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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Finance
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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 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.
Job description
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 candidates 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.
Person specification
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
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£10,069 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application
Please submit your CV demonstrating how you meet the criteria above with a 250-word statement which should detail your experience and suitability for the role.
Sift
Sift will be performed on CV and personal statement
Interview
Candidate successful at sift stage will be invited to a video assessment/interview (1 hour 20 mins) that will consist of a blended interview of Behaviours and Strengths and one other exercise (presentation exercise or experience questions).
Sift – week commencing 20th November 2023
Interview – 27th and 28th November 2023
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.
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. Candidates will need to state their location preference on the application form.
If you are successful in your application and your base working location is London, please be aware that Defras Nobel House Office at 17 Smith Square, London will be closing in December 2023.
This means that Defra new joiners will be located alongside existing colleagues in offices a short distance away from Nobel House in our other office at 2 Marsham St, London.
To work from 2 Marsham Street, you will require the higher level of CTC clearance. Therefore, confirmation of appointment to the advertised post will be dependent upon successful CTC clearance being confirmed as part of pre-employment checks.
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.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Emma Bryan
- Email : emma.bryan@hays.com
Recruitment team
- Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk