Financial Planning & Analysis Lead, West Africa Cluster at British Council

Department: Finance
Pay Band: Pay Band 7
Duration: Indefinite
Reports to: Regional Head of Financial Planning and Analysis

Role Purpose

• To support the Regional Head Financial Planning and Analysis in providing professional guidance in Financial Planning and Analysis, supporting regional Business Development Managers and providing assurance on the underlying business financial performance.
• The post holder will be in charge of analysing and interpreting long - and short - term financial and operational plans through management reporting, analysis and interpretation of financial trends, impact assessment in conjunction with the Regional Head in order to enable informed decisions.
• This post will be part of the SSA regional FP&A team that is dispersed across the region.
• The role will support all countries and SBUs within the cluster.

Geopolitical/SBU/Function Overview

• The SSA Business Plan sets out ambitious growth targets for both the number of people we will work with and the income that we will generate. Turnover by 2020 is expected to be over to £90 million in SSA, driven predominately by growth in Contract income as well as Exams and Teaching centres, despite a declining grant funding from centre.
• We also expect to be more profitable, reinforcing financial sustainability. At the same time we aim to achieve a step-change in the quality and performance of the British Council’s Finance function by April 2018.
• This will be achieved through more consistent standard of financial reporting enabling more informed decision making and satisfy the standards demanded by external stakeholders.
• The organisation will achieve this by becoming increasingly efficient and commercial in its approach whilst maintaining its public service ethos and charitable purpose.
• This will be done through the implementation of a number of change programmes, which will result in more efficient and simpler processes.
• The post holder will play a key leadership role in supporting the delivery of the business plan through accurate annual planning, monitoring, analysis and management reporting to the Regional Head of Financial Planning and Analysis.

Main Opportunities/Challenges for this Role

• The Finance function is structured along functional lines with the aim of embedding the ‘three lines of defense’ model at its heart, clearly separating the financial control (first line) and risk and assurance (second line) functions, ensuring the integrity of our results and the strength of our controls.
• This will allow the organization to focus more easily on business decision making, strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting on the basis of accurate monthly results.
• This is a critical advisory role where effectiveness is dependent on ability to influence.
• Personal confidence and credibility is required to ensure advice is seriously considered by senior members of the Regional team.

Main Accountabilities
Accountable for the analysis and interpretation of long-term financial and operational plans for Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Senegal, being countries within the West Africa cluster, including all SBUs through management reporting, analysis and interpretation of financial trends:

Planning, Forecasting and Budgeting:

• Lead the planning process for Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Senegal, being countries within the West Africa cluster, including all SBUs, challenging submissions and identifying synergies and ensuring delivery to deadlines.
• Provide clear summaries of Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Senegal, being countries within the West Africa cluster, including all SBUs planning / forecasting.
• Support planning and rolling re-forecasting processes as requested by Regional Head FP&A to ensure that information obtained from these processes is reliable.
• Support the Regional Head FP&A in developing reporting procedures and templates for regional and local use.
• Reconciliation and review of SAP plans before system closure.

Financial Analysis:

• Analyses growth trends, product trends and KPIs and support the Regional Head FP&A in making recommendations to maximise opportunities and manage risks to ensure targets are met.

Management Reporting:

• Manage Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Senegal, being countries within the West Africa cluster, including all SBUs management reporting for consolidation at Regional level for SBU leads and Executive Board.
• Liaise with business leads and Regional Head FP&A for any variances between business planning and operational planning figures and provide explanations / commentary.

Business Performance Management:

• Review financial performance with the business leads and make recommendations for action to address issues identified at Country or Regional levels.
• Monitor cost allocation accuracy.
• Deliver outputs within corporate and regional timelines as requested by Regional Head FP&A.
• Support the business in relation to Master Data set up (WBS, PC, CC).

Team Leadership:

• Coach and support individuals and teams within the cluster countries and SBUs.
• Actively support equality and diversity and work to the British Council’s EDI policy at all times.

