Assistant Head Finance Profession

About the job

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Finance Function is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking individual to lead the development of the finance profession across the organisation. This is a pivotal role that will shape the future of finance capability within the MOD, ensuring the department remains at the forefront of professional standards and emerging trends.

Job summary

The Assistant Head Profession (G7) will provide strategic leadership for the Finance profession ensuring Finance personnel have the skills, standards, and professional career pathways needed to deliver high quality services that supports the Finance Operating Model. This is an exciting, critical role to ensuring the Finance Function is future ready.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:
  • Support workforce strategy in identifying critical skills gaps and future ready capabilities (AI, Digital, ESG)
  • Provide leadership and strategic direction for the finance profession within the MOD.
  • Enhance and uphold professional standards, ensuring alignment with best practices and government-wide frameworks.
  • Provide insights and thought leadership to shape the future skills and capabilities required for the finance profession.
• Professional Development:
  • Promote and support professional development opportunities, including apprenticeships, to build a skilled and diverse finance workforce.
  • Provide guidance, resources, and mentorship to learners across the organisation, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
• Capability Building:
  • Define and oversee career pathways for finance professionals at all grades.
  • Align career pathways with professional frameworks and develop training programmes to meet evolving organisational and industry needs.
  • Collaborate with building capability team to ensure skills development offering supports pathways.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Engage with the Government Finance Function (GFF), professional bodies, and internal and external leaders to ensure the MOD remains at the forefront of emerging capabilities in finance.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Team Leadership:
  • You will provide line management, including leadership, direction and guidance, to a small team.

Person Specification

To succeed in this role, you will need to demonstrate:

• Proven experience in a senior finance or capability-building role, ideally within a large and complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of professional standards and frameworks within the finance profession.
• A track record of driving professional development initiatives and fostering a culture of learning.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage and influence at all levels.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to anticipate future trends and requirements in the finance profession.
• A commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the development of talent across all levels.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Membership of a recognised professional finance body (e.g., CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAEW) OR hold MCIPD status or be willing to work towards a qualification to meet the proficiency requirements of the role, if you do not hold a qualification.
• Familiarity with apprenticeship programmes and professional development schemes.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Experience working within or alongside government functions.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Developing Self and Others
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

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

• Leadership
• Developing Self and Others

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.

• 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%

Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 2nd October 2025

For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.