The British Council a leading cultural relations organization and creates opportunities for people in the UK and worldwide to understand each other, to work together and learn from one another.
POSITION : Financial Controller - West Africa
DESCRIPTION
Supports the Regional Financial Controller with the end to end accounting process across the operation; including month and year end close, and ensures consistent, accurate and robust financial accounting processes in line with accounting practices and corporate policies. This is a key role in the new organisational structure emerging from the Financial Transparency recommendations.
Manage a team (size will vary by region) of accountants which may be based in multiple locations.
The post-holder will:
- Monitor the cost allocation ratios for the cluster operations to ensure that they are based in accurate accounting rationale
- Ensure that the cluster operation fully complies with Travel & Expenses policy and that claims are submitted promptly and accurately with relevant documentation
- Manage the creation of billing documents once the process has been initiated by the cluster operation and monitors debt levels
- Manage the process of Income in kind submissions
- Manage with Regional Financial Controller the service level agreement(s) with SSC
- Co-ordinate at cluster level provision of information to internal / external auditors
- Implement audit recommendations at cluster level
- Supporting cluster country going through a Tax and Status change project
- Supporting subsidiaries in cluster on post-stabilisation phase
- Manage the financial month end process, being accountable to the Regional Financial Controller for the pre-closing and month end closing steps, including maintenance of accounting records.
- As part of this the role will also be responsible for review and monitoring all accounting transactions and adjustments (accruals, deferrals and provisions), including Inter-company accounting, ensuring appropriate use of these in line with accounting rules
- Review all manual journals and off-system payments to ensure accuracy and compliance with relevant policies
- Perform reconciliation of all relevant accounts and ensure that this is completed to corporate standards
- Ensure that local external accounting requirements are adhered to. This may include managing local providers such as tax accountants or auditors
- Submission of local Tax and other statutory returns to Regional Financial Controller for approval
- Provide an advisory function to cluster operations on technical accounting issues, and liaise with other specialist finance functions such as Tax and Treasury as needed
- Identify issues and resolution in relation to financial accounting matters
- Ensure that requests for new Master Data items (Profit Centre, Cost Centre, WBS, etc.) are compliant and that the integrity of finances is maintained
- Produce periodic reports relating to financial accounting for cluster as requested by Regional Financial Controller
- Responsible for cluster management of:
- Banking relationship
- Capital assets additions, disposals and depreciation
- Compliance with treasury policy
- Capital markets and funding o Financial risk management/FX management
Team Leadership and Management:
- Ensure financial training for members of the team
- Ensure Performance Management process in undertaken to meet corporate requirements
- Actively support equality and diversity and work to the British Council’s EDI policy at all times.
- Demonstrate effective leadership of the cluster Financial Controlling and Accounting team and ensure that line management of staff is to British Council standards
- Coach and support individuals and teams
- Ensure that capability and capacity in the Financial Controlling and Accounting team is fit-for purpose and able to respond flexibly to changes in the portfolio and operating context
Key Relationships:
Internal
- Risk and Compliance Lead
- Shared Services Centre
- Corporate Finance External
- Bank relationship manager
- Country Directors & Cluster Leads
- Regional Finance Director
- FP&A Leads
Qualification:
- Qualified Accountant - ACCA or CFA - with at least 3 years of experience post-qualification.
Knowledge & Experience:
- 3 years of qualified experience in a relevant managerial post.
- Experience of managing a diverse team or group of stakeholders in multiple locations.
- Experience of an ERP system.
- Excellent leadership and communication skills
- Able to relay complex financial information in an easy-to-understand way
- Highly organised and deadline oriented.
Language Requirement:
- Fluency in written and spoken English:
- 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.
Sorry the application deadline for this job has elapsed
