to deliver against the benefit received.
• Continuously strive to improve the service provision, promptly addressing issues and ensuring that processes or ways of working are adapted, and customers are informed where there is an impact.
• Managing issues highlighted during internal or external audit, engaging relevant stakeholders to enable corrective action. Promptly addressing any misinterpretation of guidance, sharing with team members to promote embedding the lesson(s) learnt.
• Managing the input and support to change programmes, where there is an impact to how your team will provide their services.

Required / Desirable Qualifications

• Desirable: Working towards AAT, CCAB qualification or equivalent and financial experience over an extended period.

As a team we support staff in studying towards further finance qualifications.

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• On-site gym
• Defence Sports & Recreational Association (DSRA)
• Defence Discount Service

  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 Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. 

Job contact :

• Name : DNO-ExternalRecruiting@mod.gov.uk
• Email : DNO-ExternalRecruiting@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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