Navy Command - Devonport Infrastructure Programme (DIP) Finance Business Partner (FBP)

Ministry Of Defence; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK seeks an experienced Finance Business Partner to provide strategic financial advice within the Navy Command. This role involves delivering financial performance insights, supporting business plans, and implementing improvements. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in financial control, excellent leadership skills, and experience in complex environments. The position offers a competitive salary along with substantial benefits including a Civil Service pension.

Benefits

Civil Service pension contributions

Flexible working options

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience as a Finance Business Partner in a complex environment.
• Proven ability to deliver robust financial control.
• Excellent leadership with a track record of developing teams.

Responsibilities

• Support the business to deliver outcomes.
• Drive financial performance against targets.
• Provide constructive challenge and scrutiny on financial plans.

Skills

Financial control and governance

Leadership

Communication of complex financial information

Change management

Relationship building

Education

CCAB (or equivalent) Qualified Accountant

Job description

Overview

The Finance Business Partner (FBP) is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, influencing strategic direction and enabling the organisation to deliver against Navy plan objectives and outcomes. The FBP delivers accurate, timely and considered strategic financial advice to Senior Leadership Budget Holders and SROs for Navy Command programmes, while safeguarding the taxpayer. This post is the Finance Business Partner for the Devonport Infrastructure Programme within the Submarine Directorate. The Submarine Directorate in Navy Command is responsible for generating the UK's submarines, ensuring they are available and capable for operations, including the Continuous At Sea Deterrent. The portfolio is high profile, vast and complex, spanning in-service capability management, submarine generation for operations, day-to-day naval base operations, and decades-long infrastructure programmes. Devonport facilities represent a UK strategic asset and are critical to enabling Defence outputs. A multi-billion-pound investment is underway over the next 30 years to revitalise facilities and services at Devonport to support Dreadnought, SSNR, AUKUS and other platforms.

The Senior Responsible Owner leads this programme and the post will be a key part of the Senior Leadership team for this area.

Responsibilities

• Support the business to deliver outcomes by working collaboratively with the business and other functions to enable delivery of business plans and objectives.
• Drive financial performance against targets, understand drivers behind variations, and work with the business to identify remedial actions, risks and opportunities.
• Provide constructive challenge, scrutiny, insight and analysis on financial plans and programmes to ensure ambitions are sustainable, aligned to strategy, and maximise value for money.
• Report and analyse the business financial position for consolidation to Head of Corporate Reporting.
• Review Financial Accounting treatment and resolve anomalies and any impacts on the SOFP.
• Input into development of business cases, investment appraisals and proposals, highlighting potential issues.
• Identify opportunities for new efficiencies and support in delivering the existing pipeline.
• Implement Continuous Improvement to embed value-adding changes in service finance.
• Act as the link between the business and the wider finance function, leveraging deep technical expertise across the organisation.
• Build effective engagement by developing partnerships and maintaining relationships with business leadership and across your sphere of influence.

Requirements & Skills

• Experience as a Finance Business Partner in a complex environment, able to briefing at Board level.
• Proven ability to deliver robust financial control and governance over a sophisticated portfolio.
• Excellent leadership with a track record of developing and leading teams.
• Experience communicating complex financial information clearly to diverse customers.
• Experience using financial, operational performance and economic data to drive change and continuous improvement.
• Ability to build relationships and provide constructive challenge and scrutiny to support delivery of outcomes.
• Desirable: ability to balance competing priorities, lead teams and projects; working knowledge of MOD Commercial and Programme Management; CCAB (or equivalent) Qualified Accountant, finalist or final year considered with commitment to qualify within 2 years.

Location & Travel

The role requires regular in-office presence in Portsmouth or Devonport with some travel to other locations, as agreed with the Line Manager.

Selection & Development

• We will assess behaviours: Leadership, Seeing the Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together.
• Evidence of behaviours is requested on the application form. Candidates will be assessed against CV and Personal Statement, followed by Leadership behaviours if they pass the initial stage.
• Learning and development options are available; flexible working is encouraged where possible.

Benefits & Additional Information

• Salary: £59,690 plus Civil Service pension contributions (£17,292.gov.uk equivalent).
• Learning and development tailored to your role; flexible working options; inclusive culture.
• Civil Service pension with employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Other benefits: defined benefit pension, opportunities for progression, and a supportive environment.

Important Notices

The post does not include relocation expenses. External Civil Service applicants may have a six-month probation period. Travel to interviews expenses are not reimbursed. The Department reviews pay-related allowances which could affect the post’s current allowances. Government childcare voucher access will change when moving to MOD from another employer. See relevant guidance for Tax-Free Childcare eligibility. The MOD is committed to a safe and healthy working environment and smoking policy is in place. The Civil Service Success Profiles will be used for assessment. A range of pre-employment checks apply including security checks. Applications will be assessed in line with Civil Service processes, including potential use of AI to support the process; all content must be truthful and your own.

How to Apply

To apply, complete the advertised CS job application process and submit your CV along with a 500-word max personal statement demonstrating how you meet the person specification. Shortlisting and interviews will assess the listed leadership and other behaviours. Sifting will occur after close of advert, and successful candidates will be contacted for interviews.