Deputy Finance Business Partner – Royal Navy

Ministry of Defence; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A government defense organization in Portsmouth is seeking a Deputy Finance Business Partner to enhance financial management. Responsibilities include supporting business outcomes, providing financial analysis, and ensuring the integration of finance in strategic decisions. The ideal candidate has experience in financial accounting, strong communication skills, and a track record in stakeholder engagement. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Pension contribution: 28.97%

25 days paid annual leave

Personal & professional development

Flexible working options

Access to a confidential support service

Discount schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in Management and Financial Accounting with good excel skills.
• A track record of working with stakeholders to deliver results.
• Experience in leading a team and managing deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Support the business to deliver their outcomes.
• Provide constructive challenge and analysis on financial plans.
• Input into the development of business cases and proposals.
• Implement Continuous Improvement in the service finance provides.
• Act as the bridge between the business and the rest of finance.
• Build effective business engagement with leadership.

Skills

Management and Financial Accounting

Excellent communication and influencing skills

Briefing senior stakeholders

Working with stakeholders to deliver results

Team leading and managing deliverables

Education

Qualified or studying towards CCAB, CIMA

Tools

Excel

Job description

About the job

Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) in Whale Island, Portsmouth, is the nerve centre of the Naval Service. It upholds operations around the globe and provides the ships, people, aircraft, and equipment to deliver the UK’s defence policy. NCHQ supports all the Royal Navy’s activities, from front-line operations to personnel support and training; finance and governance; safety; equipment acquisition; programmes and planning; and Defence Engagement. Civil servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and challenging jobs in areas ranging from finance; legal services; personnel and HR; project planning and managing contracts, to media and communications.

The vision for the finance function for financial management is: Protecting Value, Driving Value, Adding Value and putting finance at the heart of decision making to support and enable delivery of Defence outputs. The Deputy Finance Business Partner (DFBP) is a key role in delivering this vision by demonstrating the need for finance, ensuring that the function is included in strategic decision making, with responsibility for building and sustaining the partnership between Finance and the Business. This role forms a key part of the MoD’s Finance Functional Leadership Programme.

The DFBP is the finance professional who ensures that the associated financial and economic implications are considered to protect and drive value enabling Navy Command to deliver against its strategic plan and objectives. This role requires a wide range of skills and requires the successful candidate to utilise a combined skill set encompassing interpersonal skills, professional skills and technical knowledge. By applying these skills together with their contextual understanding of the business’ strategic goals, plans, performance and risk management, the DFBP will be equipped to provide strategic financial advice and improve the quality of decision-making.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This role can offer great job satisfaction and there are many opportunities to develop and progress both within the Department and across the wider Civil Service. The successful candidate will be required to:

• Support the business to deliver their outcomes – working collaboratively with the business and other functions to enable the delivery of plans and objectives.
• Provide constructive challenge, scrutiny, insight and analysis on financial plans and programmes to ensure ambitions are sustainable, aligned to strategy, maximise value for money and are linked to benefits.
• Input into the development of business cases, investment appraisals and proposals identifying and highlighting any potential issues.
• Implement Continuous Improvement – proactively seeking opportunities for continuous improvement in the service finance provides by engaging with the Business to prioritise those changes that could add most value.
• Act as the bridge between the business and the rest of finance - engaging with the wider business and drawing on the required support from the finance function.
• Build effective business engagement – building successful partnerships and managing relationships with both the business leadership and other partners. The post holder may be required to undertake additional responsibilities as expected in relation to the role and grade, including travel to locations across the Defence estate when required.

Person specification

The successful candidate will demonstrate during the application and selection process:

Essential

• Experience in Management and Financial Accounting with good excel skills
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Briefing senior stakeholders
• A track record of working with stakeholders to deliver results, and
• Experience in leading a team and managing deliverables

Desirable

• Experience of project management and an understanding of commercial practice in government
• An understanding of financial scrutiny and approval decisions
• Qualifications - qualified, or studying towards CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualification.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,590, the Ministry of Defence contributes £12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Our headquarters in Portsmouth also offers an impressive range of on-site facilities including a gymnasium, tennis courts, and other sporting facilities, a children’s nursery, a bistro restaurant, a shop, and plenty of car parking spaces.

As a civil servant in Navy Command, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects, and a job that makes a difference.

Navy Command prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Navy Command civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service.
• Pension contribution: 28.97%.
• Personal & professional development.
• Alternative working patterns for many roles.
• Access to a confidential, professional support service.
• Discount schemes.
• Bicycle/season ticket loans.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year.

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 29th September 2025

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