Capital Accountant

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.

Natural England (NE) are the Government’s statutory adviser for the Natural Environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. Natural England work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers on a huge range of projects.

As a Capital Accountant in the Natural England Finance Business Partner (FBP) team within Defra Finance, you will ensure stewardship of public funds and efficient and effective use of budgets. You will provide advice on budgets across the organisation, challenge forecasts to ensure they are robust and protect the Accounting Officer’s interest as outlined in Managing Public Money.

You will provide insightful financial advice and analysis, promote commercial awareness to inform decision making, provide constructive challenge and ensure that financial governance, control, and alignment is maintained. Your role is to protect, drive and add value.  You will build trust with decision makers so that your advice is actively sought; and be seen as a critical friend giving sound financial advice while challenging existing assumptions.

You will take ownership of the capital portfolio to help shape and influence plans and develop business cases which demonstrate value for money while meeting the organisation’s priorities.

You will work collaboratively with colleagues, to ensure that good practice is identified, shared and developed between FBPs, that consistency of approach is adopted and to build and embed financial capability and understanding across the organisation.

You will be respected for your financial knowledge and skill, providing sound advice and ensuring the business adheres to relevant finance policies. The role is equally about leadership, relationship and information management as it is about financial technical skills.

Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to: –

We’re looking for someone with technical acumen who can develop relationships. You will contribute to the key accountabilities of the workstream, which include:

• Supporting the governance and effective management of the capital programme, providing advice on accounting treatment and review and challenge of business cases.
• Provide hands-on professional support to the Directorate Finance Business Partners and the NE business.
• Setting the organisational capital budget each year and then managing the overall capital financial position over the course of the year to within the agreed budget delegation.
• Supporting the NE Finance Director and the NE Senior Leadership Team in their Spending review submission and how this feeds into financial planning in the medium term. Co-ordinating the financial data to give financial insight and a clear picture of Natural England’s submission, and how this links into future financial planning. This will involve challenging financial data gathered to ensure this is representative, in line with guidance provided, robust and accurate.
• Work alongside the existing grade 7 to convert, set and delegate budgets across the organisation. Provide clear advice on financial management responsibilities for Budget Holders along with any relevant key finance issues they need to be aware of.
• Working alongside the existing grade 7, manage the total organisational NE financial position, covering all funding and activities.
• Throughout the year challenge the integrity and robustness of the monthly reporting and organisational financial position in terms of year-to-date position, funding streams, current and future risks and opportunities and forecast assumptions.
• Natural England works in an ever-changing environment and is often faced with problems which have financial implications. This role provides trusted advice and options as to how such problems may be overcome in line with financial reporting rules and guidance and implements new accounting solutions, ensuring reporting mechanisms are in place to support any changes.
• Determine and document the accounting treatment of key capital financial issues, providing a clear audit trails for year-end accounting purposes and NAO audit. This requires being able to apply relevant accounting standards as articulated in the IFRS, FreM and Consolidated Budgeting guidance.
• Management of team member or oversight of other’s work and developing leadership skills within and across teams.
• Build strong relationships with a wide range of Natural England stakeholders as well as colleagues across Finance and the wider department, to provide a joined-up service.
• Attend senior stakeholder forums to discuss and present data which will appropriately influence Natural England’s decisions, challenging and supporting the business to enhance decision-making and increase performance.
• Providing specialist financial advice.
• Engaging with experts on behalf of the business and providing advice on key financial planning, processes, and budget setting.
• Provide accurate, timely and insightful reporting monthly to the NE Leadership team, key NE Governance groups and Defra.

Essential Experience and Skills:- 

• Excellent financial accounting skills, understanding of accounting standards and a proven ability to apply them to the projects you support.
• Experience of working in a finance business partnering or strategic finance role.
• Experience of demonstrating strong inter-personal and written communication skills with an ability to explain finance issues to senior audiences. Understand the vision for the business and confidently lead others to realise the vision. Be highly visible across their area as the primary point of contact for financial advice.
• Experience of delivering high quality financial analysis under pressure and to tight deadlines through excellent analytical, data management and modelling skills and the capacity to get senior leadership to focus on critical issues to deliver improved performance, value for money and enable decision making.
• Demonstrable ability to apply a wide range of strong technical skills across a wide range of financial disciplines and a proven ability to apply them to the customers you support.
• Good relationship management skills and personal credibility with senior stakeholders across a broad network both inside and outside of government.
• 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 (preferably Oracle).

Technical Skills

Qualifications –

• Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent or relevant finance experience.

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture

• 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 : Lucy West
• Email : Lucy.west@hays.com
• Telephone : 01206 766621

Recruitment team

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