The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

What do you do?

I am responsible for supporting the management of the estate-wide Risk Management Programme which aims to increase the likelihood of NDA achieving its mission and objectives.

How did you come to work for NDA?

Before joining NDA, I worked as a Business Change and Programme Manager at Cumbria Constabulary.  Despite 11 years working in a fast paced exciting environment with Police Officers, I decided I needed a fresh career challenge.  

When I saw various jobs advertised at the NDA, I thought here was an opportunity to move into a new industry which has even more exciting and important challenges. As such I was lucky to take a new role as Risk Manager within our Finance team.  I also felt I would fit in well with the NDA values and behaviours.

Do you have a typical day?

No! One minute I am standing on the roof of one of the UK's most hazardous buildings assessing how well they are managing risks and the next minute I am sitting in a video conference room in our state-of-the-art headquarters discussing financial performance. I have a good, healthy balance between working in the office and being out and about, visiting nuclear plants like Sellafield.  So no two days are ever the same!

What does it feel like to work for NDA?

I do enjoy the variety in my work. In terms of risk management, I don't think there's a bigger and more important job in the profession. If risks are not managed well then the impacts can be devastating. Therefore, I spend a lot of time visiting nuclear sites from Dounreay in the North of Scotland to Winfrith on the South coast of England making sure that they are managing risks well. Most importantly, I work in a good team and work closely with people from a range of professions like engineers, chemists and accountants, which keeps work interesting.

What do you do?

I'm one of a team of four accountants responsible for all aspects of the NDA's management and statutory accounts. I look after the Head Office management accounts, treasury and cash flow, budgeting and the monthly financial reporting to the NDA Board and Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

How did you come to work for NDA?

I qualified as a Management Accountant with an engineering degree and have always been interested in understanding how things work and wanting to make them work better. Having worked for many years in private sector manufacturing and construction in the UK and Africa, I felt it was time to give back something back to society. The opportunity to play a part in helping to clear up the UK's historic nuclear liability was too good to miss.

Do you have a typical day?

My monthly routine involves daily cash management and the monitoring of the NDA's £3bn annual funding, as well the forecasting of expenditure and monitoring of Head Office budgets and financial reporting to the NDA executive and DECC for the whole NDA estate. On top of that there are many ad hoc activities, ranging from responding to requests for information from Government, to working on projects like the provision of skills and training for the nuclear industry or on the socio-economic aspects of the construction of new nuclear decommissioning facilities.

What does it feel like to work for NDA?

The NDA is made up of a diverse team of highly skilled people, but all focussed on delivering the decommissioning of our nuclear liability in a safe, cost-effective and timely fashion. There's a real sense of purpose in what we do and an acute awareness of the responsibility to perform that task and deliver value for money to the UK taxpayer.

I have an excellent work / life balance, working in an efficient, modern office on the edge of the Lake District National Park, giving great opportunities for outdoor activities and access to both the magnificent Lakeland scenery and the Cumbrian coast.