About the job

Job summary

In December 2018, Government published the Resources and Waste Strategy, setting out how we will preserve our stock of material resources by minimising waste, promoting resource efficiency and moving towards a more circular economy. The Resources and Waste (R&W) Directorate is working on a range of policy and delivery programmes and projects to deliver against this strategy.

As Finance Lead for Resources and Waste programme, you will play a key part in delivery and assurance. You will oversee effective management of budgets and forecasting across the programme, working with analysts to lead on development of project whole life costs. You will lead on financial reporting in a number of areas, including within assurance and business cases, as well as quarterly reporting for GMPP. You will also work on discrete projects to support delivery of the schemes, such as working with HMT on VAT for the deposit return scheme and developing an approach for distributing grants to local authorities for food waste collections.

This an exciting and challenging time to join a passionate, dedicated team and to help us deliver policies that will increase recycling, reduce waste and contribute to Net Zero. It’s a friendly, fun, collaborative place to work, where we attach importance to how we do things – values, learning and development, rewarding success – as well as what we do. It is demanding but exciting too.

Job description

In this role, you will lead a team to manage finance tracking, reporting and issues relevant to R&W. Working to you will be 2 SEOs and 2 HEOs with possible more resource being considered in future.

You will contribute to the delivery of the wider reforms by leading high quality financial management and reporting, as well as tackling challenging strategic finance topics. You will work with the wider team of policy, delivery, programme management and analytical professionals to ensure we understand the drivers of value and timing of spend in our programme/s and make good decisions to optimise them. You will provide advice, challenge and scrutiny to senior colleagues ensuring that budgets and forecasts are well constructed, accurate, managed and monitored.

You do not have to be an accountant to undertake this role. We would welcome applicants with a broad portfolio of programme management and problem solving skills and expertise who are experienced in working with finance and commissioning and challenging analytical professionals to solve complex problems. Your programme and financial management experience and ability to work proactively with senior stakeholders will make you a valued contributor to the decision-making process and a champion for change within our business.

Within the role you will:

• Manage our day to day budgets with support from a SEO/HEO
• Work with HR leads to ensure financial forecast reflect resource plans
• Manage purchase order to payment process (P2P) across the department
• Manage R&W budget allocations and input to business planning
• Manage tracking the whole life costs for each project
• Draft the finance business case for each projects OBC/FBCs / Develop programme whole life cost model and responsible for writing the financial case of the outline and full business cases (Deposit Return Scheme and Simpler Recycling project business cases, as well as the consolidated CPR programme business case)
• Develop approach for distributing new burdens grants to LAs
• Financial reporting for GMPP / Quarterly Government Major Projects Portfolio reporting and monthly programme board reporting
• Annual finance business planning (central government annual forecasting process) and support closure of annual accounts
• Prepare and submit financial returns to the corporate finance centre within prescribed timescales
• Provide directorate and project leads with day-to-day support, guidance and advice on financial matters

Person specification

• Proven leadership experience in financial environments
• Demonstrable experience of forecasting, in analysis and use of data and management accounting
• Excellent analytical and data management skills with the ability to provide insight to senior audiences
• Experience in the application of Managing Public Money and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance
• Developing financial awareness in colleagues and enhancing their development
• Experience in leading and managing a professional team with the ability to inspire and motivate at all levels
• Meeting targets and delivering quality outcomes within tight deadlines through effective prioritisation
• Excellent IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and experience in the use of a modern accounting system 
• Experience communicating finance topics/reports to non-finance colleagues

Experience of working in Central Government Finance and/or local Government Finance is essential.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,120, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £14,072 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, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV detailing your career history (Including any relevant qualifications. Your CV will be used for information only)
• Four 250 word Behaviour statements
• 250 word statement on the Technical skill - Financial Knowledge

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

Sift 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to 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 behaviours. You may also be required to do a presentation or an assessment. Further details will be provided in due course.

Interviews to be held via video link.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. 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.

Candidates applying for these roles will be based at one of the Defra hubs as advertised.  

For information, our core Defra hub locations are:

• York – the Kings Pool
• Newcastle – Lancaster House
• Bristol – Horizon House (Please note that space at this office is limited and it may not be possible for all Policy roles to be recruited to this location)
• London – 2 Marsham Street

Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.

All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

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.

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.