AMS PSR

On behalf of Defra, we are looking for X3 Finance Mangers (Inside IR35) for a fully remote contract to run up until the 3/3/2028. 

In the Defra group, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. We have developed a set of three strategic objectives covering our policy outcomes and corporate objectives. These objectives help us to deliver our ambitious vision to build our green and healthy future and provide a framework for all the important work we carry out.

Our objectives are:

• To pass on to the next generation a natural environment protected and enhanced for the future. 
• To lead the world in food, farming, and fisheries with a sustainable model of food production. 
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• To be an outstanding organisation focused on making a difference, with world class delivery capability.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs www.gov.uk. 

25 Year Environment Plan - GOV.UK www.gov.uk.

As a Finance Manager, your main responsibilities will be:

Responsibilities will vary slightly by role but will include:

• Supporting or leadingelements 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

Essential:

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:

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  • Strong technical accounting experience, particularly in group consolidation and financial reporting
  • Experience with consolidation tools and processes within complex organisations
  • Ability to contribute to ERP design and implementation, particularly in relation to group reporting requirements
  • Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced programme environment

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, Defra guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant 

Defra guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".