Job Description
The Environment Agency is fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve.
Are you experienced and motivated by contract and finance management, aspiring to be part of a high performing, nurturing team contributing to the delivery of positive environmental outcomes? If so, this new and exciting role as a Commercial Contract and Finance Advisor could be for you. This role forms a crucial part of the National Environmental Assessment Service (NEAS) within the Innovation Systems and Services Directorate, reporting to the National Team Operational Unit Manager (OUM).
You will work collaboratively across NEAS with Operational Unit Managers and Team Leaders to effectively manage the NEAS contractor workforce. Linked to this will be embedding and enhancing best contract management practice guidance and controls across departments, helping them to manage contracts and partnership agreements proficiently.
In addition, you will develop and support an appropriate strategy to assist teams in the administration of contracts, ensuring best value principles are met. Developing and implementing methods of measuring the overall effectiveness of the contract management strategy process is important, thereby providing assurance to the NEAS Senior Leadership Team and finance specialists. Identifying, sharing and embedding best practice is also an important part of this role.
The work will involve supporting and guiding NEAS Leaders/budget holders to deliver effective time recording data to facilitate accurate financial forecasting and management reports/data sets. This will provide crucial data for the NEAS workforce planning group to support their decision-making process.
This role may be required to take line management duties in the future.
You will be required to have an incident role, responding to and/or providing business continuity support. This may attract additional payments for which full training and alternative working arrangements will be provided.
The team
The Commercial Contract and Finance Advisor will be overseen by the National Environmental Assessment Service (NEAS) National Team OUM. The Team consists of a dispersed group of experienced Principle Environmental Project Managers (PEPM) who provide strategic expert advice to ensure environmentally compliant outcomes are delivered. This role will oversee the Commercial and Finance portfolios of the NEAS Operations Manager, in addition to working collaboratively with the NEAS Senior Leadership Team and other NEAS leaders.
Experience/skills Required
1. Support/lead financial accounting and administration of contracts/contractors
2. Proven experience of supporting leadership teams with core financial duties
3. Providing analysis and data support to teams to facilitate effective decision making
4. Supporting budget holders in overseeing effective financial/contract management
5. Lead contact with teams, departments and stakeholders
6. Excellent data handling skills
7. Ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely
8. Excellent attention to detail
9. Experience of contract management, recruitment and/or workforce planning
10. Ability to analyse and interpret complex performance business data sets
11. Providing actionable insights and recommendations to drive strategic business decisions
12. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand data needs/requirements
13. Creating and maintaining detailed reports including dashboards for teams/management use
14. Ensuring data integrity and accuracy consistently
15. Contributing to the development of data analytics tools and strategies
16. Adhering to data privacy and security guidelines
17. Excellent decision making
18. Training and development
19. Leadership experience
20. Identifying and implementing best practice
21. Qualification(s) pertaining to any of the above
Contact and additional information
Our flexible working supports a healthy work/life balance, accommodating the demands that personal commitments may present. Excellent training and learning opportunities are also available, including personal and professional development. Benefits include pension provision and leave entitlement.
This is a national role and your base location can be flexible across any of our main offices with the expectation of attending regularly to work with colleagues/partners. Occasional travel to other office/partner locations will also be necessary.
For information about the role, please contact the recruiting manager Damen Funnell, (damen.funnell@environmental-agency.gov.uk)
Interview dates commencing 23/04/2025
Competences
1. Achieves Results
Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.
2. Data and Information Management
Description: Collects, analyses, interprets, records, manages, develops and shares data, material or information appropriately for a variety of purposes.
3. Leads People
Description: Provides leadership that inspires and motivates others to achieve their personal goals and the goals of the Environment Agency.
4. Communicates Effectively
Description: Listening and questioning to understand and engage. Conveying information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit this link for more information. #J-18808-Ljbffr