At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance operations and support ERP implementation for a major government department.
- Company: Join the Defra group, delivering essential corporate services across multiple government bodies.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration across teams.
- Why this job: Be part of a transformative project that will shape the future of government finance.
- Qualifications: Experience with financial systems, strong communication skills, and a knack for problem-solving.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Defra group has a unique operating model delivering corporate services centrally to the core department (Defra) and four of its Arms Length Bodies (ALBs): Environment Agency, Rural Payments Agency, Natural England (NE), and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. The Compliance and Financial Accounting (CFA) Team lead on preparation of accounts for Defra and its ALBs. These roles are critical in supporting both the ongoing business‑as‑usual (BAU) activities of the CFA team and the implementation of the new ERP system, which is due to go live in February 2028.
The system is expected to be used by over 250,000 users (approximately 50% of the Civil Service), bringing together users from four government departments: Defra, DWP, MoJ and Home Office. The majority of the common design phase was completed in October 2025, and Defra is expected to begin local design from July 2026, with build, system integration testing, user acceptance testing and cutover planned from December 2026 ahead of go live in February 2028.
Depending on the role, the postholder will either play a key role in supporting ERP implementation activity across the lifecycle, or focus on maintaining high‑quality BAU delivery (notably in Tax), while working closely with ERP programme colleagues to share knowledge, provide input, and support readiness. All postholders will be expected to build strong stakeholder relationships, manage competing priorities, and contribute to the successful delivery of both operational and programme objectives.
Responsibilities
- Supporting or leading elements of the ERP implementation lifecycle, including:
- Local design phase: refining common design to meet operational needs
- Build phase: supporting configuration and data preparation activities
- System integration testing: ensuring end‑to‑end processes and data flows work effectively
- User acceptance testing: engaging end users, supporting testing and identifying training needs
- Cutover phase: supporting data migration, readiness activities and transition planning
- For Tax (BAU‑focused role):
- Leading delivery of day‑to‑day tax operations (e.g. VAT and tax compliance)
- Ensuring continuity and accuracy of BAU activities
- Collaborating with ERP programme teams to share expertise, input into design decisions, and suggest improvements
- Attending cross‑government meetings to represent Defra’s position
- Working with other departments to align accounting policies and processes
- Learning from and adapting approaches based on other departments’ ERP implementation experiences
- Reviewing documentation and providing clear, constructive feedback
- Delivering training and producing supporting guidance materials where required
- Line management responsibilities (where applicable)
- Supporting wider CFA team BAU delivery as needed
About The Candidate (Specialist Skills & Requirements)
- All roles:
- Experience working with Oracle/SOP and related financial systems
- Strong planning and organisational skills, with experience delivering to tight timescales
- Ability to think strategically and solve complex problems
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Credible and engaging leadership style, with the ability to motivate and support others
- Ability to identify opportunities for improvement and drive change
- Experience managing projects and/or delivering change in complex environments
- Experience working collaboratively across teams and functions
- Knowledge of government finance
- Additional role‑specific requirements:
- Tax (BAU role):
- Strong functional tax expertise, particularly in VAT within a government context
- Experience of government VAT rules, including contracted out services
- Knowledge of taxable benefits, IR35, and provision of tax guidance/advisory support
- Proven experience delivering high‑quality BAU tax operations
- Good understanding of ERP systems and implementation principles (not essential to have led ERP delivery)
- Ability to work closely with programme teams to provide insight and input into ERP design and implementation
- Inventory role:
- Strong hands‑on experience in inventory management systems
- Experience operating within complex or large organisations, managing inventory processes at scale
- Good understanding of inventory accounting principles
- Experience contributing to ERP implementation or system change activity is desirable
- Ability to work independently and quickly establish credibility in role
- Group Accounts / Consolidation role:
- Strong technical accounting experience, particularly in group consolidation and financial re‑reporting
- Experience with consolidation tools and processes within complex organisations
- Ability to contribute to ERP design and implementation, particularly in relation to group re‑reporting requirements
- Comfortable working independently in a fast‑paced programme environment
FINANCE MANAGER employer: Deekay Technical Recruitment
The Defra group offers a dynamic and supportive work environment, where Finance Managers play a pivotal role in shaping the future of financial operations across multiple government departments. With a strong emphasis on employee development, collaboration, and innovation, team members are encouraged to grow their skills while contributing to meaningful projects that impact the public sector. Located at the heart of government services, employees benefit from a unique opportunity to engage with diverse stakeholders and be part of a transformative ERP implementation that will enhance efficiency and service delivery.
Contact Details:
Deekay Technical Recruitment Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land FINANCE MANAGER
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Defra or similar organisations on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common finance manager questions. We can even role-play with a friend to boost our confidence and nail those tricky scenarios.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills during interviews by sharing specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles. We want to highlight our problem-solving abilities and stakeholder management experience!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed, and we can keep track of your progress easily.
We think you need these skills to ace FINANCE MANAGER
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Finance Manager role. Highlight your experience with Oracle/SOP and any relevant tax or inventory management expertise. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since strong written communication is key, ensure your application is clear and concise. Use professional language but keep it engaging. We love a good story, so feel free to share examples of how you've influenced stakeholders or led teams.
Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities:In your application, give us a glimpse of your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. Share specific instances where you've tackled complex issues or improved processes. This will show us you're ready for the challenges of the role!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets into the right hands. Plus, you'll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Deekay Technical Recruitment
✨Know Your ERP Inside Out
Since the role involves supporting the ERP implementation, make sure you understand the basics of ERP systems, especially Oracle/SOP. Familiarise yourself with how these systems work and be ready to discuss your experience with them during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Tax Expertise
If you're applying for the Tax-focused role, brush up on government VAT rules and tax compliance. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've managed tax operations in the past, particularly in a government context, to demonstrate your functional expertise.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management Skills
Strong stakeholder management is key for this position. Think of instances where you've successfully built relationships or influenced decisions. Be ready to discuss how you can apply these skills to collaborate effectively across teams and departments.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and strategic thinking. Prepare scenarios from your past experiences where you had to manage competing priorities or drive change in complex environments, and explain how you navigated those challenges.
