Finance Director (Navy)

Job summary

As an island nation, the United Kingdom has a deep relationship with the sea for its prosperity and security, and the Royal Navy has been at the heart of this for over 400 years. We are the leading Navy in Europe, deeply invested in our NATO obligations and partnerships with international allies around the world and are currently undergoing the most significant modernisation programme for some 80 years. We are a dynamic organisation made up of a multi-disciplinary team of civilian and military personnel which enables us to deliver incredible things every day.

The Finance Director is the most senior Civil Servant in Navy Command where you will be an essential and pivotal member of the Royal Navy’s Senior Leadership Team alongside military colleagues, and as a crucial member of the Navy’s Strategic and Executive boards, you will make a significant contribution to the strategic leadership of the Royal Navy.

This is a critical leadership role, directly leading a team of around 160 people as well as the broader leadership of the approx. 4000 Civil Servants who support the Royal Navy, and we are looking for a leader who is collaborative, empathetic, inspiring and builds trust, and you will be expected to create an inclusive, empowering culture in which teams can thrive and develop.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

The current responsibilities of the role include:

• Member of the Navy Board and Navy Executive Committee, helping to set the strategic direction and corporate leadership for the Royal Navy.
• Deliver effective financial management, with personal responsibility for Navy Command’s financial management policies and processes, governance, audit and assurance whilst providing advice, support, challenge and insight.
• Exercising control to ensure delivery within Navy Command’s agreed annual budget of c£8Bn, through scrutiny and control of operating budgets, including people, infrastructure and equipment – both procurement and support.
• Chair Navy Command’s Investment Decision Panel, ensuring robust scrutiny and consideration of the Accounting Officer tests are in line with the requirements of Managing Public Money, with personal delegated responsibility for the approval of projects with a whole life cost of up to £400m.
• Construction of the Command’s forward 10-year financial programme, overseeing the construction of the Navy’s equipment and change portfolio, ensuring it meets Defence policy and affordability requirements, working closely with delivery agents.
• Chair the Finance and Portfolio Sub Committee to maintain the Command’s licence to operate and drive continuous improvement.
• Lead the Directorate of a mixed military and civilian team of c160 delivering professional financial and commercial expertise. This includes continuing to deliver the Defence finance and commercial functional leadership programmes for Navy Command and engaging with the wider government functions.
• Act as a symbolic leadership figure for the approx. 4000 Civil Servants in Navy Command, representing their interests and providing channels of communication.
• Act as a role model in leadership across the Ministry of Defence where we expect all our senior leaders.

Person specification

• Exceptional leadership credentials with a proven track record of building, developing and continuously improving high performing, diverse and inclusive teams within finance functions. In addition, you will have to demonstrate how you are able to inspire and engage such teams as well as provide strong evidence of having led people through change, working successfully at Board Level.
• Demonstrable experience of building and maintaining a strong and effective network of collaborative relationships with a range of key senior colleagues, including on sensitive issues or where opinions are divided. You will also need to provide evidence to how you command the confidence and trust of Board Level stakeholders across complex environments.
• Evidence of strategic thinking, excellent analytical skills and the ability to translate current challenges in order to create and contribute to a culture of innovation, risk management and long-term improvement, using evidence-based strategies to evaluate the full range of options, understand the impacts and get the right solution.
• Robust financial skills and a proven track record of maximising resource efficiency and driving value for money improvements, whilst providing robust financial support to deliver a large, complex organisation’s strategic outcomes.
• Must hold the relevant Professional Qualification - Qualified accountant with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent and experience in a relevant senior financial management role including the planning and management of large-scale projects. Exceptionally, for an outstanding candidate consideration will be given to an individual who doesn’t hold an accountancy qualification, on the condition they obtain it within an agreed period whilst in role.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £115,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £33,315 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 Sunday 23rd March 2025. For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.