At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the implementation of a new ERP system and provide financial accounting advice.
- Company: Join the Defra group, a leader in environmental and corporate services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities to work with senior stakeholders.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career growth and collaboration across departments.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on government finance while driving innovation and efficiency.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified financial professional with experience in Oracle/SOP applications.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber.
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 leads on preparation of accounts for Defra and its ALBs. The role will support 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 to go live in February 2028. The role requires close working with stakeholders, building relationships with others, managing the timetable to deliver the successful implementation of the ERP system. The postholder will also support the Compliance and Financial Accounting Team with business-as-usual activities.
Along with supporting the implementation of the new ERP system, the postholder will widely support other areas of finance and the business with financial accounting advice, direction and knowledge. The role may require close working with senior stakeholders (within finance and business areas). Defra are recruiting up to five SEO roles, which will all cover business as usual activities and all areas of the ERP system and/or cover the substantive post for those that work on the ERP system.
Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- ERP SYSTEM
- Support the stages required to implement the new ERP system.
- Local design phase: refine the Common Design to meet their specific operational needs.
- Build phase: configuration starts, data preparation intensifies, and we move from design on paper to a working product.
- System integration testing: test all processes end-to-end, checking that data flows correctly, that integrations operate seamlessly, and that the system behaves as expected.
- User acceptance testing: support real life users of the system. Identify and deliver training.
- Cutover phase: complete data migration cycles, readiness checks, and all the operational planning needed to ensure the transition from the old system to the new ERP is safe and controlled.
- Provide information to process owners to support attendance at meetings with other departments to ensure Defra’s position is considered.
- Working with other departments to align accounting policies and processes.
- Co-ordinating responses from subject matter experts where required.
- Learn and adapt Defra’s position from the issues encountered by other departments that have already gone through these phases.
- Reviewing documentation and provide meaningful comments.
- ACCOUNTING
- Covering substantive technical financial accounting roles where required (e.g. review/preparation/approval of journals, preparation/review of reconciliations, preparing interim and year-end accounts, preparing technical accounting papers using International Financial Reporting Standards as adapted and interpreted by the HM Treasury Financial Reporting Manual).
- Working with stakeholders (e.g. external auditors, other areas of finance, business areas), providing technical accounting advice to finance and non-finance colleagues, supporting the external audit etc.
- Supporting the production of annual reports and accounts (interim and year-end) and working collaboratively with the group accounts team.
- Supporting finance projects to ensure the Defra group ARA is laid pre-recess and without qualification.
- Working with external auditors, business areas and other areas of finance and their teams, building relationships and providing a high level of customer service.
- Providing high quality technical accounting advice and reviewing accounting papers, backed up by an in-depth knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards and HM Treasury guidance.
- Providing technical accounting advice to Core Defra, to both finance and non-finance professionals.
- Support the management of risks and issues in relation to the delivery of annual reports and accounts and its impact on the overall Defra group ARA.
- Monitoring of key reconciliations.
- Be a point of contact for technical accounting advice, queries and guidance, liaising with peers to determine the most appropriate accounting treatment, ensuring the approach is consistent across Defra Group.
- OTHER
- Line management of others.
Person specification:
- Fully qualified and experienced financial professional (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent).
- Working with Oracle/SOP and related applications.
- Planning and organisational skills in a finance environment, with experience of delivery and meeting tight timescales.
- Able to think creatively and strategically to solve problems and manage risks.
- Adept at building strong stakeholder relationships, using your network to support delivery against your objectives.
- Strong oral and written presentational skills, with ability to explain complex financial issues to non-specialist audiences.
- Ability to engage and motivate those around you.
- Ability to see change as a chance to drive efficiency and innovation; acting as an agent for change wherever you identify the opportunity to protect, drive and add value.
- Working with others effectively and being able to influence change.
- Supporting the delivery of the project to challenging timescales.
- Knowledge and understanding of government finance.
Behaviours:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
Senior Finance Officer employer: Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Defra is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where employees can contribute to significant projects that impact the environment and public services. With a strong focus on professional development, team collaboration, and a commitment to innovation, staff members are encouraged to grow their skills while working on the implementation of a new ERP system that will enhance efficiency across multiple government departments. Located in the East Midlands and other regions, Defra provides a supportive culture that values diversity and fosters meaningful contributions to society.
Contact Details:
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Recruitment Team
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We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Officer
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Officer
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✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
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