Head of Finance & Grants – SSU – British Council

Job Description

Company:	British Council
Date:	09-Feb-2023
Closing Date:	22 February 2023 (23:59 South Africa Time)
Location:	Khartoum, Sub Saharan Africa, SD

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. We work in two ways – directly with individuals to transform their lives, and with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term, creating benefit for millions of people all over the world. We help young people to gain the skills, confidence and connections they are looking for to realise their potential and to participate in strong and inclusive communities. We support them to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications. Our work in arts and culture stimulates creative expression and exchange and nurtures creative enterprise. We connect the best of the UK with the world and the best of the world with the UK. These connections lead to an understanding of each other’s strengths and of the challenges and values that we share. This builds trust between people in the UK and other nations which endures even when official relations may be strained. We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications.

Head of Finance and Grants – SSU Programme, Sudan

Role Purpose

The Head of Finance and Grants will lead all financial and business processes of the Strategic Support Unit (SSU), ensuring high standards of delivery and accountability, and to agreed FCDO and British Council contractual and corporate standards.The post holder will lead on the development, delivery and oversight of systems and processes that are responsive to evolving programme requirements including financial and budget management and reporting, procurement, and other business processes. The post holder will make a key contribution to the development of appropriate systems for the management of fiduciary and delivery risks. Whilst reporting to the Regional Commercial Finance Manager, the post holder will work closely with the SSU Team Leader and will line manage the Grants and Finance Manager.

Role-specific knowledge and experience:

The main essential knowledge and experience points that we are looking for you to evidence are:

• Undergraduate degree in Finance, Accounting, or similar discipline
• Qualified chartered accountant (ACCA/CPA/CIMA or equivalent)
• A minimum of five years’ experience in comparable roles
• Track record of key finance function in international / multinational organisation in similar context
• Experience of operating successfully in a complex, multi-cultural context
• A good understanding of financial control processes applicable to client funded programmes
• Demonstrable track record of planning and tracking performance and business modelling through the analysis and reporting of complex financial data
• Experience of designing and managing financial management information and reporting systems
• Ability to facilitate the preparation and consolidation of complex budgets and forecasts
• Ability to interpret financial data and support non-financial managers to deliver against financial performance indicators
• Experience in procurement of services and goods and contracts
• Ability to consistently apply best contracting and due diligence practice in a variety of situations and under time pressure
• Proven ability to work effectively with a diverse range of demanding stakeholders and of delivering results through third party partner organisations
• Ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally to a diverse group of people in English and Arabic

Desirable Criteria:

• A Post graduate degree in Finance, Accounting, or similar discipline
• Experience of working on an adaptive donor funded programme/FCDO funded programme
• Direct experience of applying financial controls and procedures within complex and high-risk operating environments to meet challenging contractual standards
• SAP technical knowledge
• Awareness of tax and treasury implications of contract/partnership work in an international context

Role-Specific Skills:

• Ability to explain and support the implementation of stringent financial requirements to multi-disciplinary internal staff and external partners
• Ability to cope with ambiguity and changing circumstances – identifying opportunities and potential problems and formulating solutions and strategies to mitigate and manage risk
• Ability to think and work creatively and flexibly
• Extensive SAP or other ERP system skills
   

Further Information

Pay Band – 8

Contract Duration – fixed term contract ending September 2024

Contract Type – Locally Engaged

Location – Khartoum, Sudan

Requirements – All applicants should have a pre-existing legal status to live and work in country of application.  The British Council will not facilitate/sponsor visa applications and work permits.

Closing Date – 22 February 2023 (23:59 South Africa Time)

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 [email protected]

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.