Finance Administrator
Forestry Commission - Forest Research
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 29th September 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science? Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis? Forest Research is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.
We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways. Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our planet. And you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer, so you can have a work life balance that is tailor-made to your circumstances. So, whether it’s climate or carbon, pests or pathogens, behaviour or biodiversity that interests you, you can be assured of a warm welcome to the team. To find out more, visit forestresearch.gov.uk.
The Finance Team is responsible for providing effective financial systems and support within FR. This incorporates, strategic corporate and financial planning, management and financial accounting reporting and control, risk management, systems accounting, transaction processing, and procurement advice.
Reporting to the Finance Support Officer (FSO), the postholder will have the opportunity to be part of the finance team working in the budgeting and forecasting function, interfacing with a variety of different functional and science based teams across FR.
Job description
Working as part of a cross-location team, the successful candidate will be responsible for assisting the FBP and FSO in maintaining the annual budgeting cycle to deliver a high quality, customer focused support service to FR.
Key Work Areas:
• Supporting the FSO in maintaining the budgeting cycle, including arranging and participating in budget meetings with project managers and cost centre managers
• Assisting in the review of budget and forecast submissions, ensuring data integrity, checking users have input data correctly, and report findings to the Finance Business Partner
• Issuing monthly project reports, reviewing project balances, collating commentary to and from budget holders
• Data analysis, interrogating the ledgers of FR’s enterprise resource and planning (ERP) system, Business World (BW) and investigating the system for supporting evidence, especially during mid-year and end of year Audits
• Resolving any transactional coding errors by manual posting of correction journals, throughout the financial year.
• Assisting the FBP and FSO in the continuous development of the Project Management module in BW
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
• Previous experience of working in a similar role, including reconciling and processing financial transactions with accuracy
• Good working knowledge of Excel
• Attention to detail with strong numerical and analytical skills
• Basic understanding of MS Word, Outlook and PowerPoint
• Organisation skills, with the ability to prioritise and proactively manage workload
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of using Unit4 Business World (previously known as Agresso), or other ERP platform
- An understanding of SharePoint & Teams
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Working Together
Benefits
Your career
- Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all
- access to world class laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings
Your work/life balance
- flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave. Parents and carers will be supported to enable you to manage work and family responsibilities
- A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days’ paid bank/public holidays
Your wellbeing
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment
- A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
- We want you to feel part of something bigger and we encourage a community feel in our workplaces, with everything from cookery competitions to Pilates and fell running, plus topical talks at Wellbeing Wednesdays and Feelgood Fridays
- Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time
Your benefits
- a highly competitive Civil Service Pension of 28.97% your salary
- an employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops
- Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans
- Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports
- With maternity, adoption, and/or shared parental leave there’s the flexibility to have up to 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave. Paternity leave of up to two weeks is available with full pay.
Any move to Forest Research from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Sift will take place on 30th September 2024
Interviews will take place week commencing 7th October 2024
If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, Managing a Quality Service. However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours listed at the interview stage.
Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
- Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
Further information
