Senior Financial Accounting Manager

Part of the Forestry Commission family, Forest Research is a world leader in applied forest science, providing evidence and practical solutions to policy makers, forestry practitioners, land managers and anyone with green space, UK-wide. With climate and biodiversity in crisis, and an increasing number of pests and diseases, our research is more vital than ever before. We advise on how woodlands can help combat climate change. We’re identifying tree species that will thrive in the future and ways of safeguarding those species at risk. Our research supports UK timber production because fewer imports reduce carbon emissions. We provide data on forests in Scotland, Wales and England, and provide evidence of the societal benefits of woodland. We do all this working collaboratively with academia, partners and industry, nationally and internationally.

The Finance Team is responsible for providing effective financial systems and support within Forest Research (FR). The role involves developing financial controls for the finance function and supporting month-end processes, including preparing accruals, postings, and account reconciliations.

This role involves updating and maintaining the Fixed Asset Register, ensuring it matches the Trial Balance. Responsibilities include managing additions, disposals, transfers, revaluations, impairments, depreciation, and assets under construction, with all entries accurately documented and reconciled to the general ledger.

The Senior Financial Accounting Manager will work along with the Head of Finance, Accounts Payable Manager and a small team which will among other duties, involve leading on their training, development, and progression.

The purpose of this post is to assist the Head of Finance with financial and systems accounting/reporting for Forest Research (FR), including production of the annual accounts. Apply professional accounting knowledge to develop the accounting practices in FR, to ensure financial control and compliance with finance and business processes, including Public Sector Procurement, VAT accounting and fixed asset accounting. The post holder will act as the fixed asset specialist for FR, providing technical advice, maintaining strong governance over the fixed asset register, and ensuring asset accounting is accurate, timely and compliant with relevant accounting standards, the government accounting framework and HM Treasury’s Financial Reporting Manual (FReM).

Key Work Areas:

Financial Accounting and Reporting

Prepare and reconcile monthly accounts

Deliver IR35 training and guidance to all contract managers, and conduct an annual review of CEST submissions.

Act as the finance lead and key point of technical expertise for fixed asset accounting across FR, ensuring asset transactions are recorded accurately and in line with relevant accounting standards, the FReM and internal financial policies.

Liaise with internal and external audit, supporting the Head of Finance at audit planning meetings to ensure that audit are aware of existing procedures and processes as well as any changes.

Lead on the provision of VAT advice as necessary to staff and ensuring compliance with current regulations.

Provide advice and challenge to finance and non-finance colleagues on the correct accounting treatment for capital expenditure, useful economic lives, impairments, disposals, demolition costs, rebuilds and capital projects.

Lead month-end and year-end fixed asset processes, including reconciliations, revaluations, depreciation reviews, capital accruals, audit schedules and disclosures required for the Audit and Annual Report and Accounts.

Identify and implement improvements to asset accounting processes, controls and guidance, ensuring risks are managed and audit recommendations are addressed promptly.

Additional ad hoc responsibilities as required

Systems Accounting and Processing

Create and provide financial reports to ensure the transactions and balances in the accounts are adequately supported.

Take a proactive approach to identifying finance and system issues that will need to be addressed and resolved as part of any change programmes.

Staff Management and Development

Work with the AP Manager and a small team who have day-to-day responsibility for the Accounts Payable function, processes, and procedures

Leading, training and developing the team to support progression

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Please apply at Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK. You will be asked to:

• Complete a CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years
• Submit a Personal Statement – (limited to 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria as outlined in the person specification

We will use this information to assess your application against the essential criteria in the person specification.

Shortlist

The panel will select a shortlist of candidates whose applications best demonstrate suitability for the role, by considering the evidence provided against the Essential Criteria set out in the Person Specification. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Sift is planned to take place between 21-23 October 2026

Interviews are planned to take place week commencing 9th November 2026.

Please note interviews will be in person at Alice Holt, Farnham and Northern Research Station, Roslin. Exact dates will be confirmed at shortlisting stage.

Applicants invited to attend for interview will be required to prepare a short presentation on Managing a Fixed Asset Register. Further detail will be provided on confirmation of interview.

At interview stage you will be assessed on your experience and how you meet the essential criteria of the role. You will be required to answer questions on 2 behaviours, Making Effective Decisions and Managing a Quality Service.

The presentation will be assessed on candidate's technical knowledge of fixed asset accounting and asset management, understanding of governance and controls, analytical ability, and communication/presentation skills, including responses to follow-up questions.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

Visa Sponsorship

FR holds a licence to sponsor Skilled Workers under the Home Office points-based immigration system. Candidates wishing to apply should note that the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship would depend on an assessment of this role against defined criteria, which include:

o Whether the Job role has been identified as being a Critical Role in FR, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan, and / or

o Whether the Job role is a known Capability gap, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan for the relevant Centre, and

o Evidence of significant recruitment challenges in filling the Job role previously

Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available, subject to an application and assessment process and the Home Office points-based system.

For further details, please refer to the Sponsorship for Skilled Workers – guidance for applicants and managers on our website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.