Job Posting Title
About the Role
Culmen is hiring a Finance Manager - Intelligence & Digital Operations to support our client in London, UK.
This is not a conventional finance role. Working at the intersection of public-sector finance, national security, and digital delivery, the Finance Manager will provide expert financial management and strategic insight to a high-performing team operating in a fast-paced, sensitive environment.
You will act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, bringing rigour and challenge to complex financial decisions while navigating the unique demands of digital and technology-enabled programmes. You will be comfortable working with ambiguity, building relationships across government and industry, and translating technical financial concepts for non-specialist audiences.
The role is based full-time in Central London and requires Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance.
What You’ll Do in Your New Role
The Finance Manager will demonstrate the ability to:
- Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders — understanding complex and specialist problem sets, identifying solutions, and delivering results in support of organisational objectives.
- Produce high-quality formal policy, procedure documentation, and submissions.
- Act as a trusted adviser to senior leadership, providing independent insight and constructive challenge to support strategic decision-making.
- Communicate complex financial topics clearly and compellingly to non-specialist audiences, both written and verbally.
- Prioritise effectively across multiple competing workstreams, maintaining quality and composure under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Apply strong analytical and financial modelling skills to support evidence-based decision-making.
- Self-starter who is equally effective working independently and as part of a team.
- Resilient under pressure, with a strong personal commitment to confidentiality and professional ethics.
- Motivated by purpose-led work with genuine national significance — this role sits at the heart of the UK’s national security and digital capability.
- Based full-time in Central London, with flexibility around hours during periods of high operational de
Required Qualifications
Capabilities:
Essential
- Proven experience delivering core accounting functions including account reconciliation, planning, budgeting, and forecasting; or a track record in financial investigations.
- Proficiency in financial software such as Oracle, Sage, or Xero.
- Experience engaging effectively with senior stakeholders across public and private sector organisations.
Desirable
Finance & Compliance
- Experience in UK public sector finance, not-for-profit organisations, or financial investigations including anti-money laundering practices.
- Experience compiling individual offline account reconciliations into consolidated group financial accounts and delivering routine financial reports to senior audiences.
- Experience ensuring adherence to financial policies, controls, and regulatory requirements under applicable financial management frameworks and national or international legislation.
- Experience in financial risk management and the delivery of risk mitigation strategies.
Sector Background
- Prior exposure to military, security, or defence organisations.
Digital Finance Literacy
Given the digital nature of this environment, the following exposure is highly valued:
- Understanding of digital delivery models, including:
- Agile and iterative delivery.
- DevOps environments.
- Product-based funding models.
- Experience costing and managing technology spend, including:
- Cloud services (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS).
- Licensing and subscription models.
- Live service versus project funding.
- Appreciation of technical debt, service sustainment, and lifecycle costing.
Experience:
Essential
- Fully qualified accountant (ACCA / CGMA / CIPFA or equivalent) with a minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience; or Financial Investigator accreditation with equivalent professional standing.
- Current Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance.
Desirable
- Degree-level qualification (Level 6) in finance, risk management, economics, military studies, international security, or strategy.
