Location
Central London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£50,495 per annum

About the Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Defra Group Finance team as a Team Leader in the Specialist Finance Operations Team (SFO). You will play a key leadership role overseeing the delivery of finance processes in the Project Ledger (PL), improving data quality, and driving smarter, more efficient ways of working to ensure the accuracy of accounts is maintained.

You will lead a team responsible for transactional finance activities such as project setup, salary recharges, accruals, and cost transfers, ensuring these are delivered accurately and on time. Working across the wider finance function, you will support customers by translating complex system workflows into clear, user-friendly guidance. You will also contribute to developing a self-service culture by simplifying processes and enhancing customer experience.

As Defra prepares for a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, your expertise will help shape future processes and support change and transition activities.

Key responsibilities include leading and managing the delivery of project-related finance processes, ensuring high-quality data for accurate reporting and sound business decisions, proactively identifying and implementing process improvements, building team resilience through upskilling and standardising procedures, supporting efforts to simplify and digitise financial services, developing and presenting finance guidance and training materials, and acting as a subject matter expert for processes, controls, and data integrity.

Experience
- Proven experience managing and developing people in a fast-paced finance environment.
- Strong background in management accounting, particularly projects including budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
- Experience supporting or leading financial data improvement and quality assurance.
- Proven track record in improving processes and delivering automation or digital solutions.
- Experience supporting or delivering digital, IT, or transformation programmes.
- Strong Excel skills and working knowledge of finance systems such as Oracle and reporting tools like Qlik and Power BI.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and adapt to change.
- Proven ability to influence and build effective relationships with non-finance stakeholders, simplifying complex financial information.

About You
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with the ability to collaborate across teams.
- Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex concepts clearly.
- A continuous improvement mindset with a focus on delivering high-quality work in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications
- Fully or part-qualified (CIMA, CIPFA, ACCA, or ACA), fully qualified AAT, or qualified through relevant professional experience.
- Proven experience of leading, managing, and developing a high-performing team.