During recent audits, a number of significant issues have arisen resulting in qualification of the Group Accounts. The aim this year is to remove one of the qualifications and bring forward the finalisation of the accounts.

Key to this is the delivery of the Environment Agency accounts and this role will support Defra Group Finance and the Environment Agency.The post-holder’s technical knowledge, insight, and ability to work constructively with people at all grades will make them integral to development, prioritisation, reporting and escalation where necessary, to ensure smooth running of the accounts project to plan.

The Audit Project Manager will:

• Establish and develop effective working relationships with key finance contacts and with EA operations including project managers, ensuring appropriate communications are delivered
• Work with EA business finance to ensure appropriate communications and messages are delivered
• Oversee the monitoring of milestones & delivering briefings to senior stakeholders on a regular basis
• Report progress on audit & key risks to ensure multiple workstreams are on track intervening and escalating where there are issues
• Developing and implementing mitigations for new and emerging risks where needed
• Supporting the delivery of the Environment Agency Annual Report and Accounts where needed

Essential .

• Project management or highly developed organisational skills with experience of running complex financial management projects
• Experience of delivering under pressure against challenging timelines and tight deadlines.
• Ability to see the bigger picture whilst able to drop into the detail of a technical issue if needed to understand credibility of actions.
• Able to challenge planned activities confidently and credibly
• Develop collaborative relationships with key stakeholders e.g. Finance Business Partners, Compliance and Financial Accounts and senior budget holders (partners)
• Good self management skills with the ability to proactively and effectively do what is needed to deliver.
• Experience in leading and/or influencing organisational change
• Ability to work flexible and adapt to changing priorities

Technical Skills

• Strong accounting background and understanding of government accounts and audit

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.

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