Compliance Manager

FORESTRY COMMISSION; Exeter; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A government environmental agency in the UK is seeking a Compliance Manager to oversee grant administration processes and ensure they comply with Government standards. The successful candidate will manage risk controls related to grant funding, implement fraud management strategies, and provide training and support to the Compliance team. A strong analytical background with skills in Excel and Power BI is essential. This role is based in Exeter and aligns with efforts to enhance woodlands and forests in the UK.

Qualifications

• Experience in compliance management related to government grants.
• Proven ability to implement assurance controls and manage risks.
• Strong analytical skills for data entry and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Manage compliance with Government Functional Standards.
• Implement controls for grant due diligence.
• Lead on fraud management processes and provide statistical analysis.

Skills

Compliance management

Grant administration

Data analysis (Excel, Power BI)

Training delivery

Fraud and error management

Tools

Spotlight

Power BI

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Overview

At the Forestry Commission, we are united by a shared vision - to help tackle some of society's biggest challenges through thriving forests, woods and trees. Forest Services, as part of the Forestry Commission, is the Government's expert body for woodland regulation, incentives and advice in England. We support the forestry sector and landowners to protect, improve and expand the country's valuable woodland assets - delivering benefits for biodiversity, climate, people and the rural economy.

The Incentives Development and Compliance team within Forest Services is responsible for the continuing development and compliant delivery of the Nature for Climate Fund and other FC-administered incentives. You will join the Compliance team ensuring that grant administration processes align with Government Functional Standards and domestic regulations.

Responsibilities

• You will be compliance manager responsible for ensuring that Forestry Commission delivered grants are awarded in accordance with Government Functional Standards (GovS 015 Grants).
• You will be responsible for implementing assurance controls for 2 or 3 specific grants.
• Have specialist responsibility for grant due diligence and dual funding controls, and the use of Spotlight, the government's due diligence tool.
• Ensure that processes and guidance are updated when necessary and changes are communicated to Operational teams, delivering training when required.
• Lead on intervention controls ensuring these are proportionate to the level of risk and that processes are clear to Forest Services Area and Operational teams. You will keep the Nature for Climate Fund inspection regime under review to increase understanding and to simplify activities where needed.
• Help the FC keep levels of fraud and error in grants within tolerance by managing the irregularities function and by providing quarterly statistics on the level of fraud and error using Power BI. You will also be responsible for data entry into the quarterly Combined Data Report (CDR).
• Manage the FC internal 'Report Fraud' process, assessing suspicions of fraud and making recommendations to the National team manager. You will also support the process of maintaining and updating grant Fraud Risk Assessments (FRA), developing a knowledge of FRA's, how to complete them and undertaking professional training when appropriate.
• Lead on the FC's responsibilities for GGIS reporting ensuring that grant pipeline data is recorded, that scheme data submissions are accurate, and that scheme award data is provided to cabinet office for yearly publication. You'll build relationships with The Defra Grants Hub team to facilitate this activity which also includes entering grant information on the Transparency Database for subsidy control compliance.
• Line manage one direct report.
• As a compliance team member you'll provide advice, instruction and direction to Grant and Operational managers on compliance matters, being approachable and supportive. You'll share training and meeting chairing responsibilities with the rest of the team and be a data analysis advocate using excel and Power BI skills to provide management information on how the FC is meeting it's functional standard responsibilities.

Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to .