Defence Nuclear Organisation-Financial Approvals and Governance Lead

Ministry of Defence; Bristol, Reading; Hybrid; GBP 60,000; Full time

Job description

Location London, Bristol, Reading
About the job
Job summary

Do you want to be at the heart of real Defence issues and play a key role in the United Kingdom’s (UK) national security?

Established in April 2016, the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) delivers nuclear capability to deter threats and protect our nation.

The DNO oversees all defence nuclear business (excluding operations) and is responsible for providing nuclear deterrence; sponsoring the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (all the organisations, programmes and people that sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent); and advising on UK nuclear policy, planning and international co-operation on nuclear matters.

The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for over 60 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, and that of our NATO Allies. To ensure that we have a credible and capable nuclear deterrent for as long as the security situation requires, we are building four new nuclear armed submarines – known as the Dreadnought Class – and replacing our nuclear warheads. These renewal programmes will utilise world-leading technology and are a showcase in science and engineering, highlighting the prowess of British industry.

Here at DNO we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but is also essential for a thriving and successful organisation. We know that diverse teams bring a wide range of perspectives, experiences and ideas, which lead to better decision-making, creativity and innovation. We have a culture where differences are celebrated and our people feel supported, included and empowered. Join us and be part of an organisation that truly values diversity and inclusion and makes a positive impact on the world.

The role has line management responsibilities. You will manage two direct reports, with a total span of eight, and will be an experienced line manager who confidently empowers, motivates and coaches your team to enable effective delivery.

This post is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This role is at the heart of ensuring effective and timely delivery of the deterrent.

You will lead the financial approvals process and secretariat for all business cases in DNO, ensuring the process is well understood and adhered to across all levels. This includes ensuring senior leaders have a good view of investment cases in the approvals’ pipeline and highlighting potential issues before they arise. You will also look after financial governance for the DNO, including setting out letters of delegation and monitoring the effectiveness of internal controls.

For each strand of the team, the role will give you the opportunity to:

1. Approvals: The team supports DNO finance and business areas throughout the entire approvals process for business cases and investment appraisals. You will be managing the pipeline of future requirements, clearly explaining the rationale for processes, understanding the strategic rationales for cases and ensuring that complex aspects of the process are understood by all stakeholders. This is an exciting growth area for the team, where you will be working with senior stakeholders to ensure accuracy, consistency and clarity in reporting so that decision makers all the way to the top have the right information at their fingertips when making multi-billion investment case decisions.
2. Governance: You will act as the fraud focal point for DNO and advise on financial governance to ensure adherence to relevant DNO, MOD and cross-government requirements, ensuring roles and responsibilities across the business are clear and well understood. This will include giving senior leaders assurance on key aspects of internal governance, for example on our internal controls and assurance framework and liaising with internal auditors.

The role is highly visible not just within Finance but in DNO and MOD overall, and gives you both day-to-day variety and opportunities for growth. Stakeholder engagement and collaboration are at the heart of our ways of working, and you will be a solutions-focused leader who can help shape and refine the teams’ service offering to our users.

Innovation and continuous improvement will also be important in the role, and you will be encouraged to dedicate your and your team’s time to learning and sharing best practices within DNO and across MOD. You’ll be refining processes, seeking feedback and testing and evaluating effectiveness of what we do to ensure our service levels meet expectations but equally are at the right level of effort to deliver against benefit received.

Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application.

Person specification

Essential Qualifications: Qualified Level 4 AAT or Certificate Level CCAB/CIMA or equivalent - Proof Must be provided by those candidates selected at interview.

Desirable: Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent or working towards qualification.

Qualifications

Required: Qualified Level 4 AAT or Certificate Level CCAB/CIMA or equivalent.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Making Effective Decisions

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 Tuesday 6th May 2025

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