Finance Lead

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading government department is seeking a Finance Lead to oversee financial operations for the new UK packaging Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme. The role involves strategic support to senior leadership and managing a team to ensure compliance and effective financial reporting. Ideal candidates will have strong leadership and finance skills, with a relevant accounting qualification.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension

Flexible working options

Learning and development tailored to your role

Qualifications

• Strong leadership skills with experience in managing a team of financial specialists.
• Relevant accounting qualification and substantial experience in public sector finance.
• Ability to explain complex finance issues to senior audiences.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for statutory and non-statutory reporting of financial matters.
• Provide relevant financial management information for strategic decision-making.
• Leadership of a team of financial specialists, ensuring high-quality service delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Finance Knowledge

Education

CIPFA

ACCA

CIMA

Job description

Join to apply for the Finance Lead role at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Join to apply for the Finance Lead role at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York

Job Summary

DEFRA are currently establishing the Scheme Administrator for the new UK packaging Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme, which will collect fees from Producers and manage the administration of that money in the form of Grant payments to 440 Local Authorities across the UK.

Reporting to the Head of Finance for the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme Administrator, the Finance Lead will head up a team of finance specialists to deliver the finance function for the Scheme Administrator. As Finance Lead, you will provide strategic finance support to Senior Leadership, Devolved Governments and Four Nations boards and committees for the multibillion four nations packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. You will work closely and build critical relationships with finance professions across Defra, Devolved Governments and other government departments, maintaining critical relationships between Scheme Administrator and key stakeholder finance functions. As a Finance Lead you will need to be comfortable operating in a complex, fast paced and changing environment. You will manage a small team of finance specialists ensuring the provision of an effective finance function to Devolved Governments and Governance forums that drives business outcomes through excellent service and strong stakeholder relationships. We need leaders who can quickly build collaborative relationships with a range of partners. You will be comfortable working at pace but also able to lead your team to deliver. This role exposes you to a broad range of duties, working to support key business areas and inform strategic and operational decisions. You will need to be skilled at listening, interpreting, influencing, negotiating, inspiring and challenging, which are all vital to the role.

Job Description

• Accountable for statutory and non-statutory reporting of all financial matters of packaging Extended Producer Responsibility, internally within DEFRA and across Devolved Governments ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, public sector accounting requirements and International Financial Reporting Standard
• Provide relevant, timely financial management information to enable strategic decision-making. Identify and manage financial risks and opportunities to drive performance improvements across the organisation.
• Leadership of a team of financial specialists and oversight of other’s work, developing leadership critical skills within and across teams, delivering high quality services to a variety of stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with a wide range of SA stakeholders as well as colleagues across finance functions within DEFRA, Devolved Governments and the wider stakeholders, to provide a joined-up service.
• Attend senior stakeholder governance forums to discuss and present data on behalf of the Scheme Administrator, challenging and supporting the business to enhance decision-making and increase performance.
• Providing accurate, timely and insightful financial reporting on behalf of the Scheme Administrator to DEFRA, Devolved Governments and Scheme Administrator Governance forums.
• Support the ongoing development and implementation of the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility policies, ensuring that financial accounting approaches and required approvals are thoroughly considered for all four nations.
• Proactively identify risks, issues and opportunities to improve the Scheme Administrators finance and resourcing functions, processes and standards, and making appropriate recommendations to the management team.
• Understanding and comply with Managing Public Money and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance.
• Work with the Scheme Administrators Fraud & Debt Management teams to identify and mitigate finance risks, operating financial controls and monitoring.
• Accountable for statutory and non-statutory reporting of all financial matters of packaging Extended Producer Responsibility, internally within DEFRA and across Devolved Governments ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, public sector accounting requirements and International Financial Reporting Standard
• Provide relevant, timely financial management information to enable strategic decision-making. Identify and manage financial risks and opportunities to drive performance improvements across the organisation.
• Leadership of a team of financial specialists and oversight of other’s work, developing leadership critical skills within and across teams, delivering high quality services to a variety of stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with a wide range of SA stakeholders as well as colleagues across finance functions within DEFRA, Devolved Governments and the wider stakeholders, to provide a joined-up service.
• Attend senior stakeholder governance forums to discuss and present data on behalf of the Scheme Administrator, challenging and supporting the business to enhance decision-making and increase performance.
• Providing accurate, timely and insightful financial reporting on behalf of the Scheme Administrator to DEFRA, Devolved Governments and Scheme Administrator Governance forums.
• Support the ongoing development and implementation of the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility policies, ensuring that financial accounting approaches and required approvals are thoroughly considered for all four nations.
• Proactively identify risks, issues and opportunities to improve the Scheme Administrators finance and resourcing functions, processes and standards, and making appropriate recommendations to the management team.
• Understanding and comply with Managing Public Money and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance.
• Work with the Scheme Administrators Fraud & Debt Management teams to identify and mitigate finance risks, operating financial controls and monitoring.
  
  

Person specification

• Has strong leadership skills with experience in managing and developing a team of financial specialists, with the ability to mentor and develop leadership skills within the team, ensuring high-quality service delivery.
• Holds a relevant accounting qualification such as CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent substantial experience in public sector finance and financial reporting.
• Experienced in the preparation of both statutory and non-statutory financial reports, ensuring compliance with public sector accounting standards, relevant legislation, and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
• Demonstrably strong inter-personal and written communication skills with an ability to explain complex finance issues to senior audiences.
• Is experienced in providing timely and relevant financial management information to support strategic decision-making, and the ability to identify financial risks and opportunities, and proactively manage them to drive performance improvements.
• Has the ability to apply a wide range of strong technical accounting skills across a range of financial disciplines and a proven ability to apply them to the customers you support.
• Possess good relationship management skills and the ability to build personal credibility with senior stakeholders across a broad network both inside and outside of government.
• Has the ability to interpret policy intentions and apply the correct accounting treatments.
  
  

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
  
  

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Finance Knowledge
  
  

Alongside your salary of £54,470, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £15,779 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
  
  

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 27th May 2025. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours and after 2pm on the closing date of 27th May 2025.

While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.

It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.

Please note that online tests associated with this vacancy are not subject to time limits; for further information visit the Reasonable adjustments for online tests - a candidate guide

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV detailing your career history (Including any relevant qualifications. Your CV will be used for information only)
• Four 250 word Behaviour statements
• 250 word statement on the Technical skill - Financial Knowledge
  
  

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours. You may also be required to do a presentation or an assessment. Further details will be provided in due course.

Interviews to be held via video link.

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland, Access NI on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [e-mail] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [e-mail]

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [e-mail]

NSV

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via [e-mail] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
  
  

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to DEFRA 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Alistair Dewar
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: [e-mail]

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Finance and Sales

• Industries

  Government Administration

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