Chief Financial Officer (CFO), PackUK

Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Location

Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York

About the job

Thank you for your interest in the role of Chief Financial Officer for PackUK, the Scheme Administrator for the UK Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme. This is a rare opportunity to help shape and lead the financial stewardship of a new national organisation at the heart of one of the UK’s most significant environmental reforms. As a senior leader in PackUK, you will play a pivotal role in building an organisation that supports the UK’s net zero ambitions while enabling sustainable economic growth. pEPR is central to the UK’s transition to a circular economy. It places a legal obligation on packaging producers to pay the full net costs of collecting and disposing of the packaging they place on the market. In doing so, it will encourage the reduction of unnecessary packaging, support the use of more recyclable materials, and increase reuse and refill. It will also provide significant investment in the UK’s collection and recycling infrastructure, improving services for householders across the UK. The pEPR scheme came into effect in January 2025, and PackUK is responsible for delivering the services and systems that underpin its operation. The Chief Financial Officer will play a critical role in ensuring the scheme is financially robust, well governed, and able to deliver effectively at scale. PackUK brings together people with a strong commitment to recycling and environmental improvement. We are seeking an outstanding senior leader who can build and lead a high‑performing, collaborative, and user‑focused team, while providing visible, credible leadership across a complex and evolving stakeholder landscape. The successful candidate will bring a strong track record of strategic leadership, the ability to oversee effective financial operations and supporting systems, and a clear commitment to high‑quality delivery and continuous improvement across the wider packaging reform programme. You will need the strategic insight to shape and strengthen the operational arrangements that support the scheme, while bringing stakeholders across the packaging value chain with you.

Job Description

Success in this role will depend as much on your personal qualities as on your professional background. As part of a newly established scheme, you will need strong networking and collaboration skills, alongside the ability to deliver operational excellence in a complex and evolving environment. You will need to:

• Build relationships with people from all backgrounds.
• Act as a key adviser and partner, using your skills to help shape a positive, inclusive, and authentic organisational culture.
• Bring people with you, both within the organisation and across the wider stakeholder landscape.
• Inspire and empower people at all levels.
• Adapt and apply best‑practice methods and techniques in EPR design and operation from around the world.

Role

This is a permanent appointment to support the long‑term operation of PackUK. The Chief Financial Officer will report to the Chief Executive of the pEPR Scheme Administrator and work closely with senior leaders across the four nations of the UK. They will lead on financial strategy, governance, and commercial oversight to support the effective delivery of the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme across the four UK nations. The role provides assurance over financial stewardship, producer fee income, local authority payments, delivery partner arrangements, and the control environment, while also enabling high‑quality decision‑making, managing risk, and building a high‑performing finance and commercial function related to:

• Finance strategy, planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting
• Financial governance, assurance, audit, and internal controls
• Producer fee invoicing, income collection, debt management, and local authority payments
• Commercial oversight of key delivery partners and delegated arrangements, including the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO)
• Financial systems, data, management information, and performance insight
• Risk management relating to affordability, scheme delivery, and financial control
• Leadership of PackUK’s finance and commercial function, capability, and continuous improvement

Strategic financial leadership

Provide strategic financial leadership for PackUK, shaping financial strategy to support the effective operation of the UK packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme across the four UK nations. Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and control arrangements for a scheme that collects fees from obligated producers and distributes payments to local authorities, ensuring strong stewardship of public and industry funds. Act as a trusted strategic adviser to the Chief Executive Officer, Ministers, the Board, and senior Defra stakeholders on affordability, scheme risk, value for money, and the long‑term sustainability of PackUK’s operating model.

Financial governance and assurance

Ensure robust financial governance, assurance, audit, and internal control across PackUK, aligned with Defra and HM Treasury requirements and capable of supporting four nations oversight and confidence in scheme delivery. Oversee statutory and non‑statutory reporting on PackUK’s financial position, including transparent reporting on fee income, payments, liabilities, and overall scheme performance. Maintain effective fraud, error, and debt management frameworks.

