Finance Officer Ref. 3392

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. And you won't take your work home with you. Full time hours are 37 hours.

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. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. 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. Which makes 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. Or there's Financial Operations, where 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. And you'll use your communication skills to help you 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. And 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.

And you'll do it all as part of a welcoming, supportive workplace that's committed to helping you fulfil your potential. We offer and fund a generous study package to support you in gaining your professional qualifications, so you can 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/be actively studying AAT or higher, or hold/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. Facilities such as a gym, restaurant, and on-site coffee bar
6. 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. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

We're Disability Confident
MI5 are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP's Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a fair and proportionate number of person-to-person interviews to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role.

What to Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here's a brief overview of each stage, in order:

1. 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
2. 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
3. You'll then be invited to complete an online application form
4. If successful at this stage, 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). It's something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes.

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 role is based in Belfast so you'll need to live within a commutable distance of the location you choose. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application.

Right to Withdraw Statement:
Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.