NAD Group Chief Financial Officer

UK Ministry of Defence

5d ago

Job
Full-time
Expert Level
Legal
Banking & Finance
London
19d left

AI generated summary

You need proven CFO experience in large organizations, strong strategic judgement, corporate finance knowledge, and the ability to drive change while engaging stakeholders and funding solutions effectively.
You will lead financial strategy, ensure efficient resource use, drive transformation, and enhance value while managing a £19bn budget and a finance team of 1,200.

Requirements

Proven experience as a Group CFO, CFO/COO or equivalent enterprise‑level finance leader within a large, complex organisation, bringing strong commercial judgement and a deep understanding of procurement, operating models and delivery at scale.
A demonstrated track record of driving organisational effectiveness and productivity through periods of significant change, translating strategy into execution across multi‑year, high‑risk environments.
Strong grounding in corporate finance, governance and assurance, including financial strategy, planning and control, risk management, systems oversight, statutory reporting and accountability, combined with the pragmatism to apply these disciplines in a way that enables agility, efficiency, pace and delivery.
Experience operating as a trusted board‑level adviser and enterprise leader, able to integrate financial insight with commercial and operational decision‑making in complex environments; able to win the confidence of senior stakeholders internally and externally.
Evidence of using commercial and financial levers to unlock performance, challenge established assumptions and improve value for money and delivery confidence across a diverse range of complex portfolios.
Experience of engaging with private capital, financial institutions or investment communities to structure, assess or deliver innovative funding solutions and the judgement to apply this experience effectively within complex regulatory and public‑interest environments.
An enterprise‑minded, big‑picture leader with strong strategic judgement and the ability to connect finance, operations and purpose.
Commercially astute, intellectually curious and pragmatic, with the confidence to challenge convention, think differently about resources and act as a catalyst for intelligent change.
Resilient, determined and adaptable, comfortable leading senior teams through complexity, scrutiny and constraint while maintaining momentum, credibility and calm authority.

Responsibilities

The NAD Group Chief Financial Officer is an enterprise Defence leader, exercising professional financial and commercial authority, stewarding public money, acting as a senior enterprise leader within UK Defence. They are shaping the financial strategy and delivery for the NAD Group and ensuring that through its financial operations and commercial leadership it delivers military capability, value for money and national resilience at pace and scale. The role is accountable for ensuring the organisation operates within its delegated financial authority, maintains robust control of public expenditure, and provides Ministers, the Accounting Officer and HM Treasury with confidence that resources are being used economically, efficiently and effectively.
The NAD Group Chief Financial Officer is the senior finance leader and the executive leader responsible for shaping and delivering the Group’s financial strategy and overall Group performance as a member of the NAD Group Executive Committee, acting as a key integrator across the enterprise, driving large‑scale transformation and operation of the Group. In terms of scale, the role leads a professional finance workforce of over 1,200 people and manages a costed INVEST plan (equipment and infrastructure) of £11bn per annum, and Operating Expenditure of £8bn per annum. The role also operates across an organisation of approximately 28,000 staff and around 2,500 live programmes. Its purpose is to ensure the NAD Group realises maximum value from the management of its finances and combines strategic financial leadership with active enterprise‑level leadership and accountability in driving the long‑term affordability, sustainability and credibility of the NAD Group.
The post holder will be accountable for working across the Group to define and ensure delivery of the NAD Group financial plans. In doing so they will realise efficiencies and improve productivity and delivery confidence by influencing the business model and organisational effectiveness to deliver against commitments in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), sustaining long‑term value to the taxpayer and strengthening the NAD Group’s relationship with industry. This role will drive a culture of efficiency, productivity and capacity release across the Group and, in all aspects of business operations and through procurement, will ensure that the Group is driving value for money at pace and at scale.
The post holder will ensure the effective development of the Finance Function Operating Model in the NAD Group on behalf of the MOD’s Director General Finance and will ensure the development of a strategy and enabling plan which coheres and aligns functional activity within the Group to ensure Defence achieves the outcomes of the SDR and the DIS. This includes shaping how the finance function supports faster decision‑making, proportionate risk‑taking and more agile delivery, while maintaining robust control and assurance.
As Group CFO they must deliver a step‑change in the NAD Group’s financial, operational and programme management capability to ensure that investment and expenditure of the £19bn budget per annum are maximised through forging new partnerships with industry and strengthening existing ones. Through expert leadership the CFO must ensure that investment is directly linked to military capability, while championing dual‑use technology with industry and private finance to unlock private capital and specialist expertise, leverage the budget and fulfil the wider government agenda of promoting the UK Defence industrial base and delivering value for money in a complex, high‑scrutiny environment.

FAQs

What is the primary location for the NAD Group Chief Financial Officer position?

The primary locations are MOD Abbey Wood in Bristol or the MOD Main Office in London, though other NAD Group sites could be considered upon discussion.

What is the salary for this position?

The salary for the NAD Group Chief Financial Officer position is £225,000.

What additional pension benefits are provided to the successful candidate?

The Ministry of Defence contributes £65,182 towards the successful candidate's membership in the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

What is the scale of the organisation that the CFO will oversee?

The CFO will oversee an organisation of nearly 30,000 people with an annual expenditure of approximately £19 billion across thousands of complex, high-risk programmes.

What type of experience is required for this role?

The candidate should have proven experience as a Group CFO, CFO/COO, or equivalent enterprise-level finance leader within a large, complex organisation, with strong commercial judgement and operational experience.

What is the expected assignment duration for this role?

The role has a minimum assignment duration of 4 years, which is the expected time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same position to deliver on key business outcomes.

Are there any nationality requirements for this position?

Yes, this position is only available to Sole UK Nationals.

What kind of support is available for the successful candidate in terms of learning and development?

The successful candidate will receive tailored learning and development opportunities aligned with their role.

Is there a specific requirement for security clearance for this role?

Yes, successful candidates must meet security requirements before they can be appointed, which includes developed vetting.

What approach does the Civil Service take toward diversity and inclusion?

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities, including operating a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

UK Ministry of Defence

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Defence & Aerospace

Industry

1001-5000

Employees

Mission & Purpose

We protect the security, independence and interests of the United Kingdom at home and abroad. We work with our allies and partners whenever possible. Our aim is to ensure that the UK’s Armed Forces have the training, equipment and support necessary for their work, and that we keep within budget. Our priorities 2015 to 2020 are to: protect our people project our global influence promote our prosperity maintain a strategic base and integrated global support network, and manage the Department of State