Job Description

3 x FINANCE MANAGERS

Inventory Process Owner

• Tax (BAU)

• Group Accounts / Consolidation Tool

On your application, please specify your preference.

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 Pay-ments 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 priori-ties, and contribute to the successful delivery of both operational and programme objectives

Responsibilities will vary slightly by role but will include:

• Supporting or leading elements of the ERP implementation lifecycle, including:

o Local design phase: refining common design to meet operational needs

o Build phase: supporting configuration and data preparation activities

o System integration testing: ensuring end-to-end processes and data flows work effectively

o User acceptance testing: engaging end users, supporting testing and identifying training needs

o Cutover phase: supporting data migration, readiness activities and transition plan-ning

• For Tax (BAU-focused role):

o Leading delivery of day-to-day tax operations (e.g. VAT and tax compliance)

o Ensuring continuity and accuracy of BAU activities

o Collaborating with ERP programme teams to share expertise, input into design de-cisions, 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-porting

• Experience with consolidation tools and processes within complex organisations

• Ability to contribute to ERP design and implementation, particularly in relation to group re-porting requirements

• Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced programme environment