About the job

Job summary

About the job:-

DEFRA 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.

The DEFRA Core Accounts team is part of a suite of centralised corporate services functions servicing DEFRA Compliance and Financial Accounting.

This exciting role offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to DEFRA's financial accounts. You'll be part of a small, collaborative team dedicated to delivering high-quality accounts, improving financial controls, and helping strengthen successful external audits.

The role within the Core Accounts Team is responsible for several key deliverables which will support the preparation of statutory financial accounts and HM Treasury publications, including related guidance and recommendations on accounting issues and reviewing & improving financial controls within core Defra.

The post holder will ensure the provision of timely, complete, and comprehensive financial information to support audit requirements, as well as acting as subject matter experts on specific areas of financial policy.

The Core Accounts Team operates from several regional locations across the UK. Candidates must be willing to travel regularly to at least one Defra location when reasonably required.

Job description

Your key responsibilities may include but will not be limited to:

• Supporting the production of Annual Report and Accounts (ARA).
• Contributing to discussions of a technical nature, applying the Department’s accounting policies based on International Financial Reporting Standards as adapted and interpreted by the Financial Reporting Manual.
• Fixed Asset management, including additions, disposals, asset verification and accounting for revaluations.
• Responding to external auditors’ requests for information, explanations and evidence at interim and year-end audit. Working with colleagues across multiple teams to ensure good quality evidence is provided first time.
• Providing financial accounting advice and guidance to non-finance teams. Maintaining up to date knowledge of Departmental accounting policies, including IFRS as interpreted and adapted in HM Treasury’s Financial Reporting Manual.
• Supporting finance leaders to deliver results on time, to required quality standards and within budget.
• Embracing a culture of continuous improvement, developing individual and team performance in line with strategic goals.
• Supporting the preparation of the draft financial statements, including implementation of new accounting standards and policies.
• Reviewing processes, identifying, implementing and embedding improvements, working collaboratively with relevant stakeholders.
• Establishing and maintaining good relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Building capability of self and others, in particular as part of the government finance profession.

In the role you will;

• Strengthen your financial skills: Utilise and develop your expertise in technical accounting, progressing your ideas and influencing key business areas.
• Contribute to accurate reporting: Analyse and advise on crucial financial aspects like receivables and assets, proactively engaging with stakeholders to mitigate risks and resolve issues.
• Deepen your knowledge: Apply international accounting standards, contribute to policy discussions, and continuously learn by reviewing guidance and collaborating with team members.
• Collaborate effectively: Build strong relationships with stakeholders, both internal (finance partners, policy teams) and external (shared service providers), ensuring smooth progress and clear communication.

 

Person specification

Essential Experience and Skills

• Experience in finance is necessary, with an understanding of financial accounting and reporting principles, such as double entry.
• Experience of working with SOP, or similar accounting platforms, and associated reporting tools including Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to review and analyse financial data and reports, with a keen eye for detail.
• Strong team player, working collaboratively to deliver a collective result.
• Managing and prioritising workload effectively, flexibly, and at pace against changing priorities.
• Problem solving, prioritising, and escalating risks and issues to achieve key deadlines.
• Communicating effectively with stakeholders on complex issues.

Qualification

A professional qualification, such as AAT is essential, and also technical ability gained from experience is highly valued.

However, an accountancy allowance will only be paid to employees who hold or undertaking a qualification from CCAB/CIMA,  part or fully qualified accountant.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,136, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £8,677 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

Application Process 

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

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

The candidate's CV needs to demonstrate they have undertaken similar roles and activities as shown in the job specification.

In the previous skills and experience section, the candidate needs to provide about 500 words showing that they 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, Managing a Quality Service 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 as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on via a blended interview of Behaviours and Strengths and experience questions. Further details will be given to candidates selected for interview.

 A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

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.

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.

Reserve List

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

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.

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.

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.

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 following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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. 

Childcare Vouchers 

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

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.