Senior Management Accountant

Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK is seeking an experienced finance professional to join its Management Reporting team. The role involves producing financial reports, leading a team of Management Accountants, and providing insightful financial analysis to support decision-making. Ideal candidates should have a strong management accounting background and a relevant qualification such as CIMA or ACCA. This position offers the opportunity to influence business decisions through high-quality financial management and analysis.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in financial practices and processes.
• Strong background in management accounting.
• Ability to communicate and challenge stakeholders effectively.

Responsibilities

• Produce and present monthly financial reports.
• Lead the Management Reporting team to support business decision-making.
• Provide financial analysis and insightful commentary on financial reports.

Skills

Finance Function experience

Relationship management skills

Coaching and leadership skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Office 365 proficiency

Education

CIMA, CIPFA, ACCA, ACA qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

Location

Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Leeds, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham, Reading, Warrington, York

About the job

Job summary

In the Defra group, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards.

About the role

We are looking for experienced finance professionals to join our Management Reporting team within the Defra Group Finance function. You will have responsibility for providing high quality, accurate and robust financial management and insight. Through analysing data and applying value added skills to tell the story of the financial position, you will help corporate leaders and budget managers to make well-informed business decisions.

The role also plays a key part in Defra’s finance transformation, contributing to the shift to more digital, self-service ways of working and supporting the transition to a new Finance system.

Job description

You will be responsible for producing and presenting the monthly financial reports to your assigned budget holders, and for delivering a robust and influential management accounting service to senior managers and Finance colleagues. To do this you will need to build a good understanding of their business area and the key delivery risks, while embedding a culture of self-service and digitally enabled finance operations.

Key responsibilities

• You will be a key member of the Management Reporting team and the budget holder’s Senior Leadership Team, contributing to business decision-making.
• You will provide effective leadership including management and development of the Management Accountants. Where you have direct reports, this will include setting objectives, actively and effectively communicating, managing performance, and creating an inclusive environment where people feel valued, respected, safe to challenge and where contribution is recognised.
• You will provide financial analysis and insight, through meaningful variance analysis including risk management, mitigating actions, deep dives or financial modelling.
• You will lead the interpretation of in-year financial management reports including insightful commentary. Ensure financial information is understood by non-financial managers by telling the story in a simple “jargon free” way, including risks and opportunities.
• You will present the financial position and outlook to budget holders, drawing out key insights, advice and recommendations to challenge and influence decision making and optimise appropriate use of public money.
• You will manage the management accounting aspect of the annual budgeting/forecasting cycle and any in-year changes to the approved position, working with colleagues from across Finance.
• You will work with other Finance teams on the management accounting activities of the month end cycle to ensure reporting deadlines are met in accordance with the agreed timetables.

Person specification

Essential Skills

• You have substantial Finance Function experience with a good understanding of financial practices and processes.
• You are an experienced finance professional. Fully or part-qualified (CIMA, CIPFA, ACCA, ACA) or equivalent experience, with a strong background in management accounting.
• You have well-developed relationship management skills, working with key stakeholders across an organisation.
• You can communicate with and challenge stakeholders to obtain the necessary explanations for variances and movements.
• You have good coaching and leadership skills with the ability to effectively manage a team.
• You have excellent cross-functional collaboration skills to provide a comprehensive, high quality finance service to budget holders.
• You are confident in using Office 365, with the ability to work with large quantities of data to identify key messages.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• As part of the interview process, candidates will be asked to deliver a presentation on the day. This will focus on the theme of communicating and influencing within a financial management context.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button below.