Finance Manager, British Intelligence Agencies
MI5
£57-62.9k
London: £59,028 or £62,895 (dependent on experience) Cheltenham: £56,962 or £60,998 (dependent on experience)
More information about location
4-5 days a week in office (Available in London and Cheltenham)
UK's domestic and foreign intelligence services
Open for applications
UK's domestic and foreign intelligence services
1001+ employees
Open for applications
£57-62.9k
London: £59,028 or £62,895 (dependent on experience) Cheltenham: £56,962 or £60,998 (dependent on experience)
More information about location
4-5 days a week in office (Available in London and Cheltenham)
1001+ employees
Company mission
MI5, MI6 and GCHQ work together to protect the UK from a range of national security and overseas threats, keeping citizens safe.
Role
Who you are
- To apply, you’ll need to be a fully qualified chartered accountant with experience of managing a team. You’ll also bring proven finance experience from a public sector environment. You’ll be organised, positive and eager to keep growing your skills. You’ll enjoy working with others, value collaboration and innovation, and you’ll be comfortable building relationships and negotiating with key stakeholders. Above all, you’ll have a real interest in finance, and you’ll be in your element when working with numbers and spreadsheets
- From the moment you join us, you’ll be fully supported. If you’re committed to growing your skills, we’ll support your training and development. You’ll also have access to internal communities, support networks and mentors. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask that you remain within the Finance Capability for at least five years so we can continue to invest in your development
What the job involves
- The Finance Manager role is diverse, with opportunities across several office-based teams. As part of the recruitment process, we’ll get to know you and assess which area best reflects your strengths and interests
- *Financial Analysis* One area you could join is our Financial Analysis team. They provide key insights that guide decision making across the organisation. As a Finance Manager here, you’ll lead a team and produce monthly financial reports that meet the needs of budget holders. You’ll prepare, interpret and present in-year financial information and hold regular review meetings with business areas so they feel fully informed
- Because you care about getting things right, you’ll ensure our financial information is always accurate. You’ll keep strong data controls, advise on the correct treatment of complex transactions and make sure assets and leases are properly accounted for. You’ll provide thoughtful financial analysis, helping colleagues understand variances, risks and mitigation, and you’ll conduct deep dives and financial modelling when issues need more attention. At year-end, you’ll bring everything together, leading the provision of evidence for the National Audit Office and supporting the breakdown of budgets for the new financial year
- Your leadership will shape the team’s experience and performance. You’ll motivate people to bring their best, ensure month-end activity runs smoothly and balance workloads in a way that supports both wellbeing and excellent service. Using your coaching skills, you’ll help the team grow in confidence and capability
- *Strategic Finance* You might instead join our Strategic Finance team. They support the agencies through major financial decisions and governance. In this role, you’ll lead the processes and products that support planning for fiscal events, working closely with your counterpart in the His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) Spending Team and building a strong understanding of the bigger delivery landscape. You’ll regularly work with senior stakeholders, helping them complete key tasks with quick turnarounds and keeping the wider programme running smoothly
- In Strategic Finance, you’ll bring together contributions from across the organisation, help resolve issues and ensure everything is ready for major financial milestones. You’ll build relationships across MI5 and with HMT, prepare and deliver products for the Spending Review and other fiscal events, and represent your area where needed. You’ll take ownership of key strategic work, translate financial data into clear, meaningful insights, and guide other finance functions on HMT priorities. You’ll also prepare briefings for senior civil servants and ministers, provide timely analysis and presentations, respond to ad-hoc enquiries, and support your team through warm, confident leadership
Application process
- We recognise that the end of the financial year is an extremely busy time and for this reason we will not commence interviews until mid-April
Salary benchmarks
Our take
The British Intelligence Agencies - GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 play crucial roles in protecting the nation from a range of security threats. By focusing on counterterrorism, espionage, and cyber threats, the unified force works to safeguard the public and support law enforcement agencies. Its work, largely behind the scenes, is pivotal in ensuring national security.
With origins dating back to the 19th century, each of the British Intelligence Agencies plays a specific role within the security services. GCHQ focuses on signal intelligence gathering and information assurance, MI5 on counterterrorism and national security, whilst MI6 is focused on foreign intelligence and overseas security. This evolution into three specific organisations reflects the agency's ability to stay ahead of emerging security challenges, adjusting its strategy and operations as needed.
As technology and global threats change, the British Intelligence Agencies' approaches continue to evolve, ensuring the UK's security remains a top priority. With its deep expertise and ongoing adaptation, they are major key players in protecting national and international interests, whilst responding to complex security dynamics.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Company benefits
- Merit awards – we have a merit award system to recognise exceptional contributions by individuals or team
- Flexible working – opportunities to work part-time, compressed hours or as a job share are available, dependent on the role and business needs
- Pension – we understand the importance of saving for retirement and offer a desirable pension scheme, which gives you a guaranteed pension based on career average earnings
- Annual leave – our employees are entitled to 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after five years’ service. In addition to this, employees are entitled to public and privilege holidays. Part-time employees receive the same entitlement calculated on a pro-rata basis
- Maternity and paternity leave – we offer maternity and paternity leave over and above the statutory entitlements
- Voluntary service leave – we offer special leave for our employees who wish to undertake voluntary work
- Rented accommodation loan – moving house to take up an offer of employment can be expensive. We offer new joiners the opportunity to take out an interest-free loan of up to £2,500, via our benevolent fund, to assist with the financial burden of relocating into privately rented accommodation. You will be sent an application for the loan at the point of receiving a final offer of employment
- Season ticket loan – we recognise that travel expenses from your home to the office can be significant, so we offer an interest-free season ticket loan which can be used for travel, car park costs or the purchase of a bicycle
- On-site facilities – there is a gym, restaurant, and coffee bar at some locations
- Clubs and societies – we offer a range of sports clubs, fitness classes, societies, and language training facilities
- Childcare Vouchers – we offer two childcare voucher schemes which provide a simple and cost-effective way for employees to receive help towards the cost of childcare
- Eye Voucher Scheme – we offer eye care vouchers and a financial contribution towards prescription glasses
- Physiotherapy – we offer subsidised in-house physiotherapy
- Personal learning – all our staff can undertake professional development to improve their skills and performance in the workplace
Company HQ
Cheltenham, UK
Leadership
Ken McCallum
(Director General)An MI5 Officer with over 25 years of experience in national security and intelligence. Their career has spanned roles in counterterrorism, cyber security, and leading MI5's strategic response to major incidents. They were appointed Director General in 2020 and previously served as Deputy Director General and Director General of Strategy.
Sir Richard Moore KCMG
(Chief)They became the Head of MI6 in October 2020, after serving as Director General in the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. WIth a career starting in 1987, they have held various roles in MI6 and was also Ambassador to Turkey and Deputy National Security Advisor.
Anne Keast-Butler
(Director)Became the first female Director of GCHQ in May 2023. Previously served as Deputy Director General at MI5, where they led operational and investigative work, including responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. With over 30 years in national security, they have held key roles in MI5, GCHQ, and Whitehall, including launching the National Security Programme.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at British Intelligence Agencies
- At the Intelligence Agencies, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking, and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are underrepresented in our workforce, such as women, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds. Find out more about our culture, working environment, and diversity on our website: https://www.gchq-careers.co.uk/life-at-gchq/diversity-inclusion.html
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