Finance Administrator (TB Team)

Job summary

Ready to use your financial and administrative skills to support a nationally important animal health programme?Do you love working as part of a team, bringing an enthusiastic approach every day?
If so, we would love to hear from you!The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity within the TB Finance Team in the Customer Service Centre Directorate of the Animal and Plant Health Agency. The team provides administrative and transactional finance support for APHA's bovine TB eradication programme, ensuring that compensation payments, invoices and related financial activities are processed accurately, efficiently and in line with organisational policies and procedures.

The postholder will provide administrative and transactional finance support across APHA's TB eradication activities, ensuring financial transactions are processed accurately, customer enquiries are resolved effectively and financial records are maintained to a high standard.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the delivery of APHA's TB eradication programme and will be responsible for the following activities:

• To provide administrative and transactional finance support for all aspects of APHA's TB eradication activity.
• The postholder will undertake a range of financial processing activities, including TB compensation payments, invoice verification and payment, income handling, record management and customer support.
• They will contribute to the efficient delivery of services by maintaining accurate financial data, following established procedures and supporting colleagues in resolving financial queries.
• The role requires close collaboration with internal teams, suppliers and delivery partners to ensure financial transactions are completed accurately and within agreed timescales.
• The postholder will also support continuous improvement activities and adapt to changing business priorities where required.
• Process TB compensation payments, including supplier set-up, validation of valuation documentation and payment processing.
• Verify and process haulage, slaughter and valuer invoices, completing required quality assurance checks before payment.
• Maintain accurate financial records across SOP, SharePoint Online (SPOL), spreadsheets and other business systems in line with data handling requirements.
• Respond to finance-related enquiries from customers, suppliers and colleagues, providing guidance on established procedures.
• Monitor and review invoices on hold, duplicate payments and potential overpayments, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Support month-end and year-end financial activities by providing information and reports to colleagues.
• Identify and report suspected fraud, error or irregularities in line with Defra and APHA procedures.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives and support the implementation of changes to working practices.
• Liaise with suppliers, delivery partners and internal stakeholders to resolve financial queries and maintain effective working relationships.
• Support business continuity activities and undertake emergency purchasing responsibilities when required.
• Demonstrate flexibility by supporting changing business priorities and undertaking additional duties appropriate to the grade
  

This is a part-time, 18.5 hours per week post. The successful post holder will be required to work Fridays (minimum 6 hours) due to scarcity of resources on this day, the remaining hours can be spread over any 2 days.

Person specification

This section outlines the personal attributes necessary for the candidate to be successful in the role and will need to be demonstrated in their application.

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate:

• Excellent IT skills, including experience of Microsoft Office particularly Excel and SharePoint
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and build positive working relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail
• Experience of relationship building and collaborative working

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,001, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £7,822 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Whywork for APHA?

At APHA, we are committed to supporting you to develop your skills, knowledge, and professional capability throughout your career.

From day one, you will be welcomed through a structured induction programme, helping you understand the Civil Service, our work, and how we operate. You’ll work closely with your line manager to set clear priorities and develop a performance, learning, and development plan tailored to your role.

Alongside formal training, you will have opportunities to apply and develop your knowledge in a practical environment, contributing to continuous improvement and innovation.

Inclusion, support, and the wellbeing of our people are central to what we do, ensuring everyone at APHA can thrive both professionally and personally.

Key Benefits Include

• Civil Service Pension - Defra contributes an average of 28.97% of your salary towards your pension

• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30

• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities tailored to your role

• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts from retailers such as high street coffee shops, cinemas, supermarkets, high street retailers and many, many more

• Staff bonuses and recognition including appreciate vouchers of up to £200 and larger in year awards of up to £1000

• Salary sacrifice benefit options and an employee discount scheme such as bike to work, Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme, every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 a year for each child

• Discounted gym membership with Fitness First or Pure Gym

• Special Leave with pay, per year, for volunteering

• Making it work for you - With so many flexible working options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

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

• CV

• 500- Personal Statement
  
  
• 250-words Behaviour statement on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service

CV Guidance

Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements and your main responsibilities in each role and be no longer than 2 pages. Your CV will be used to provide further context on your Personal Statement but will not be scored against the essential criteria.

Personal Statement Guidance

When completing your Personal Statement, please read and understand the Person Specification thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Please ensure you evidence the key personal qualities and experiences that align with the criteria. Consider the Job Description and look to demonstrate how your previous experience may align with the expectations and be applicable to the role. The written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc.

Behaviour Statement Guidance

You will also be asked to provide 250-word statements demonstrating how you meet the following Behaviour:

• Managing a Quality Service

The lead behaviour for this campaign is Managing a Quality Service

This should follow the criteria outlined in Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK framework for the grade of the role.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, there will be an initial sift assessing the Personal Statement. Those who pass the initial sift will be progressed either to a full sift or straight to interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviour, Experience and Strength questions.

The Behaviours are as follows:.

• Managing a Quality Service- Lead Behaviour
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

It is intended that the interview will take place using MS Teams.

After the interview

Once all the interviews have been conducted, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are successful at the interview stage, we will be in touch to offer you a role. Offers will be made in merit order.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk using the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’

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 defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

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

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 within Defra Group which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Merit Lists

Candidates will be posted in merit order.

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.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location (excluding Northern Ireland) and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

For most candidates your hours of work will be a blend of working from an APHA workplace (specific to the team location) with working at home.

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.

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 organisation allocations 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.

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 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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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.

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.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

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

Apply and further information

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 : APHA Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment.sdd@apha.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

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: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here