Navy Command Finance Business Partner

The Finance Business Partner is a vital role which will include being a key member of the Senior Leadership Team in your business area responsible for influencing the strategic direction of the business and enabling the organisation to deliver against its plan, objectives and outcomes. 

The successful candidate will be required to act as a finance business partner to the Budget Holder and SROs. We are looking for someone who is committed to providing an excellent finance service, working as part of a small and high-performing team. The role will also require strong stakeholder management skills to ensure the finance function works effectively across the different parts of the organisation. 

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

This Finance Business Partner role requires the incumbent to utilise a combined skill set encompassing interpersonal skills, professional skills and technical knowledge. By applying these skills together with their contextual understanding of the business’ strategic goals, plans, performance and risk management, the FBP will be equipped to provide strategic financial advice and enhance the quality of decision-making. 

 As part of the Navy finance leadership you will support the development of your team and wider finance function staff, providing opportunities for development and encouraging ideas for improving team performance. 

Duties include: 

Provide Leadership and Line Management to your team. 
 
Supporting the business to deliver their outcomes – Working collaboratively with the business and other functions to enable the delivery of business plans and objectives.  

Driving financial performance – against agreed targets working with stakeholders. Develop an understanding of the drivers behind key variations and work with the business to identify remedial actions, risks and opportunities 
 
Providing constructive challenge, scrutiny, insight and analysis on financial plans and programmes to ensure ambitions are sustainable, aligned to strategy, maximise value for money and are linked to benefits. 
 
Reporting and analysing the business financial position for consolidation to Head of Corporate Reporting 

Reviewing Financial Accounting treatment and resolution of accounting anomalies and/or anything adversely impacting the SOFP 
 
Supporting your business area in the development of the 10 year plan. Providing constructive challenge, scrutiny, insight and analysis on financial plans and programmes. 
 
Input into the development of business cases, investment appraisals and proposals identifying and highlighting any potential issues.  
 
To identify opportunities for new efficiencies and support in delivering the existing pipeline.  
 
Implementing Continuous Improvement – proactively identifying opportunities for continuous improvement in the service finance provides by engaging with the Business to prioritise those changes that could add most value.  
 
Acting as the bridge between the business and the rest of finance-Engaging with the wider business and drawing on the required support from the finance function.  

Building effective stakeholder engagement – Building successful partnerships and maintaining relationships with business leadership and wider stakeholders.  

For this role, the Budget Holder and most key stakehdolers are located in Portsmouth. The business needs are such that the successful applicant should expect to be in Portsmouth on average 6-8 days a month with regular travel to other Navy Command locations potentially required. 

A 12 month reserve list will be held for this vacancy, with the potential for other equivalent roles to be filled at a later date. 

The ideal candidate will have experience of working as a Finance Business Partner in a complex environment. At this level the individual will be able to demonstrate their experience and skill against the following criteria and be comfortable briefing at Board Level. 

• Experience of delivering pragmatic and robust approach to financial control and governance, as well as managing a complex  budget. 
• Excellent leadership credentials, with a proven track record of developing and leading high performing teams 
• Experience of presenting complex financial information simply and effectively to a range of stakeholders 
• Experience of using financial, operational performance and economic data to deliver insight that both drives and facilitates change and continuous improvement. 
• Acting as the bridge between the business and the rest of finance, the successful candidate will build effective stakeholder relationships, support the business to deliver their outcomes, drive financial performance, and provide constructive challenge and, scrutiny. 

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

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

• Leadership

Alongside your salary of £57,670, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,570 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. 

• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays; 
• Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle; 
• Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers; 
• The opportunity to use onsite facilities including childcare, fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable); 
• Occupational sick pay; 
• Learning and development tailored to your role; 
• An environment with flexible working options; 
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity; 
• Employee discount schemes; 
• Childcare benefits may be applicable – Determine your eligibility at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk;   
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27% 
• Based on eligibility, applicants on loan from Dstl may be able to apply for either a weekly, daily or flexible travel package for travel to temporary duty stations. 

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.  

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Job contact :

• Name : Jack Mitchell
• Email : jack.mitchell139@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : 07989 208197

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk