Department: Finance and Corporate Services

Contract type: Fixed-term contract for 1 or 2 years, depending on local regulations. Some countries may offer an indefinite contract, and fixed-term contracts will be extendable depending on local regulation Specific details will be discussed directly with candidates at a later stage.

Eligibility: This role is open for applications in GCC countries, as well as Jordan and Lebanon, as mentioned above. GCC countries operate under a sponsorship system when hiring foreign workers, while candidates in Jordan and Lebanon must have the right to work. Visa and sponsorship support will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on nationality, country-specific regulations, and local laws. This will be confirmed with candidates before interview stage.

The British Council supports flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and ensuring that service levels are maintained. While hybrid working may not be suitable for all roles, this can be discussed during the interview process.

Role purpose

This is a leadership role that oversees the financial accounting activities for a key area of the British Council and works closely with the Managed Service Provider (MSP) and FC COE to ensure the financial accounts are completed correctly and in a timely manner, and numbers are reported accurately, and risk/controls are managed.

The role will lead a specialist team of financial controllers who will be based in multiple locations providing retained in-country specific activities/processes, local, complex statutory/tax reporting, managing retained banking responsibilities, liaising with local authorities, supporting sanctioned countries and management of escalations raised by in-country teams and the MSP.

Role Context

The MENA region is rapidly evolving on regulatory requirements especially in the Gulf states with new and complex tax implementations e.g. VAT & Corporate Income Tax requiring proper and urgent response to ensure compliance. With support of Tax accountants, global tax team and Statutory & Tax COE, this role will be critical in ensuring proper and timely response to these changes and ensuring the region is tax compliant

Main accountabilities include but not limited to:

Leadership and Management

• Provide leadership and people management to the team, role model British Council values and EDI in day-to-day interactions with colleagues at all levels. Ensure high levels of professionalism are demonstrated by everyone and that client and customer needs are reflected in ways of working.
• Champion financial accounting, providing a good standard of financial insight and financial discipline.

Financial Management

• Lead the provision of retained in-country specific activities/processes, local, complex statutory/tax reporting, managing retained banking responsibilities, liaising with local authorities, supporting sanctioned countries and management of escalations raised by in-country teams and the MSP.
• Responsible for Treasury and Liquidity management of British Council operations and subsidiaries including review and approval of cashflow forecasts, management of trapped/restricted cash and forex risk within the region. Oversee implementation of currency re-denomination/changes and new payment solutions in countries.

Relationship and Stakeholder Management

• Lead stakeholder engagement and business partnering for retained financial processes, building strong working relationships with key stakeholders and the MSP to ensure that activities comply with professional accounting standards, technical accounting issues and other external reporting requirements in British Council.

Sector/subject expertise.

• Provide guidance and advice on professional accounting standards, local accounting and reporting requirements, technical accounting issues and other external reporting requirements in British Council. Liaise with other specialist finance functions such as Tax, Treasury, Finance Policy, and Global Process Owners as needed. Pro-actively identify unusual or complex transactions and recommend appropriate professional accounting treatments. Produce periodic reports relating to financial accounting.

Service Improvement

• Develop, manage, and execute plans for implementation of new or updated accounting and reporting requirements in line with professional accounting standards; communicate change effectively with internal stakeholders, ensure appropriate training.

Role specific skills

• Strong communication and influencing skills, able to relay complex financial information in an easy-to-understand way.
• Well-developed analytical skills.
• Highly organised and deadline oriented.
• Building relationships at all levels of the organisation.
• Flexibility, independence, and initiative to perform successfully in a rapidly changing environment.

Role specific knowledge and experience

Minimum/essential

• A significant number of active years of financial controllership and related experience. Experience of leading a geographically dispersed and culturally diverse team.
• Experience of leading a finance team supporting multiple business models with varying funding streams on a large scale.
• Experience of working in a matrix management structure.
• Knowledge of Professional Accounting Standards
• SAP/ERP experience.

Desirable

• Shared Services Operations.
• Leadership of change projects/initiatives.

Education/Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with considerable experience post-qualification.

Language Requirements

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required

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