Job description for Lead Finance Business Partner

Join the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) in this key specialist role as a Lead Finance Business Partner. This is a role offering significant scope, supporting large programmes and complex portfolios, with responsibility across delivery, policy, strategic direction, and leadership.

As Lead Finance Business Partner, you will be required to work closely with suppliers and a wide range of stakeholders. You will strategically lead a team, encourage a culture of imaginative thinking, learning from experience and driving improved quality by challenging the status quo. You will also ensure that project costs are rigorously controlled, and relevant financial and performance reporting requirements are met through the provision of specialist financial services. The role enables the team to deliver on scope, to time and budget and to make informed strategic decisions.

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.

Please note there may be a need for travel to other UK sites, dependent on organisational requirements.

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.

This role 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’ve 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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.

What you’ll be doing

• Financial advisor to the Delivery Team Leader and Management Board to enable an understanding of financial performance and provide a strategic level analysis of risks and opportunities, including mitigation options as appropriate and assurance of efficiency evidence
• Oversee the monthly financial forecasting process for the Project Team, including financial risk, and accurate and insightful commentary, challenge, and variance analysis. Lead on the Financial input and information at the monthly forecast reviews to empower stakeholder decision making
• Oversee the Financial input to the Annual Budget Cycle (ABC) process in conjunction with Project Managers (PM)/Project Control Manager (PCM) also with the production of the Programme Cost Review (PCR) forecasts and the provision of the ABC Briefing Pack
• Work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders in providing technical accounting guidance, advising of key risks, and ensuring the accuracy and robustness of reporting. Lead the team in actively supporting audit and internal compliance.  Advise on accounting and forecasting implications of policy and programme decisions.  Liaise with Finance & Accounting (F&A) colleagues to ensure that VAT and FOREX treatment is correct
• Provide key support to the business area to analyse, understand and report on financial performance against delivery schedules and targets, provide analysis of risks and opportunities, and working collaboratively, provide prompt evaluation of proposals and Business Cases

Person specification

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

• Qualified Accountant CCAB (including CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland, or International equivalent qualification, with full membership (with letters) of the relevant accounting body and up to date CPD records
• Background in working with long term capital projects and experience in developing and delivering against budgets and forecasts
• Clear track record of delivering excellent finance management results in a complex and multi-disciplined environment
• An excellent communicator with proven strong stakeholder management at senior level. Ability to challenge and influence senior leadership
• Evidence of an inclusive leadership style within a large team which role models, inspires, motivates, and promotes collaboration to develop high performing teams, and champions wellbeing, equality, diversity, and inclusion

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

• Finance Business Partnering – Expert
• Financial Planning, Reporting and Resource Management – Expert
• Leadership
• Working together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,800, Ministry of Defence contributes £21,959 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 +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/SDA-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions

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.
3. 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. When two (or more) candidates are on equal interview scores, positions will be offered based on the scores assessed at interview, in this order – 1st) Technical competence, 2nd) CV Review, 3rd) Behaviour one, 4th) Behaviour two.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.