UK Ministry of Defence
Assistant Head Finance Accounting, Tax and Compliance
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Job Summary
Do you want to work on one of the most exciting transformation projects in the public sector?
The Defence Housing Service (DHS) is being created through the Armed Forces Bill to deliver a step-change in housing for the UK’s Armed Forces and their families following the publication of the Defence Housing Strategy on 3 November 2025, which marked the most significant change to Armed Forces housing in over 50 years. DHS will bring a dedicated focus to improving the homes, communities and lived experience of Service personnel, placing families firmly at the heart of everything it does.
This is one of the most ambitious housing transformation programmes in the UK today. Backed by a £9.2 billion investment, DHS will modernise tens of thousands of homes, introduce a more proactive and customer-focused approach to maintenance, and unlock new opportunities to develop housing on Defence land. DHS will have the focus and agility to deliver change at pace, combining public service values with greater flexibility to build the skills, systems and partnerships needed for the future.
This is a rare opportunity to be part of shaping its culture, influencing how it works, and helping deliver lasting improvements for Service families across the UK.
The Defence Housing team is currently part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), who respond to the evolving needs of our military personnel, and the ways in which they live, work, train and deploy. We are proud to be the expert partner Defence needs for all their infrastructure requirements. From large scale infrastructure projects such as runways for the F35 fighter jets to net carbon-zero accommodation for our Service families, our activities focus relentlessly on our customers, and our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe!
The future delivery model for this team is currently under review and may change as part of potential organisational developments. This could include the team or function transferring to a different employer or organisational structure in the future. Should activities transfer out of the Ministry of Defence existing employees transferring with those activities will maintain the same or substantially the same terms and conditions of employment.
Job Description
As the Assistant Head of Finance Accounting, Tax and Compliance, you will lead the production of DHS financial accounts and manage the audit process, ensuring strong financial controls and governance arrangements are in place to support the accuracy and reliability of financial reporting, alongside an effective internal control and assurance framework.
You will provide high-quality financial information to be incorporated into MOD accounts, identifying and escalating key risks, issues and opportunities.
You will also oversee a range of external reporting requirements, including responses to Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, ensuring accurate and timely information is provided to stakeholders. Working closely with finance colleagues, auditors and senior leaders, you will provide expert accounting advice, support the agreement of accounting treatments, lead on tax compliance matters, and manage DHS tax returns.
Key Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To:
- Lead the preparation and delivery of DHS financial accounts and the Annual Report and Accounts (ARAc), ensuring high-quality financial reporting, effective review and assurance processes, and clear escalation of significant issues, risks and opportunities.
- Manage the DHS external audit programme, working collaboratively with auditors, DBS and key stakeholders to resolve complex issues, monitor audit progress and ensure recommendations are implemented effectively.
- Provide expert financial analysis, accounting advice and strategic insight, translating complex financial information into clear recommendations that support senior decision-making and organisational performance.
- Lead the development of reports, briefings and papers for the Audit Committee and other senior governance forums, clearly articulating financial performance, assurance activities, emerging risks and key accounting matters.
- Drive financial assurance and compliance across DHS, ensuring robust controls are in place and that all activities comply with accounting standards, financial policies and governance requirements.
- Oversee key financial control processes, including Electronic Procurement Card management, reconciliations, control account reviews and grants-in-aid assurance, ensuring the accuracy, completeness and integrity of financial information.
- Ensure the quality and integrity of financial data used for statutory and external reporting requirements, including Estimates, Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information requests and National Audit Office (NAO) reviews.
- Work closely with the MOD Technical Accounting Centre of Excellence and Strategic Head Office to agree accounting treatments, implement new accounting standards, assess organisational impacts and ensure compliance with financial governance requirements.
- Lead the preparation, assurance and submission of DHS tax returns, providing expert tax advice and ensuring effective controls are in place to maintain compliance and manage organisational tax risk.
- Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team, creating an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes continuous learning, professional development and outstanding delivery.
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Whilst this role is advertised as a full-time position of 37 hours per week, we recognise the benefits of flexible working and are open to discussing part-time hours, job share arrangements, or other flexible working patterns with suitable candidates. Regular in person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.
Person Specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:
- Experience of leading financial reporting, accounting, audit or assurance activity in a complex organisation.
- Experience of producing and reviewing financial accounts, external reports or senior governance papers.
- Practitioner Level – Financial Governance (Finance Competence Framework)
- Experience of leading teams, developing capability and delivering high-quality outputs.
- Ability to communicate and influence effectively with senior stakeholders and across organisational boundaries.
- Experience of implementing accounting standards, financial policies, controls or process improvements.
The professional framework used in this vacancy can be found here: Finance Competence Framework
Qualifications
Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent with financial experience
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Finance Competence Framework – Financial Governance – Practitioner Level
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £61,630, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,854 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
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Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
- 25 days’ annual leave plus one day a year up to 30 days after five years, and eight bank holidays
- An extra day off to honour the sovereign’s birthday
- Flexible and hybrid working wherever possible to support your work-life balance - attending site a few days each week will be required and encouraged, depending on your role and team.
- Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 28.97%
- Enhanced parental leave schemes
- Recognition awards
- Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications
- Support for progression
- Huge range of discounts – plus more!
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:
At sift Stage, Applicants Will Be Required To Provide:
- A CV in the Job History section, ensuring it clearly demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. We encourage you to use specific evidence from your experience to illustrate your suitability for the role.
- A personal statement (no more than 500 words) providing specific examples of how you meet the top two most critical criteria for the role. Further guidance is given within the Personal Statement section of the application.
Applications will be assessed against the essential criteria, with each criterion scored on a scale of 1 to 7. An overall score will then be calculated using the average of all criterion scores. To progress beyond the sift stage, applicants must achieve a minimum score of 4 on every essential criterion. This means that even if your overall average score is 4 or higher, you will not progress if you score below 4 on any individual essential criterion.
Please note that, in the event of a high volume of applications, the selection panel reserves the right to increase the overall pass mark.
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours and Technical skills:
- Behaviour: Leadership
- Behaviour: Working Together
- Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
- Behaviour: Changing and Improving
- Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions
- Technical skill: Finance Competence Framework – Financial Governance – Practitioner Level
The professional framework used in this vacancy can be found here: Finance Competence Framework
In The Event Of a Tied Score At Interview, The Order Of Merit Will Be Distinguished Based On The Ranking Of The Assessed Behaviours And Technical Skills As Follows:
- Behaviour: Leadership
- Behaviour: Working Together
- Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
- Technical skill: Finance Competence Framework – Financial Governance – Practitioner Level
- Behaviour: Changing and Improving
- Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions
Interviews will take place in person in Andover. We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can
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