Senior Finance Business Partner –Integrated Global Defence Network (iGDN)

Ministry of Defence; London Borough of Hillingdon; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

A government organisation is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner to lead financial strategy and oversight for the Integrated Global Defence Network. The role involves building trusted stakeholder relationships, providing expert financial guidance, and managing significant budgets. Ideal candidates will be CCAB or CIMA qualified, with strong leadership and communication skills. This position offers competitive benefits and flexible working options.

Benefits

Learning and development tailored to your role

Flexible working options

Civil Service pension with 28.97% employer contribution

25 days paid annual leave plus 8 public holidays

Qualifications

• Proven ability to form effective relationships across diverse stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills with impact.
• Experience in financial performance management.

Responsibilities

• Shape financial strategy for the Integrated Global Defence Network.
• Provide expert financial advice to business units.
• Support budget holders in managing their in-year budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

CCAB or CIMA qualified or working towards qualification

Job description

Location

Northwood Headquarters, Northwood, Greater London

About the job

Job summary

UK Strategic Command (UKStratCom) is one of the four Military Commands within the Ministry of Defence. As the Defence integrator, UKStratCom sits at the heart of Defence, giving us the winning edge in an ever uncertain and competitive world. Every single operation relies on the connectivity and skills we offer the whole of the Armed Forces.

TheUKStratComFinance Function supports nine Service Directorates - the Headquarters; Defence Medical Services; Defence Intelligence; Defence Digital; Special Forces; National Cyber Force; Integrated Global Defence Network; Defence Support; and Permanent Joint Headquarters. With a diverse workforce of approximately 29,000 military and civilian personnel and an annual budget of nearly £7 billion,UKStratComis at the forefront of defence innovation and progressive thinking.

UKStratComFinance is seeking an exceptional leader to join us as the Senior Finance Business Partner (FBP) for the newly formed Integrated Global Defence Network (iGDN).

IGDN is a 2* Directorate with a mixed military and civilian team, created from an amalgamation of the Global Defence Network and the Directorate of Overseas Bases, responsible for the enabling activity and delivery of a significant portion of the UK’s enduring overseas presence. These include the Permanent Joint Operating Bases - Cyprus, Gibraltar, Diego Garcia, Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands - and several small, joint units based either overseas or who deliver their roles and missions overseas.It also includes the majority of UK Defence Sections, and some of the British Defence Staffs, situated across 91 countries.

This pivotal role offers the opportunity to shape financial strategy and operational excellence within an organisation that safeguards the nation’s interests. This is a unique opportunity for a high-calibre candidate with the expertise, vision, and leadership skills to excel in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. If you are ready to make a significant impact, we want to hear from you.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is to have an empowered, productive, personally and professionally fulfilled workforce. Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously. We want to enable you to build a successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. We are committed to understanding, respecting, and representing as broad a range of views and backgrounds as we have in UK society. We know that diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to an effective, modern Civil Service.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Finance Business Partnering (FBPs) puts finance at the heart of decision making. FBPs in Strategic Command help to drive the agenda, they aspire to become trusted partners to business units, provide expert financial advice and support decision making, building good working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, across a complex and fascinating organisation, enabling effective financial management.

As senior FBP for the iGDN you will be part of a wider high-performing team responsible for delivering critical outputs to several 2* led Directorates. By fostering a culture of inclusivity, innovation, and collaboration, you will play a central role in driving forwardUKStratCom’s mission to represent and defend the breadth of society.

The job holder is expected to be open, honest, and transparent, sharing information and best practice. They should work flexibly to support other FBPs in their team as required and work collaboratively across both team and organisational boundaries.

Part of a small team, this Finance Business Partner (FBP) role is responsible for the effective oversight of all areas of financial management within the Integrated Global defence Network.

Responsibilities include: financial planning, in year management (monthly forecasts, analysis and reporting), process development and providing expert financial guidance and advice across the partnership and Strategic Command. You will also contribute as a member of the Strategic Command FBP team as well as the overall finance function of Strategic Command.

A key part of your role will be to support budget holders in managing their in-year budgets and their 10-year strategic financial plan. Additionally, you will assist with the preparation of business cases and provide challenge when required.

