Accounts Payable (AP) Accountant at British Council

Pay band: 4

Remuneration: N 6,154,368 per annum 

Post Location: Lagos

Department: Finance

Contract type: Locally Engaged   

Duration: Indefinite  

Role Purpose:

At an unprecedented time of change globally, the British Council seeks an enthusiastic and professional Accountant to manage its accounts payable processes across operations in Nigeria.

The role is accountable for the operational management of British Council Nigeria’s Accounts Payable activities. Focusing on timely, accurate, complete payables management in line with internal organisational requirements and external regulatory standards, while acting as a trusted partner to the business delivery, operations, and support teams.

This role supports the Senior Financial Accountant with the end-to-end payables management process across the operation, including Management of vendor balances and vendor accounts, support financial services delivery in Abuja and Kano offices, management of all Accounts Payables controls in line with Period End closure (PEC), Financial Control and Compliance Framework (FCCF), and Year End closing process, etc.

Main opportunities/challenges for this role:

The role presents great opportunity for building a strong, efficient, effective, innovative and value driven purchases and payables management services for the British Council.

The role holder will:

• Manage end to end Accounts Payables activities and processes in Nigeria while ensuring accuracy and completeness of vendor accounts and balances.
• Act as one of the key finance business partners across operations in Nigeria.
• Ensure compliance with key Accounts Payable controls in line with internal Period End Closure checklists, Quarterly Financial Control and Compliance Framework (FCCF) report, etc.
• Management of payroll payment and related processes.
• Management of fixed assets and inventory records.
• Close engagement with procurement and other Business support function to drive innovation and improvement in the P2P processes and systems.
• The finance function has gone through several change programmes, and the post holder will play a key role in sustainability and achieving desired results of the changes and improvement projects, especially those that are Accounts Payable related.
• The organisation requires the financial function to have a level of commercial finance acumen as we expand our income generating activities, streamline our portfolio and target more partnership income. As a result, the role holder will also contribute in driving income target/performance.
• The organisation requires the financial function to have a level of commercial finance acumen as we expand our income generating activities, streamline our portfolio and target more partnership income. As a result, the role holder will also contribute in driving income target/performance.

Requirements

Essential:

• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Qualified accountant – ACA and ACCA – with a minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience in accounting and finance and similar role
• Bachelor’s degree in any field
• Good knowledge and understanding of transaction taxes – e.g. VAT and WHT
• Good and demonstrable knowledge of P2P and AP
• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Demonstrates high level of understanding in all areas of the finance and accounting function.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong analytical and time management skills.
• Attention to detail and data entry skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Experience of an ERP system

Desirable:

• Experience working with the Big 4 audit firms
• Master’s degree
• CGMA, CIMA, CITN, etc.
• Practical exposure to SAP

Additional Information: All applicants should have a pre-existing legal status to live and work in Nigeria.