Defra is the UK Government department responsible for improving and protecting the environment. We aim to grow a green economy and sustain thriving rural communities. We also support our world-leading food, farming and fishing industries. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink. We are a ministerial department that is supported by, and works collaboratively with, 33 agencies and public bodies. Together we are the Defra group. The Defra Group plays a unique and vital role at the heart of UK life. As one of our colleagues, so will you.
We are here to make our air purer, our water cleaner, our land greener and our food more sustainable. Our mission is to restore and enhance the environment for the next generation, leaving it in a better state than we found it.
Whatever your skills, background or specialism, you will find that this is work with a more profound purpose. Crucially, there has never been a more exciting time to join us.
Our focus is on working in a transformative way, and we are embracing every opportunity to become more agile, efficient, focused and innovative than ever before.
For you, this promises a once-in-a-generation opportunity to impact on millions of lives, building a bright future for us all.
Our organisation
Defra is made up of the Core department and a network of agencies and public bodies, working closely with different partners, industries and communities, across the country. As the world and political climate changes, we are tasked with finding innovative solutions to constantly evolving challenges.
Here is an overview of some of the different public bodies with Defra that Group Finance support.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
This core ministerial department leads on a wide range of issues, and each one profoundly impacts on life in the UK. Helping safeguard the natural environment, and the UK’s world-leading food and farming sectors.
Environment Agency (EA)
We protect and improve the environment. We help people and wildlife adapt to climate change and reduce its impacts, including flooding, drought, sea level rise and coastal erosion. We improve the quality of our air, land, and water by tackling pollution. We work with businesses to help them comply with environmental regulations. A healthy and diverse environment enhances people's lives and contributes to economic growth. We cannot do this alone. We work as part of the Defra group, with the rest of government, local councils, businesses, civil society groups and local communities to create a better place for people and wildlife.
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the DEFRA and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 2,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice, and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is an executive agency of Defra, delivering over £2 billion in payments to farmers, traders and land owners each year.
We are an Operational Delivery Profession organisation, with the majority of our people delivering day to day services to our customers and stakeholders. We make excellent delivery happen, empowering agricultural and rural communities to create a better place to live.
We manage over 40 schemes, and also make payments on behalf of Natural England, to ensure we have a healthy rural economy, strong and sustainable rural communities, and to protect and enhance the natural environment.
Natural England (NE)
Natural England is the government’s adviser on the natural environment. Our purpose is to help conserve, enhance and manage the natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development. The twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change mean Natural England’s work is more important now than ever and this, is why our five-year mission is to build partnerships for nature’s recovery. Our highly knowledgeable staff provide practical advice, grounded in science, on how best to safeguard England’s natural wealth on land and sea for the benefit of everyone.
We are recruiting for posts into the following teams:
We are responsible for consolidating the production of Annual Reports and Accounts for Defra Group and four of its largest Arms Length Bodies -Environment Agency, Rural Payments Agency, Natural England & Animal Plant & Health Authority. We also provide specialist services including Centres of Excellence for Tax and Lease accounting, P2P (Procure to Pay), cash management, process ownership & compliance & expenses policy.
Sitting within Financial Operations our award-winning team is responsible for delivering the monthly management accounting, management information, reporting and analysis, as well as the ongoing development & maintenance of underlying financial processes & systems.
APHA is undergoing significant growth on the back of new Border responsibilities and is dealing with the UK’s largest ever outbreak of Avian Influenza. We play a key role in providing expert financial support and expertise to APHA Directors and the Board, including financial management, Accounting Officer advice, financial governance, risk management, counter fraud, and charge/fee schemes.
The Rural Payments Agency is undergoing significant transformation following the shift from European Union to UK exchequer based grant schemes under the Farming and Countryside Programme. The Agency will be delivering roughly £6.5bn to £7.0bn of funding over SR21 funding for farmers and landowners. Our Finance Business Partners lie at the heart of ensuring the RPA makes the best use of its funding and successfully delivers its ambitious new payment schemes that support the UKs agricultural and rural communities to create a better place to live.
Our team provides a full strategic finance business partnering service focusing on challenging and supporting decision making to the Department. This includes supporting policy teams who are delivering against a diverse range of Ministerial priorities including Food Farming and Biosecurity, Strategy and Change, International and Borders Group, Science (with a significantly increased budget for Research and Development) Environment, Rural and Marine. We also business partner the centralised Group Corporate Services model which includes delivery of our Digital Strategy, along with several large infrastructure projects including an exciting new Science and Animal Health research facility.
We work with the EA business supporting a £1.8bn organisation. The EA has a large and diverse remit that includes protecting and enhancing the natural environment along with management and emergency response to flood risk. Our business partners lead on building strong relationships with the EA’s senior budget holders, using their influence to ensure the highest standards of financial management. We work in partnership with the EA to ensure the organisation runs as efficiently as possible whilst delivering the very best value for money.