Key Relationships:

• Internal & External
• Regional Director
• Country Directors
• Cluster Leads
• SBU Leads
• Regional Finance
• Corporate Planning Team
• Corporate Finance

Role Requirements
Threshold requirements:

• Passport requirements/ Right to work in country: Country appointed

Assessment stage:

• Shortlisting

Threshold requirements:

• Direct contact or managing staff working with children? : No IF YES. Appropriate police check
• Notes: Regular travel may be required based on business needs but should be no more than 25% within the region and occasionally overseas, especially to the UK.

Assessment stage:

• N/a
• Interview

Person Specification
Language requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English - Minimum / essential
• 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. - Desirable

Assessment Stage :

• Shortlisting

Qualifications

• Degree level education. - Minimum / essential
• Part qualified with a recognized accounting body. - Minimum / essential
• Fully qualified with a recognized accounting body ACCA, CPA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent professional accountancy qualification. - Desirable

Assessment Stage:

• Shortlisting

Role Specific Knowledge & Experience

• Minimum 2 years of experience in Operational financial management and or management accounting. - Minimum / essential
• Delivery of results within a complex international structure and reporting to tight deadlines. - Minimum / essential
• Working in virtual teams. - Minimum / essential
• Working in Sub-Saharan Africa. - Desirable
• Experience in finance planning and management reporting. - Desirable
• Experience working with SAP. - Desirable

Assessment Stage :

• Shortlisting

Role Specific Skills (if any) Assessment Stage

• Reporting, planning & forecasting within a complex multi-site environment.
• Ability to explain complex financial data to non-finance people, using non-technical language.
• Advanced excel skills including pivot tables.
• ERP systems experience (transaction level and reporting).

Assessment Stage :

• Shortlisting AND Interview

British Council Core Skills
Analysing Data and Problems

• Level 3: Analyses patterns - Seeks out and examines a range of information to identify patterns, trends and options, to solve multifaceted and complex problems.

Communicating and Influencing

• Level 3: Is creative and adaptable in communications - Able to use a range of non-standard and creative approaches to inform, and persuade others, extending beyond logical argument to influence decisions and actions in a way which is inclusive and engaging.

Managing risks

• Level 3: Develops the culture - Has track record of analysing potential risks, promoting risk awareness, and holding others to account for their practices.

Planning and Organising

• Level 3: Develops annual plans - Develops and reviews the implementation of annual plans for a work group or function, taking account of business and customer requirements and reconciling competing demands.

Business Performance Management (including investment appraisal)

• Level 2: Interpret management information and link to business unit strategy and operational performance. Participate in appraisals that effectively monitor and improve business performance.

Financial Analysis

• Level 2: Provide analysis to support decision-making, identifying key value drivers, benefits, sensitivities, and risks and implications for accounting.

Management Reporting

• Level 2: Interpret management information reports, identify key causes of variances and evaluate risks and opportunities.

Planning, Forecasting and Budgeting

• Level 2: Analyse consolidated plans to facilitate effective management reviews and decision making. Advice on master data attributes that deliver meaningful information.

Business Partnering

• Level 2: Partner with the business to provide sound advice based on transparent, meaningful and comprehensive management information to inform, influence and achieve positive business outcomes.

Assessment Stage:

• Shortlisting AND Interview

British Council Behaviours Assessment Stage

• Being Accountable (MORE DEMANDING): Putting the needs of the team or British Council ahead of my own.
• Making it Happen (MORE DEMANDING): Challenging myself and others to deliver and measure better results.
• Shaping The Future (MORE DEMANDING): Exploring ways in which we can add more value.
• Working Together (MORE DEMANDING): Ensuring that others benefit as well as me.
• Connecting with Others (MORE DEMANDING): Actively appreciating the needs and concerns of myself and other.
• Creating Shared Purpose (MORE): Creating energy and clarity so that people want to work purposefully together.

Assessment Stage:

• Interview
• Required for the role but not assessed during the application stage.

Starting Salary
NGN 9,178,045 gross

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Click here to download BC Behaviour (pdf)

Click here to download BC Core skills (MS Word)

Note: You should only fill out the application after thoroughly reading through the Role Profile & Guidance Notes. There’s some important information you don’t want to miss.