You will set a positive culture for a strong control environment and encourage an atmosphere of empowerment of budgets holders operating within a sensible governance framework. You will proactively identify and manage the financial impact of risk, helping to mitigate and minimise risk wherever possible. By working closely with Commercial colleagues to support budget holders you will help to maximise value and generate efficiencies. Your close working with Human Resources colleagues to support budget holders will help to ensure that they get the most from their workforce budgets

As senior FBP for the iGDN, the successful candidate will lead a team of two colleagues and deputise for the Grade 6 Head FBP as required providing expert financial and decision-making support to both iGDN as well as the Headquarters of Strategic Command.

Whilst the role holder will be based with the central iGDN team in Northwood, it may be possible to undertake this role from other MOD locations, however, there will be the need to attend Northwood at least twice a month as well as occasional overseas travel to the global network hubs.

Person specification

As the Senior FBP for iGDN and the Headquarters of Strategic Command you will lead a team of approximately 2 FBPs whilst building trusted relationships with the iGDN Headquarters Directors as well as other senior stakeholders, at the same time as ensuring timely finance input into all business matters.

You will have a proven ability to form effective relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders, delivery agencies and corporate Functions, and achieve influence at senior levels in the organisation.

You will communicate with impact and provide insight including financial and wider business implications and will demonstrate flexibility in undertaking duties unique to the needs of the business area and supporting the business to resolve complex problems.

You will be able to demonstrate an excellent ability to quickly convert financial and business information into easily understood, pragmatic and accurate advice, always taking account of the bigger strategic picture.

You will be able to understand and interpret complex business and financial requirements and management information, solving complex problems and delivering through others.

You will review and analyse data and information, driving financial performance against agreed targets working with stakeholders. You will develop an understanding of drivers behind key variations and work with the business to identify remedial actions, risks, and opportunities.

By providing constructive challenge and insight to the Business/Budget Holders on their financial plans and programmes you will ensure ambitions are sustainable, aligned to strategy, you will seek opportunities to maximise value for money and are linked to benefits.

By inputting into the development of business cases, investment appraisals and proposals you will identify and highlight any potential issues. More widely, by supporting the development of business cases you will ensure that cases provide value for money, consider the wider corporate impact (e.g. legal, commercial) and through-life implications ensuring a robust risk assessment is undertaken.

You will proactively identify and manage the financial impact of risk, helping to mitigate and minimise risk wherever possible and acting as the first finance contact for issues and queries raised by the business where there is no clear solution pathway in place or if a rapid resolution can be provided.

By contributing as a member of the iGDN Headquarters senior management boards and steering and influencing senior leadership to make informed decisions that balance short term priorities (e.g. in year efficiencies) with longer-term sustainability, you will enable finance to be at the heart of decision making.

By working closely with Commercial colleagues to support budget holders you will help to maximise value and generate efficiencies.

Your close working with Human Resources colleagues to support budget holders will help to ensure that they get the most from their workforce budgets

You will proactively identify opportunities for continuous improvement in the service finance provides by engaging with the Business to prioritise those changes that could add most value. This will include looking forward and using financial, operational performance and economic data to deliver insight that both drives and facilitates change and continuous improvement. You will deliver improvements in financial awareness and acumen across their business areas and lead the input and support to significant change programmes, where there is an impact to how your team will provide their services.

The successful candidate will be a CCAB or CIMA qualified accountant or actively working towards and within 18 months of qualification.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,690, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,292 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
• ACivil Service pensionwith an employer contribution of 28.97%
• With Line Manager agreement move to an alternative Working Patterns (there are 9).
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service. If by chance you have previously completed service in the Public Sector in the past 5 years, you may be eligible to request 30 days leave immediately. (Evidence will be required).
• In addition to annual leave you will be entitled to 8 Public Bank Holidays per year.
• Professional and Personal Development of skills with the opportunity to undergo an Apprenticeship.
• Opportunity to join more than one of our many networks (Race, LGBT+, Gender, Disability and Faith & Belief).
• Minimum of 18 Days Special Paid Leave in a rolling 12-month period for Public Duties commitments (such as a Magistrate).
• Special Paid Leave for community volunteering up to 12 days a year for Special Constables and 6 days a year for other volunteering.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
• Free car parking at Northwood Headquarters, access to gym facilities for a nominal fee, onsite Mess and shop.

Apply before 11:55 pm on Saturday 30th August 2025

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