James Samuel, Finance Office for PACCo, DEFRA

I’m an ACCA qualified accountant and have worked on various EU funding streams for many years. As an accountant, I love a good spreadsheet but also can advise on the interpretation of the Interreg rules and how they apply in practice.

I started working for the Environment Agency in 2009 but became a DEFRA employee in 2017 as part of the transfer of corporate services to the Core department.

My role on PACCo is to ensure that the project reports its finances correctly to Interreg, that claims are on time and free from error and advising on the application of Interreg FCE rules to our programme.

I’ve lived in Devon most of my life and am excited to see what difference PACCo will make to an area of the county I know well and love.

Project Location: Lower Otter Restoration Project, England