Finance Manager

Salary: London: £59,028 or £62,895 (dependent on experience)
Flexible working: due to its sensitive nature this role is office-based and home-working will not be possible. We value a good work-life balance and offer part-time (minimum 4 days), compressed hours, and flexibility around start and finish times. Full time hours are 36 or 37 hours, depending on location.

MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners, including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe.

A role in MI5 means you’ll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.

Our finance teams keep our internal spending on-track, which makes them critical to our work. The Finance Manager role is very varied, and we currently have opportunities across several office-based teams. During the recruitment process, we’ll get to know you and assess which area best reflects your strengths and interests.

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.

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.

There are many different areas in the finance function you could join or explore during your career with us. Find out more about these roles on our Finance careers page.

You’ll be a fully qualified Chartered accountant, with experience of not only…