Forestry Commission
Senior Financial Accounting Manager
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Job Role
The role can be based in Alice Holt, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH or in Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY. The role is primarily office based but there may be opportunities for blended working.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
Job Summary
Part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry practitioners, land managers and anyone with green space, UK-wide. With climate and biodiversity in crisis, and an increasing number of pests and diseases, our research is more vital than ever before. We advise on how woodlands can help combat climate change. We’re identifying tree species that will thrive in the future and ways of safeguarding those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.
Job Description
The Finance Team is responsible for providing effective financial systems and support within Forest Research (FR). The role involves developing financial controls for the finance function and supporting month-end processes, including preparing accruals, postings, and account reconciliations.
This role involves updating and maintaining the Fixed Asset Register, ensuring it matches the Trial Balance. Responsibilities include managing additions, disposals, transfers, revaluations, impairments, depreciation, and assets under construction, with all entries accurately documented and reconciled to the general ledger.
The Senior Financial Accounting Manager will work along with the Head of Finance, Accounts Payable Manager and a small team which will among other duties, involve leading on their training, development, and progression.
Key Work Areas
Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Prepare and reconcile monthly accounts
- Deliver IR35 training and guidance to all contract managers, and conduct an annual review of CEST submissions.
- Act as the finance lead and key point of technical expertise for fixed asset accounting across FR, ensuring asset transactions are recorded accurately and in line with relevant accounting standards, the FReM and internal financial policies.
- Liaise with internal and external audit, supporting the Head of Finance at audit planning meetings to ensure that audit are aware of existing procedures and processes as well as any changes.
- Lead on the provision of VAT advice as necessary to staff and ensuring compliance with current regulations.
- Provide advice and challenge to finance and non-finance colleagues on the correct accounting treatment for capital expenditure, useful economic lives, impairments, disposals, demolition costs, rebuilds and capital projects.
- Lead month-end and year-end fixed asset processes, including reconciliations, revaluations, depreciation reviews, capital accruals, audit schedules and disclosures required for the Audit and Annual Report and Accounts.
- Identify and implement improvements to asset accounting processes, controls and guidance, ensuring risks are managed and audit recommendations are addressed promptly.
Systems Accounting and Processing
- Create and provide financial reports to ensure the transactions and balances in the accounts are adequately supported.
- Take a proactive approach to identifying finance and system issues that will need to be addressed and resolved as part of any change programmes.
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Staff Management and Development
- Work with the AP Manager and a small team who have day-to-day responsibility for the Accounts Payable function, processes, and procedures.
- Leading, training and developing the team to support progression.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- A qualified or part-qualified accountant registered with a recognised professional body, ACCA, CIMA, ACA or similar or equivalent experience.
- Strong technical knowledge and practical experience of fixed asset accounting, including maintaining a fixed asset register and accounting for additions, disposals, depreciation, revaluations, impairments and assets under construction.
- Strong understanding and application of asset accounting standards, specifically IAS 16.
- Ability to interpret and apply relevant accounting standards, the government accounting framework and HM Treasury’s Financial Reporting Manual to fixed asset and capital accounting matters.
- Experience of preparing or reviewing month-end and year-end fixed asset reconciliations, audit evidence and financial statement disclosures.
- Substantial experience leading a successful transactional accounts function.
- Experience of a high-volume operation with multiple customers.
- Experience of various VAT treatments of invoices.
- Skilled in Fixed Asset Register and accounting standards application.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent planning, problem-solving, and analytical abilities.
- Experience in using ERP systems and proficient with Microsoft Office and Excel.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of using finance systems (Unit 4 - Business World).
- Experience of developing, and improving finance systems and processes.
- Knowledge of accounting and management principles.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £48,765, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £14,127 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Career Opportunities
- Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all.
- Access to world class laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings.
- Flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave.
- A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days’ paid bank/public holidays.
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
- A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7.
- Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time.
- A highly competitive Civil Service Pension of 28.97% your salary.
- An employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops.
- Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans.
- Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports.
Selection Process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
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Please apply at Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK. You will be asked to:
- Complete a CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- Submit a Personal Statement – (limited to 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification.
Shortlist:
- The panel will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the Essential Criteria set out in the Person Specification.
Sift is planned to take place between 21-23 October 2026.
Interviews are planned to take place week commencing 9th November 2026.
Please note interviews will be in person at Alice Holt, Farnham and Northern Research Station, Roslin. Exact dates will be confirmed at shortlisting stage.
Applicants invited to attend for interview will be required to prepare a short presentation on Managing a Fixed Asset Register. Further detail will be provided on confirmation of interview.
At interview stage you will be assessed on your experience and how you meet the essential criteria of the role. You will be required to answer questions on 2 behaviours, Making Effective Decisions and Managing a Quality Service.
The presentation will be assessed on candidate's technical knowledge of fixed asset accounting and asset management, understanding of governance and controls, analytical ability, and communication/presentation skills, including responses to follow-up questions.
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 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)
- 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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.
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
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