Description

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.
About the role
This is a new senior role who will oversee the global finance processes that will be delivered by the new Managed Service Provider (MSP), challenging performance, ensuring compliance and value for money, whilst driving efficiency and standardisation through transfer of global transactional finance activities to the external partner. They will have a leading role in the successful transformation, transition, establishment, and ongoing management of the commercial contract established with the MSP. The scope of accountability will be for Finance only, in line with the terms of the contract agreed between the British Council and the MSP.
In addition, they lead the internal client team comprising the Global Process Owners, the Master Data team and the Change Governance Manager who are accountable for finance operations processes and master data for British Council. They will ensure that there are efficient and fit-for purpose processes in place to collect, process and present accurate financial data, which supports informed decision making and compliance with external regulatory and reporting requirements.
They will ensure that the global finance processes are consistent with the British Council’s Strategy, objectives, and operating environment. They will drive continuous improvement and leverage technology to achieve best practice in global finance processes and support business growth.
The post holder will be a forward looking and strategic thinking finance professional, who will make an important contribution to implementing significant organisational and finance process change across British Council.
Driving efficiency and transparency through changes and standardisation of finance processes, systems and people capabilities are key to delivery of the Corporate Plan. A finance transformation programme is underway with the aim of significantly improving our business processes and provide the accounting and reporting capabilities needed to meet the British Council’s ambitions.
The transformation is high profile and will be critical to the future delivery of the British Council Corporate Plan. This work involves outsourcing transactional financial activity and the development of the core operational processes, systems, and reporting across Finance while at the same time delivering efficiencies and cost savings. It will impact on every country operation.
This is a key leadership role that will champion financial competence and ensure the financial accounting, policies, processes, and systems are in place to support financially sustainable growth.
Successful candidate will need to be comfortable with a highly visible senior role, during a period of significant organisational change, including within Finance. He/she will have a broad base of finance experience and have previously led multi-location finance teams in an international setting. The post holder must also display an understanding of the organisations aims and the ability to connect with operational colleagues.
A pro-active, forward looking, and strategic thinking finance professional with strong relationship building skills and a strong grasp of commercial finance.
Key relationships include:
Global Finance Leadership Team (and their teams).
Professional Services Transformation team
Finance Transformation team
Global Process Owners and Master Data team
Directors and Senior Managers in SBUs, Regional and UK teams.
Managed Service Provider
Internal and External Auditors, Risk Leads.
What we require of the successful candidate
Please see below a summary of the knowledge and skills required for this role however for the detailed role profile, providing a more in depth understanding of all the role entails, please send an email to vanessa.reynolds@britishcouncil.org
Language Requirements
The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.
Education and Qualifications
Higher Education
CCAB qualified accountant with proven experience of successfully managing and delivering similar roles.
Role specific knowledge and experience
Leadership role in an international and multi-cultural organisation.
Strong financial leadership experience gained in an organisation undergoing change and driving for growth.
Leadership of change projects/initiatives.
Leading and developing teams.
Financial process change experience (Desirable)
Shared Services Operations (Desirable)
Development and optimisation of SAP accounting and planning applications (Desirable)
Role Specific Skills
Building relationships at all levels of the organisation.
Change Management skills
Excellent analytical skills along with strong planning and organisational skills are required.
Flexibility, independence, and initiative to perform successfully in a rapidly changing environment.
Ability to operate effectively and prioritise in a busy global facing role.
Further Information
Pay Band – 10
Contract Type – Indefinite
Location –  United Kingdom, Any (This role offers the option of hybrid working from home and office-based. The successful candidate would join one of our five main UK offices as their base office (either London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, or Belfast)
In addition to a competitive salary and excellent pension contributions, the British Council offers:
32 days annual leave and an additional half day on Christmas Eve
Employee Assistance Programme
Requirements
Candidates are expected to have researched whether they have the right to live and work in the specified countries in which the role is based.
Some travel and out of hours work may be required
Travel globally as required (Essential)
Closing Date – 25th April 2024
Interviews: TBC
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.
Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement
The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.
We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.
Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org
Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.