UK Ministry of Defence
Defence Business Services (DBS) Finance & Procurement Services Assistant Head
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Tomlinson House, Norcross, Blackpool, Lancashire
Job Summary
Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference?
Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence?
Defence Business Services (DBS) is one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services, to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MoD civil servants and industry. DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UK’s Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement.
Our Vision - To support UK defence customers with outstanding service every time.
Our Mission - Together we will proudly support Defence, continuously improving and delivering flexible, timely, sustainable and value for money services that underpin the whole force and enhance operational capability.
DBS is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society.
We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as hybrid working.
Come and join the DBS community today!
Job Description
DBS Finance & Procurement Services delivers financial services for MOD Finance function, spanning the financial lifecycle of supplier setup, payment execution, debt recovery and financial reporting. This includes payment of supplier invoices, hastening and release of invoices on hold, invoicing MOD customers including management & collection of debt, setting up new suppliers/customers and amending existing supplier/customer records, accounting activity relating to fixed assets, bank account/control account reconciliations and administrative support to MOD users of the finance systems.
This Assistant Head Finance & Procurement Services is a critical role and is a key member of the FPCP Senior Leadership Team with direct leadership responsibility for the Purchase to Pay team but will lean in across all Finance & Procurement Services teams. This role leads complex operational Finance teams, responsible for the operational delivery of outputs to meet DBS Finance objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as laid out in the Service Level Agreement between MoD and DBS and detailed in the DBS Service Catalogue.
This is a senior operational leadership role requiring strong delivery focus, sound judgement, and the ability to lead people, manage risk, support wider Finance & Procurement operational delivery, and drive continuous improvement in a complex finance environment. The post holder must contribute positively to wider projects and initiatives and lead on various strands of DBS Transformation, lead and collaborate on tasks in support of MOD Finance / Commercial functions and the wider DBS/MoD as required.
The role contributes to the delivery of business priorities through effective operational management, stakeholder engagement, team leadership and continuous improvement activity in line with Civil Service and Operational Delivery Profession standards.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Delivery
- Lead and coordinate operational activities to ensure delivery of Financial & Procurement services against agreed performance measures and service standards.
- Lead Purchase to Pay Invoicing and Payments Cashiers team in the prompt payment of properly presented supplier invoices and civilian salaries / expenses, seeking quick resolution to any system issues impacting delivery of the service.
- Manage and prioritise workloads, ensuring resources are deployed effectively to meet business requirements.
- Monitor operational performance and take appropriate action to address emerging issues, risks and opportunities.
- Ensure compliance with relevant policies, legislation, governance requirements and organisational standards. Assist with Prompt Payment Compliance reporting, Freedom of Information requests and Parliamentary Questions.
- Act as the risk lead for all Purchase to Pay activity, updating risk register monthly.
- Ensure Business Continuity Plans and Business Impact Analysis for Purchase to Pay are regularly reviewed and updated.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Leadership and Management
- Provide visible leadership within the team, promoting a culture of accountability, inclusion and continuous improvement.
- Support team development through coaching, mentoring and performance management.
- Foster collaboration across teams and professions to achieve organisational objectives.
- Contribute to workforce planning, succession planning and capability development activity.
Customer and Stakeholder Management
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Operational Finance and Defence Commercial.
- Act as a key point of contact for operational matters, resolving complex issues and escalating where appropriate.
- Ensure customer needs are understood and reflected in service delivery improvements.
- Promote a customer-focused approach across all operational activities.
- Contribute positively to the Finance & Commercial Delivery Board, Finance Data Quality Working Group, Non-Core Procurement Board, cross-government finance meetings, performance, risk, workplace programme and business continuity meetings.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve operational processes, customer experience, efficiency and productivity.
- Lead or support improvement initiatives using evidence, lessons learned and best practice.
- Encourage innovation and continuous learning within the team.
Data, Performance and Assurance
- Analyse operational data and management information to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
- Produce reports, recommendations and briefings for senior leaders.
- Ensure appropriate assurance mechanisms are in place and contribute to audits, reviews and governance activities.
- Use evidence-based decision making to support delivery and policy implementation.
- Act as a Finance Internal Control and Assurance Framework control owner, ensuring processes are robust, compliant and controlled, minimising the risk of financial loss and supporting audit, assurance and governance requirements.
Change
- Manage change, including changes arising from DBS transformation, Defence Reform and Journey to the Cloud.
- Provide SME input on Purchase to Pay processes to support Journey to the Cloud.
Decision-Making Responsibilities
The post holder is expected to:
- Make informed operational decisions within delegated authority.
- Exercise judgement in managing competing priorities.
- Escalate significant risks, issues or resource constraints appropriately.
- Recommend improvements and solutions based on evidence and analysis.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Experience of leadership roles, line management and performance management in a large operational environment.
- Experience of working with Oracle, including CP&F.
- Experience of managing operational delivery activities or services at a senior level.
- Experience of using data and performance information to drive improvements.
- Ability to build productive stakeholder relationships.
- Experience of managing competing priorities and delivering results within deadlines.
- Experience of delivering business improvement or change initiatives.
- Understanding of governance, Internal Control and Assurance Framework, risk management and service standards
- Experience of continuous improvement.
- Financial Skills Certificate Level 1, or willingness to complete it within one month of start date, as this is required before financial delegation can be exercised.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Desirable Experience
- Operational Delivery Profession membership or engagement with ODP learning.
- Relevant operational, leadership or management qualifications.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
Compensation and 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).
- An environment with flexible working options Monday-Friday
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service (pro rata). In addition to 8 public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for His Majesty The King’s birthday
- Hybrid working where role permits
- An opportunity to be considered for Reward and Recognition
- Family-friendly policies including - parental leave and adoption leave
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- Professional and personal development of skills
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Minimum of 15 days special leave in a rolling 12 month period for volunteer reserve commitments
- Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days per year
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Additional Information
DBS has recently undertaken a review of its operational locations in the North West, and have consolidated all activities in Norcross, Blackpool. A further move, to the new Government Hub at Talbot Gateway in Blackpool, is scheduled to take place in 2027.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills