Head of Finance at British Council

Contract Type: Locally Engaged
Pay Band: SMP
Duration: Indefinite
Department: Finance

Role Purpose

• The Head of Finance will have responsibility for all aspects of strategic and operational Finance in Nigeria, acting as the finance partner to the Country Director and Nigeria Executive Team.
• If successful in securing this opportunity, you will be responsible for ensuring the finance strategy delivers growth through new business operating models which conform to the British Council’s financial control standards and the broader corporate and regional objectives, whilst ensuring compliance with local tax and regulatory requirements.
• You will be a key member of the Nigeria Executive Team, working collaboratively with the Regional Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) Finance Team, and will actively contribute in the design and implementation of regional financial strategy in the country.
• You will play a critical role in bringing about change and transformation in the areas of tax compliance and reporting, external International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and introducing a commercial orientation in the way finance is handled going forward. 
• Your leadership, experience in managing change, ability to coach, mentor and transform the team will be essential criteria for success in the role.

Challenges / Accountabilities:

• This role presents an excellent opportunity to contribute to the ongoing transformation while leading a team of professionals to deliver results. As a member of the Country Management Team (CMT), you will participate actively in country-level strategy, leadership, change management, policy and decision making.  
• You will manage a spatially dispersed team while delivering services across various functions in a terrain which can be challenging. Effective service delivery and successful management of unique requirements posed by the commercial and non-profit entities are key deliverables.
• You will be expected to travel within Nigeria, regionally and more widely. As with any business that experiences peaks and troughs of activity, there is likely to be a need to work outside office hours from time to time.

Requirements
Essential:

• Qualified accountant or equivalent with proven experience of successfully managing and delivering in similar senior management roles
• 5 years of relevant experience in commercial and/or ‘not-for-profit‘ organization
• Commercial experience, including analysis of business operations, financial modelling, investment appraisal feasibility analysis
• Demonstrable experience of leading a high-performing team of professionals and working across functions/locations
• Experience of leading on change/ transformation projects
• Strong knowledge of Nigerian Tax and reporting regulatory requirements

Desirable:

• Qualified accountant or equivalent with audit experience at Audit Senior or Audit Manager level in reputable audit firm (experience auditing commercial organisations will be considered)
• Evidence of being a key decision-maker i.e. a member of board or senior management team
• Experience of managing government-funded projects
• Extensive project management with regards to change with evidence of leading and delivering results
• Experience of operating in international and multi-cultural organisations

Benefits

• We offer a competitive remuneration package, medical aid and pension included