6024 - Senior Finance Officer - Landscape Recovery

Working closely with Defra, the Environment Agency, other ALBs and NE Specialists, the Landscape Recovery Team manage a small number of pilot projects through their development phase. We aim to support these projects through to full applications for the implementation of 20+ year agreements., We are looking for a Senior Finance Officer to provide technical input on the development and implementation of the financial and payment model for Landscape Recovery implementation phase. You will be working closely with the wider Landscape Recovery team, including Defra and EA Finance officers to develop processes and tools for the Landscape Recovery Scheme. You will build on our ALB partnerships, providing expertise and support to establish the model and best practice across our Landscape Recovery partnership,

• Work with the Natural England Legal team on Project Implementation Agreements, specifically leading on payment schedule requirements.
• Production of payment schedules for projects.
• Liaise with Landscape Recovery project teams within Natural England and Project Liaison Officers (PLOs) to understand contracts and spending.
• Manage payments - reconciling and accounting for payments both manually and automated.
• Collaborate with Grant managers to ensure compliance and payment milestones are achieved.
• Design end-to-end processes for monitoring spending and budgets.
• Design systems to prepare financial statements and accounts.
• Work with partners (including Defra, Environment Agency and Rural Payments Agency) to analyse the project's financial performance.
• Forecast and plan future spending and profiles. Recommend ways to reduce costs.
• Help create audit requirements in line with National Auditing Office (NAO) guidelines.
  
  The Landscape Recovery (LR) scheme is one of three Environmental Land Management schemes currently being developed in England: Sustainable Farming Incentive, an expanded Countryside Stewardship offer and Landscape Recovery. LR aims to offer long term environmental solutions and funding to deliver landscape scale change.
Natural England and the Environment Agency are leading the delivery of the two-year project development phase of Landscape Recovery. Our team is currently delivering both Round 1 and Round 2 Landscape Recovery projects and will be the Accountable Organisation for Implementation.