Commercial and contract management

Lead commercial oversight of PackUK’s delivery partners and delegated arrangements, including the Producer Responsibility Organisation, ensuring strong supplier performance, effective controls, and value for money. Provide strategic advice on commercial strategy, procurement, contract performance, and delegation arrangements as scheme functions evolve. Work with Defra Group Commercial to manage risk and support delivery outcomes.

Delivery and operational excellence

Ensure effective end‑to‑end financial operations, including producer invoicing, fee collection, debt management, local authority payments, and associated controls. Drive continuous improvement across PackUK’s financial operations, strengthening efficiency, service quality, resilience, and readiness for future policy or delivery change. Translate financial and operational data into insight to support performance and improvement.

Stakeholder engagement and influence

Build influential relationships across Defra, HM Treasury, the four nation governments, regulators, local authorities, and industry stakeholders to sustain confidence in PackUK’s financial management and support delivery of pEPR. Represent PackUK with senior stakeholders on financial and commercial matters across government, regulation, and industry. Provide clear strategic advice to Ministers and senior officials on financial and commercial matters.

Risk and decision‑making

Enable high‑quality decision‑making through clear financial insight, constructive challenge, and evidence‑based advice on producer fees, local authority payments, delivery trade‑offs, and scheme affordability. Identify and manage financial risks across the scheme, including fee income, payment accuracy, debt recovery, delivery partner performance, and regulatory or reputational exposure, ensuring timely mitigation and escalation. Support strategic decisions and policy development by advising on financial, commercial, and delivery implications.

Leadership and culture

Lead and develop a high‑performing finance and commercial function. Build capability, embed an inclusive high‑performance culture, and drive continuous improvement across systems, processes, and ways of working. Provide visible and credible leadership in a complex and evolving operating environment.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will bring the professional credibility, strategic leadership, and public finance expertise required to lead PackUK’s finance and commercial function in a complex, high‑profile, four nations delivery environment. They will be capable of operating with confidence across organisational boundaries, advising senior stakeholders on issues of financial stewardship and delivery, and leading through ambiguity in a fast‑evolving system.

Candidates CV and Personal Statement should demonstrate the following essential criteria:

Strategic Financial Leadership & Operational Excellence: Proven track record of steering long‑term financial strategy, planning, governance, and control within complex, high‑profile, and strictly regulated environments. Skilled in managing large‑scale budgets to deliver rigorous stewardship, value for money, and long‑term affordability. Combines strategic vision with hands‑on expertise in leading end‑to‑end financial systems, revenue collection, and high‑volume transactional service leveraging financial data, management information, and modern digital tools to generate actionable insights, optimise operations, and drive evidence‑based decision‑making.

Financial Governance & Risk Management: Proven track record of establishing, overseeing, and maintaining robust financial governance, audit, and internal control frameworks. Adept at identifying and mitigating complex financial, operational, and reputational risks to ensure strict compliance and operational integrity across high‑value environments.

Strategic Procurement & Partnering: Proven track record of managing high‑value commercial relationships, complex procurements, and strategic delivery partners to maximise ongoing value. Skilled in analysing key cost drivers, negotiating delivery arrangements, and driving performance across external suppliers and delegated operational models at scale.

Inclusive Leadership: Proven track record of building, inspiring, and developing high‑performing, multidisciplinary teams within an inclusive culture. Experience of empowering teams through strategic delegation, setting clear direction, and driving performance and capability without micro‑managing.

Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with a proven track record of advising Boards, Ministers, and senior leaders on complex financial and strategic matters. Adept at translating intricate financial data into clear, compelling insight for executive decision makers and diverse external stakeholders to drive informed outcomes.

Essential Criteria - CCAB or CIMA qualified accountant (or equivalent), with current membership of a recognised professional body and substantial experience operating at a senior finance leadership level.

Qualifications

CAB or CIMA qualified accountant (or equivalent), with current membership of a recognised professional body and substantial experience operating at a senior finance leadership level.

Behaviours

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together