Forest Services (FS) Financial Controller

Job summary

The Forestry Commission is the government’s forestry expert. We working across England to inform, demonstrate and enable what delivers multiple benefits from trees, woods and forests. We collaborate across sectors so that forestry contributes to environmental resilience, climate action, timber security, and benefits for people and communities. We are a Non-Ministerial Government Department with a Royal Charter and part of Defra, the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities.

There are three main parts of the Forestry Commission. All perform distinct but related functions and have their own governing boards and executive leadership teams, coming together as a group at Forestry Commission level. We are responsible for the management of publicly owned forests, the regulation of both public and private forestry in England and the underpinning science and research across UK.

Job description

As Financial Controller for Forest Services, you will provide strategic financial leadership across a complex and high‑profile national function. You will ensure that leaders have the financial insight, evidence and narrative needed to make confident decisions that support the successful delivery of the Forestry Commission Strategy.

Your work will directly enable Forest Services to contribute to national goals to expand tree cover, improve woodland condition, and strengthen the long‑term resilience of the forestry sector.

This is a significant opportunity for a forward‑thinking finance leader who wants to shape how the organisation meets some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Insight

• Provide incisive financial analysis that translates complex information into clear insight for senior leaders.
• Develop compelling financial narrative that connects resources to strategic goals and long‑term environmental outcomes.
• Lead consolidated financial reporting for Forest Services and contribute to wider Forestry Commission reporting.

Planning & Performance

• Support medium and long‑term financial planning aligned to the Forestry Commission’s strategic goals, including expanding, diversifying and improving England’s woodlands.
• Strengthen financial governance, transparency and stewardship across Forest Services.
• Ensure resource allocation and financial controls support organisational resilience and future readiness.

Continuous improvement

• Champion improvements in the quality, timeliness and clarity of financial outputs.
• Embed learning from audits, stakeholder feedback and performance reviews to drive continuous improvement.
• Contribute financial leadership to change and transformation programmes that improve financial capability and modernise how we operate.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop a high‑performing finance team, building capability, confidence and professional growth.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative and outward‑looking team culture aligned with the Forestry Commission’s values and strategic approach.
• Encourage innovation, curiosity and problem‑solving across the team.

This role sits within a dynamic organisation, and responsibilities may evolve over time as we continue to develop our structures, services and ways of working. The post holder will therefore need to be adaptable and comfortable working in a changing environment.

Person specification

You will be a professionally qualified accountant with a CCAB or CIMA body, bringing experience across a range of financial disciplines and the confidence to operate in a complex public‑sector environment. Your professional credibility will allow you to provide clear strategic advice, sound financial stewardship and strong analytical insight to senior leaders.

As an experienced people leader, you will be motivated by developing others and enabling high performance. You will create a supportive and inclusive team culture, empowering colleagues to grow their capability, experiment with new ideas and contribute to continuous improvement. You will value collaboration and openness, recognising the importance of working across teams and disciplines to achieve shared goals.

You will communicate with clarity, presenting financial information in a compelling and accessible way so that non‑finance colleagues can make confident, evidence‑based decisions. You will be comfortable influencing at senior levels and shaping discussions using a strong narrative grounded in robust analysis.

Above all, you will combine strategic thinking with a commitment to improving financial governance and capability. You will be curious, improvement‑driven and able to see the bigger picture, ensuring the Forestry Commission’s financial leadership supports long‑term environmental, economic and societal outcomes.

Qualifications

A qualified accountant.

Memberships

Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) or Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,293, Forestry Commission contributes £17,466 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A range of family friendly benefits.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
• 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each year's service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
• Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
• 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager.

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 and Experience.

This vacancy will assess your behaviours and experience.

To apply for this role, your application should be submitted via Civil Service Jobs and be completed no later than 23:55 on 12 April 2026.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement as follows:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps with the last two years.

2. A Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words) explaining how your personal statement meets the criteria set out in the personal specification.

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

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

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Further Information

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

Any move to Forest Services 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.

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 FCERecruitment.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.

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

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 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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback

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

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.

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 : Sarah Formosa
• Email : sarah.formosa@forestrycommission.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.