Fixed Assets Accountant – Environment Agency

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 role of Fixed assets (Compliance and Financial Accounting) is to maintain the fixed asset register by correctly accounting for additions, disposals, revaluations and impairment where necessary. The role is to provide financial management and control supporting the delivery of objectives, managing risk and feeding into the groups accounts.

The role of a Fixed asset accountant is to provide high quality, accurate and robust financial reporting and insight. To liaise with the National Audit Office (NAO) to close out the interim and final year audits in a timely manner and facilitate the transition of operational assets to the depreciated replacement cost (DRC) valuation.

The role of the SEO Fixed asset accountant will be to update the Fixed asset register, ensuring that financial transactions are effective and appropriate in accordance with accounting standards (IAS 16 & IAS 38), the FreM and Consolidated Budget Guidance.

The successful candidate’s technical knowledge, insight and ability to work with different stakeholders will make them a valued contributor to the Fixed Asset process. The post-holder will need to establish and develop effective working relationships with several stakeholders across the department, wider finance and externally.

Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to: –

• Updating the Fixed Asset register by undertaking additions, disposals, revaluations and impairment periodically.
• Feeding into the group accounts to close out financial year ends.
• Liaising with the National Audit Office to provide sufficient and appropriate audit evidence in a timely manner for both Interim and final year audits.
• Completing month end activities ensuring the ledgers are ready to close and reporting deadlines are met in accordance with the agreed timetables.
• Ensuring sufficient monitoring tools are in place to highlight and eliminate financial control weaknesses, working with control owners as necessary.
• Effectively Implementing internal controls and delivery risks with emphasis on stakeholder delivery.
• Playing a key role in improvement projects such as DRC valuation, ensuring process changes are in line with financial operations policies and consider future plans.
• Partner with operational asset management colleagues to ensure finance and operations are efficient and aligned.
• Monitoring and actioning the fixed asset mailbox queries efficiently.

Essential Experience and Skills:-  .

• Experience of working in a team and individually, with excellent people skills.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills to provide a comprehensive, high quality finance service.
• Confidently and credibly communicate and challenge financial information with senior managers and decision-makers.
• Develop collaborative relationships with key stakeholders e.g. , the National Audit Office (NAO), management accounts and asset management colleagues.
• Self-motivated with the ability to effectively work in multiple virtual teams.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information, engaging stakeholders to make informed decisions and deliver business focused solutions.
• Ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing priorities.
• Highly developed planning and organisational skills in a financial environment and experience of delivery and meeting tight deadlines.

Technical Skills

• Strong accounting background and understanding of government accounts to support month end, budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes.
• Experience in improving controls and process design.
• Good working knowledge of relevant accounting standards or willingness to learn.
• A proven track record of strong relationship management
• Proficient user of Excel with the ability to use formulas.

Qualifications

 Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent or relevant Finance Experience

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

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%

Blended Working

Defra operates a blended working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs.  There is flexibility to split the working week, spending minimum of 40-60% in the workplace, unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or you are a contractual home worker.

Job contact :

• Name : Emma Bryan
• Email : emma.bryan@hays.com

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk