Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Senior Management Accountant

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Job Locations
East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber
Job Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Defra Group Finance team, as a Team Leader in the Specialist Finance Operations Team (SFO). You will play a key leadership role overseeing the delivery of finance processes in the Project Ledger (PL), improving data quality, and driving smarter, more efficient ways of working, ensuring accuracy of the accounts is maintained.
You'll be responsible for leading a team that ensures transactional finance activities such as project setup, salary recharges, accruals, and cost transfers are delivered accurately and on time. You’ll work across the wider finance function and support customers, helping translate complex system workflows into clear, user-friendly guidance. You’ll also contribute to the development of a self-service culture by simplifying processes and improving customer experience.
As we prepare for a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, your experience will help shape future processes and support
Job Description
- Lead and manage the delivery of key project-related finance processes across the PL.
- Ensure high-quality data that underpins accurate reporting and sound business decisions.
- Proactively identify and implement process improvements to reduce waste, risk, and duplication.
- Build resilience within the team by upskilling others and developing standardised procedures.
- Support wider efforts to simplify and digitise financial services for our customers.
- Develop, maintain and present finance guidance and training materials for internal and external audiences.
- Act as a subject matter expert for processes, controls, and data integrity.
- Support change and transition activity as we prepare for a future ERP system.
Person Specification
We Are Looking For Someone With
- Experience managing and developing people in a fast-paced finance environment.
- Strong understanding of finance systems (e.g. Oracle) and how different modules interact. Use / Understanding of Projects Ledger would be an advantage.
- Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex concepts clearly.
- Proven track record in improving processes and delivering automation or digital solutions.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and adapt to change.
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with the ability to collaborate across teams.
- Experience supporting or leading financial data improvement and quality assurance.
Essential Skills And Experience
- Fully or part-qualified (CIMA, CIPFA, ACCA, or ACA), fully qualified AAT, or qualified through relevant professional experience.
- Proven experience of leading, managing and developing a high-performing team.
- Strong background in management accounting, particularly an understanding of projects, including budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
- Proven ability to influence and build effective relationships with non-finance stakeholders, simplifying complex financial information.
- Strong Excel skills and working knowledge of finance systems such as Oracle and reporting tools like Qlik & Power BI.
- Able to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach with a continuous improvement mindset.
- Experience supporting or delivering digital, IT, or transformation programmes.
Accountancy Allowance
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For CCAB / CIMA candidates, this post is eligible to be considered for an accountancy allowance up to £3,107 National and up to £4,495 London. The allowance is determined for each level of qualification (part qualified 1, part qualified 2, accountancy qualified). Line managers must see certificates from the professional body to confirm the individual has passed the relevant examinations before awarding the various stages of the allowance.
To achieve fully qualified status, the individual must pass the final level examinations and complete the relevant portfolio or logbook which must be certified by the professional body.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
Salary
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.
Benefits
- 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%
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, 1000 words personal statement and 250 words on the Behaviour "Leadership".
Your CV needs to demonstrate that you have undertaken similar roles and activities as shown in the job specification and essential criteria.
Sift
Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Behaviour "Leadership" 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
Candidate successful at sift stage will be invited to a video interview (1hour 15mins) that will consist of a blended interview of Behaviours, experience and Strengths.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Location
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 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.


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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.
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.
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.
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.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
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.
Higher Security Clearance
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.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
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
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
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