Finance Officer

Finance Officer Ref. 3391

Department: Finance, Audit and Procurement
Location(s): Central Manchester, Cheltenham, London
Salary: London: £37,281 or £38,602 (specialist pay band), Cheltenham and Central Manchester: £34,777 or £36,178 (specialist pay band)

Job Description
Flexible Working: Due to the sensitive nature of the role, you’ll be based in the office five days per week. However, we know how important a good work/life balance is, which is why we offer part-time (minimum 4 days) and compressed hours, with flexibility around start and finish times. Full-time hours are up to 37 hours, depending on location.

About Us
MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners, including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. A role in MI5 means you’ll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.

The Role
Our finance teams keep our internal spending on track, making them critical to our work. Whether you’re just starting out in your career or looking to progress, our team offers numerous opportunities to grow your skills and build a long-term career in finance. We currently have roles across a variety of teams, including Financial Analysis, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Financial Operations.

As one of our Finance Officers, you’ll be a key part of managing our annual expenditure. Depending on where you join, your work will have a slightly different focus. In Financial Analysis, you’ll provide vital insights that help us make decisions across the agencies. In Financial Accounting and Reporting, you’ll summarise, analyse and detail the UK Intelligence Services financial transactions. In Financial Operations, you’ll ensure we’re able to respond to ever-evolving business needs.

Whichever team you join, you’ll be involved in the overall running of our finance function. You’ll build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, both internal and external, working closely with them to ensure a consistent approach to financial advice and processes. You’ll use your communication skills to help explain finance requirements to colleagues and customers who might not be familiar with financial concepts.

You might be producing reports and completing analysis on them, offering financial advice, or ensuring purchase orders are actioned and requisitions are raised correctly. You’ll be involved in month and year-end processes, helping your colleagues across mission teams, enabling functions and beyond to get their finances in order and meet requirements.

We offer and fund a generous study package to support you in gaining your professional qualifications, helping you develop your finance career in the long term.

About You
To apply, you’ll need to either have experience in a similar role, have achieved or be actively studying AAT or higher, or hold or be expecting a 2:2 or higher in a Finance/Accounting/Maths/Economics/Business degree.

You’ll enjoy solving problems and working with others, and you’ll have the skills to develop collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and negotiate effectively with them. Inclusivity and teamwork will be important to you, as will learning new things and developing your skills. You’ll also have a passion for what you do, attention to detail, and a drive to contribute to our overall mission of keeping the UK safe.

Training and Development
If you’re passionate about professional development and skill building, we’ll fund your training and support you in gaining qualifications with AAT, ACCA, or CIMA.

While you study, you’ll benefit from a generous paid leave package, which varies depending on the qualification you’re studying for. Additionally, you’ll be assigned a dedicated buddy, receive guidance from your line manager, and have access to internal communities, support networks, and mentors.

Rewards and Benefits
Along with your starting salary, you’ll also have access to other benefits including:

1. 25 days annual leave, automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
2. Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
3. Interest-free season ticket loan
4. Excellent pension scheme
5. Cycle to work scheme
6. Facilities such as a gym, restaurant, and on-site coffee bars (depending on your location)
7. Paid parental and adoption leave

Equal Opportunities
At MI5, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce.

What to Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here’s a brief overview of each stage, in order:
Initially, we’ll ask you to complete our pre-screening questions to find out if you meet our criteria. If you do, we’ll invite you to begin an application.

You’ll need to create an account and provide your full name, email address and memorable password. Once you’ve successfully created a personal account, you’ll be asked to complete a registration form, providing contact details and equal opportunities information.

You’ll then be invited to complete an online application form. If successful, you may then be invited to a final interview, which will include competency-based questions and further exploration of your motivation to work for the UK’s Intelligence Services.

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6-9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before You Apply
To work at MI5, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV).

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

The roles are based in London, Cheltenham or Manchester, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance of the location you choose. A loan is available to support people relocating to London.