Financial Controller - West Africa at British Council

Pay Band: PB7 - F
Reports to: Regional Financial Controller
Duration of Job: Indefinite

Role Purpose

• This role supports the Regional Financial Controller with the end to end accounting process across the operation; including month and year end close, and ensures consistent, accurate and robust financial accounting processes in line with accounting practices and corporate policies. This is a key role in the new organisational structure emerging from the Financial Transparency recommendations. 
• The role will manage a team (size will vary by region) of accountants which may be based in multiple locations.

Main Accountabilities
The post-holder will:

• Manage the financial month end process, being accountable to the Regional Financial Controller for the pre-closing and month end closing steps, including maintenance of accounting records.
• As part of this the role will also be responsible for review and monitoring all accounting transactions and adjustments (accruals, deferrals and provisions), including Inter-company accounting, ensuring appropriate use of these in line with accounting rules
• Review all manual journals and off-system payments to ensure accuracy and compliance with relevant policies
• Perform reconciliation of all relevant accounts and ensure that this is completed to corporate standards
• Ensure that local external accounting requirements are adhered to. This may include managing local providers such as tax accountants or auditors
• Submission of local Tax and other statutory returns to Regional Financial Controller for approval
• Provide an advisory function to cluster operations on technical accounting issues, and liaise with other specialist finance functions such as Tax and Treasury as needed
• Identify issues and resolution in relation to financial accounting matters
• Ensure that requests for new Master Data items (Profit Centre, Cost Centre, WBS, etc.) are compliant and that the integrity of finances is maintained
• Produce periodic reports relating to financial accounting for cluster as requested by Regional Financial Controller
• Monitor the cost allocation ratios for the cluster operations to ensure that they are based in accurate accounting rationale 
• Ensure that the cluster operation fully complies with Travel & Expenses policy and that claims are submitted promptly and accurately with relevant documentation
• Manage the creation of billing documents once the process has been initiated by the cluster operation and monitors debt levels
• Manage the process of Income in kind submissions
• Manage with Regional Financial Controller the service level agreement(s) with SSC
• Co-ordinate at cluster level provision of information to internal / external auditors
• Implement audit recommendations at cluster level
• Supporting cluster country going through a Tax and Status change project
• Supporting subsidiaries in cluster on post-stabilisation phase
• Responsible for cluster management of:
  • Banking relationship
  • Capital assets additions, disposals and depreciation
  • Compliance with treasury policy
  • Capital markets and funding o Financial risk management/FX management 

Team Leadership and Management:

• Demonstrate effective leadership of the cluster Financial Controlling and Accounting team and ensure that line management of staff is to British Council standards
• Coach and support individuals and teams
• Ensure that capability and capacity in the Financial Controlling and Accounting team is fit-for purpose and able to respond flexibly to changes in the portfolio and operating context
• Ensure financial training for members of the team
• Ensure Performance Management process in undertaken to meet corporate requirements
• Actively support equality and diversity and work to the British Council’s EDI policy at all times.

Key Relationships:
Internal

• Country Directors & Cluster Leads
• Regional Finance Director
• FP&A Leads
• Risk and Compliance Lead
• Shared Services Centre
• Corporate Finance External
• Bank relationship manager

Person Specification
Qualification:

• Qualified Accountant - ACCA or CFA - with at least 3 years of experience post-qualification.

Role Specific Knowledge & Experience:

• Excellent leadership and communication skills 
• Able to relay complex financial information in an easy-to-understand way 
• Highly organised and deadline oriented. 
• Minimum of 3 years of qualified experience in a relevant managerial post.
• Experience of managing a diverse team or group of stakeholders in multiple locations.         
• Experience of an ERP system.

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in written and spoken English:
  • Shortlisted candidates will either demonstrate they have met the required standard through presentation of an agreed English language certificate, or will be required to take the APTIS test and demonstrate a B2 level of English proficiency.