The Environment Agency is on the lookout for an ‘action-oriented’ finance boss to take charge of 600 finance, IT and planning staff.

‘Candidates will be action-oriented finance directors, with a proven record operating strategically at board level and at getting things done in challenging circumstances,’ the body said.

The Environment Agency’s remit includes restoring rivers and lakes, looking after wildlife, flood protection and prosecuting environmental offenders and polluters.

The organisation is still fairly young despite having more than 12,000 members of staff and a budget of £900m. It was set up under the Environment Act 1995. Around 60% of its funding comes from government, and most of the rest comes from various charges schemes.

The organisation operates under a unusual structure because of its wide area of operations. Its head office is split between Bristol and London to take into account the environmental, social and economic differences in each region. Outgoing FD Nigel Reader is set to retire in 2009, but the agency has kickstarted the selection process more than a year before his departure.

For more, go to environment-agency.gov.uk