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 Business Intelligence Management Accounting Service (BIMAS) is to provide harmonised tools and processes that underpin budget management and forecasting, financial management and control supporting the delivery of objectives, managing risk, and underpinning the decision-making process. 

The role of our Management Accounts team is to provide high quality, accurate and robust financial management and insight. Through analysing data and applying value   added skills to tell the story of the financial position, we help the board, corporate leaders, and budget managers to make well-informed business decisions.

Job description

G7 Manager in Specialist Financial Operations

The role of the G7 Manager in Specialist Financial Operations will be to lead the delivery of Financial Operations within a department, ensuring that Financial Operations is effective and complementary of other finance processes. The post-holder’s technical knowledge, insight, and ability to work constructively with people at all grades will make them a valued contributor to the decision-making process and a champion for change. The post-holder will need to establish and develop effective working relationships with a number of stakeholders across the department and wider Finance Profession.

Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to: -

Provide effective leadership including effective management and development of the Management Accountants. This will include setting objectives, actively and effectively communicating, managing performance, and creating an inclusive environment where people feel valued, respected, safe to challenge and where contribution is recognised.

Lead the management accounting aspect of the annual budgeting/forecasting cycle and any in-year changes to the approved position with support from Finance Business Partners.

Oversee the month end activities and responsible for ensuring the ledgers are ready to close and reporting deadlines are met in accordance with the agreed timetables.

Use insight and Management Information to effectively manage performance in a specific area of finance operations.

Design and manage change that allows more flexibility, responsiveness, and improved service delivery.

Managing core finance operations e.g., Assets under Construction project accounting, Project Accounting and General Ledger Accounting in an efficient and effective manner.

Responsibility for planning and managing the team's resource to ensure it is deployed effectively and able to address priorities effectively.

Responsibility for ensuring sufficient monitoring tools is in place to highlight and eliminate financial control weaknesses, working with control owners as necessary.

Developing and implementing appropriate policies and procedures for change control, in compliance with government standards.

Effectively managing internal control and delivery risks with emphasis on customer service.

Playing a key role in improvement projects, ensuring process changes are in line with financial operations policies and consider future plans.

G7 Management Reporting Manager

The G7 Management Reporting Manager is responsible for the production of the board level consolidated monthly financial reports to meet senior budget holders’ needs. They will generally support a large business area, e.g., a large entity within the group or multiple Arm’s Length Bodies. They are responsible for providing effective leadership to the Senior Management Accountants and their teams in order to deliver a robust and influential management accounting service to senior managers and Defra group Finance colleagues. They will have a good understanding of the financial position at strategic level and the wider operating environment to provide insight and highlight the key issues, risks and opportunities to the budget holders and their Finance Business Partners.

Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to: -

Provide effective leadership including effective management and development of the Management Accountants. This will include setting objectives, actively and effectively communicating, managing performance, and creating an inclusive environment where people feel valued, respected, safe to challenge and where contribution is recognised.

Lead the management accounting aspect of the annual budgeting/forecasting cycle and any in-year changes to the approved position with support from Finance Business Partners.

Oversee the month end activities and responsible for ensuring the ledgers are ready to close and reporting deadlines are met in accordance with the agreed timetables.

Develop a detailed understanding of the management reports audience and commission solutions. Continually check the wider internal and external environments to ensure that the management reporting continues to meet end user needs and is presented in a medium to best convey key messages using continuous improvement philosophy/ principles.

Lead the delivery of prompt, accurate management reports, translating data into meaningful outputs, with a breadth of reporting across internal and external environments.

Provide incisive variance explanations and clear summaries/interpretations for senior management. Provide narrative for management reports using compelling and persuasive language to influence and challenge.

Intelligent analysis of complex financial information, drawing out common themes and understanding linkages/dependencies.

Maintain a strong understanding of the overall financial position of assigned business areas.

Undertake scenario modelling and support the Finance Business Partners to provide a range of options to inform budget holder decisions.

Closing date: 11:55pm, Monday 28th November 2022

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