Senior Financial Accountant

Job summary

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

As a Senior Financial Accountant working in the Natural England-facing financial accounting team within Defra group Finance, you will have the opportunity to engage with a range of complex finance and accounting issues in support of Natural England’s vision of achieving thriving nature for people and planet.

The postholder will sit within the team responsible for producing Natural England’s resource accounts, facilitating the external audit, and providing technical financial accounting advice. As the team is part of Defra group Finance, who provide services to Defra’s four largest ALBs along with the department itself as part of the group corporate services model, the postholder will also support service delivery across the function by sharing best practice and working together to ensure quality and timeliness in financial reporting across the Defra group.

This role has specific responsibility for our work on non-current assets – bringing together a complex portfolio of asset classes extending from the National Nature Reserves and the plant and machinery that maintain them, to software assets at the heart of Natural England’s statutory and regulatory functions. As a senior member of the team, the postholder will provide support and resilience across the team’s responsibilities and proactively identify opportunities to do things in a different way to be more efficient or produce better outcomes.

Job description

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading our work on non-current assets, including exercising oversight of our shared services provider who have day-to-day management responsibility of the fixed asset register by ensuring that all additions, disposals, transfers, depreciation and amortisation and revaluations are accounted for correctly.
• Working closely with Finance Business Partners, Management Reporting, and Natural England stakeholders to improve non-current asset reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
• Proactively manage assets-under-construction balances to ensure transactions are correctly recorded, monitored, and brought into service when ready.
• Ensure adherence to International Financial Reporting Standards as adapted and interpreted by the government’s Financial Reporting Manual.
• Lead the non-current asset verification and impairment reviews, quinquennial valuations, and oversee the use of indices.
• Provide financial accounting advice to Finance and Natural England stakeholders on new transactions, projects, and policies.
• In facilitating the external audit, respond to requests for information, provide walkthroughs, obtain evidence and explain the reasoning for particular transactions, balances, and movements across the financial statements.
• Liaising with the external auditors, including preparing and reviewing accounting assessments.
• Supporting the actions taken in response to management letter recommendations from prior year audits and any internal audit recommendations.
• Contribute the Synergy programme as the non-current asset subject matter expert for Natural England.
• Working on other aspects of statutory reporting including the annual report and other aspects of the financial statements as required.

Person specification

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

This role would suit somebody who:

• has a high level of digital proficiency including Microsoft Excel, finance systems (preferably Oracle) and Business Intelligence tools (e.g. Qlik or PowerBI)
• can work effectively in a geographically dispersed team
• has experience producing statutory accounts, preferably in the public sector
• works to a high degree of accuracy with keen eye for detail
• has experience in managing a non-current asset register
• has strong written and verbal communication skills, including being able to discuss complex financial issues in an accessible way
• takes the initiative to identify and solve problems affecting issues in your remit independently
• has experience in applying a range of accounting standards in a practical context, including assessing which standards are most appropriate given a particular scenario
• has been involved with a statutory audit and can identify the underlying audit assertions being tested, selecting the most appropriate evidence and managing a high volume of queries simultaneously
• identifies opportunities for continuous improvement and acts on them, adding value, increasing efficiency and quality of outputs

TECHNICAL SKILLS

This role sits within the team responsible for providing technical financial accounting and reporting advice across the Defra group, so it is important that the postholder can provide credible, authoritative advice on a range of issues. This may include:

• knowledge and practical experience in using the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), including IAS 2, IAS 16, IAS 36, IAS 37, and IAS 38, and IFRS 15
• knowledge of the government’s Financial Reporting Manual (FReM), the Consolidated Budgeting Guidance (CBG) and Managing Public Money (MPM)
• using finance systems, reporting tools, and MS Excel

QUALIFICATIONS

This role is suitable for a CCAB, CIMA, or equivalent qualified accountant. L4 AAT or those studying towards CCAB may be considered if they can demonstrate the necessary technical aptitude that the role requires.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Knowledge of the International Financial Reporting Standards: The interview will include a short section to test your understanding of some accounting concepts and the standards the post-holder is most likely to come across.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,665, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £12,360 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%

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement and four behaviour statements.

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

Your CV needs to demonstrate that you have undertaken similar roles and activities as shown in the job specification.

In the Personal Statement, you need to provide about 500 words max, showing that you have skills/experience relevant to the role.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Behaviour, Delivering at pace and candidates need to meet the required sift score for their application to be progressed. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to a video assessment/interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

Candidates successful at sift stage will be invited to a video assessment/interview (1 hour) that will consist of a blended interview of Behaviours, Strengths and Technical Skill.

A presentation or additional exercise relative to the role will also be assessed, further details will be given to candidates selected for interview.

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

Location

As part of the pre-employment process, 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).

Ad hoc travel to other office locations may be required.

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.

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.

Reserve List

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

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.

Working Pattern

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

NSV

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

Higher Security Clearance

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.

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.

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 : Jordan Curnow
• Email : Jordan.Curnow@defra.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