At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to manage financial operations for military projects and ensure accurate reporting.
- Company: Join the Ministry of Defence, supporting vital military operations with a diverse team.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make an impact in finance while working in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Strong organisational skills and a passion for finance; relevant qualifications are a plus.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional development and a vibrant workplace culture await you.
The predicted salary is between 29000 - 41000 £ per year.
About the job Job summary
The Financial Operations Team leader role supports UKStratCom military operations spend for a defined subset of CJO or DMAB-owned operations. Working as part of the wider operations team, managing a team of 3 x EOs, the post holder will develop a strong understanding of the business, its customers and its deliverables. The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of monthly accounts, co-ordination of Ops forecasts, ensuring an evidence based audit trail underpins the accounts and resource related risks are identified early and addressed.
This role is accountable to the G7 Head of Financial Services.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
The role involves gathering and communicating financial data and other information clearly and providing financial advice, challenge and support to the operations team. This includes consolidation of monthly accounts, monitoring activity against budget, flagging variance or issues, reporting financial information upwards and to stakeholders, undertaking robust financial scrutiny of requests and ensuring all transactions are covered by extant approval. The role will contribute to in-year management (IYM) and forecasting, ensuring all assumptions and dependencies are recorded, providing a robust audit trail.
The post holder is expected to contribute to the continuous improvement of the team and the wider finance function.
The post holder is responsible for the following areas of activity.
- Consolidation of monthly accounts and tear-end close for Operations, liaising with deployed finance teams, ensuring reporting mechanisms are followed to informfinancial planning and in-year management and escalating any concerns.
- Contribute to the monthly IYM forecast; ensuring input into PB&F meets with the monthly timetable; is robust and that variances over 5% are explained.
- Review and advise on risks identified as part of the forecast process ensuring that they are relevant and are adjusted to reflect changes as appropriate.
- Provide routine reports on the state of financial healthfor operations.
- Scrutinise and ensure the accounts and forecastprovides a true & fairreflection of activity conducted within the period.
- Keep underreview resource-relatedrisk at eachlocation/unit to ensure that sustainment/remediation requirements are identified early and can beaddressed as soon as possible to ensure value for money.
- Identify and escalate potential gaps in enabling processes (EPC,invoice payments,cashmanagementetc.), to ensure appropriate mitigations are put in place.
Person specification We are looking for a hard-working and enthusiastic individual with strong interpersonal, organisational and collaborative skills to join our motivated and upbeat team! Providing Business Support directly to a Grade 7, responsible for pan global assurance on MoD’s operations, working closely across the FinMilOps community, and with personnel deployed forward. You will be required to engage effectively with multiple partners across different grades in both PJHQ and across external organisations. The applicant needs to be a well organised, self-motivated individual who has the ability to prioritise and manage a full workload whilst balancing business needs.Licences
- It is mandatory to hold or to secure within the first 3 months of appointment.
- FCF1 – Understanding the principles of Government Finance
- FCF2 – Financial In Year Financial Management (desirable)
Memberships
- AAT or Certificate level CCAB / CIMA (Level 4) (desirable)
Behaviours
We\’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits Alongside your salary of £36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Northwood HQ is a well-served site, offering a variety of facilities such as gym, nursery, salon and local shop. Transport links are good with a regular shuttle service to Moor Park tube station and limited access to free on-site parking (subject to capacity and on first come first served basis). There are several catering options and opportunities to join the Northwood Officers\’ Mess. As a civil servant, flexible working is encouraged and opportunities for professional and personal development are available and tailored to your role. The Permanent Joint Headquarters promotes and values a culture of inclusion and diversity within its 400 staff of military and civil service personnel. Additional benefits include a Civil Service Pension, and an annual leave allowance starting at 25 days, increasing annually thereafter.
The post attracts the London Weighting Allowance of £3,300PA (full time and pro-rata for part-time). 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.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). The post also offers,
- 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 Wednesday 9th July 2025
For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below. #J-18808-Ljbffr
PJHQ J8 Financial Operations Team Leader employer: Ministry of Defence
Contact Detail:
Ministry of Defence Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land PJHQ J8 Financial Operations Team Leader
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific financial management principles outlined in the job description, such as Government Finance and In-Year Financial Management. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your understanding during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees in similar roles within the Ministry of Defence. They can provide valuable insights into the team dynamics and expectations, which can be beneficial for your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with financial scrutiny and reporting. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've managed budgets or identified risks in previous roles, as this aligns closely with the responsibilities of the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your interpersonal and collaborative skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully worked with diverse teams. This is crucial, as the role requires effective communication across various grades and departments.
We think you need these skills to ace PJHQ J8 Financial Operations Team Leader
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before you start writing your application, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Financial Operations Team Leader position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the job description.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise any previous experience in financial operations, team management, or related fields. Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to manage accounts, coordinate forecasts, and provide financial advice.
Showcase Your Skills: The role requires strong interpersonal, organisational, and collaborative skills. Make sure to include examples that showcase these abilities, particularly in a team environment. Mention any relevant qualifications, such as AAT or CCAB/CIMA memberships.
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Craft a compelling cover letter that not only outlines your qualifications but also expresses your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation. Address how you can contribute to the continuous improvement of the finance function and support the operations team effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ministry of Defence
✨Understand the Financial Operations
Make sure you have a solid grasp of financial operations, especially in relation to military spending. Familiarise yourself with the specific financial processes and reporting mechanisms that are relevant to the role, as this will demonstrate your readiness to contribute effectively from day one.
✨Showcase Your Team Management Skills
As you'll be managing a team of three, it's crucial to highlight your leadership experience. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on collaboration, motivation, and achieving results together.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to change and improve processes, manage quality services, and work collaboratively. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and provide clear, concise examples.
✨Demonstrate Strong Communication Skills
Effective communication is key in this role, especially when liaising with various stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you've communicated complex financial information clearly in the past, and consider preparing a few questions to ask the interviewers about their communication practices within the team.