Finance Manager
Role Information
Role Type / Pay Band / Location / Duration / Reports to:
Fixed term Programme role / F/7 / Flexible / 3 years / Finance Business Consultant (MENA)
Role purpose
The Finance Manager will lead the development and implementation of the financial strategy of our programme delivery work, ensuring high standards of financial management across all programme areas.
Reporting to the Finance Business Consultant (MENA) based in the UK, the post holder will lead, manage and co-ordinate all aspects of programme finance (total value of €11m implemented over three years 2017 - 2021), ensuring control and compliance in line with client, corporate and programme quality standards as well as ensuring an audit trail is maintained. S/he will ensure that value for money is enshrined across the programme and with its partners, and above all will promote transparency and integrity in dealings with stakeholders, modelling and advocating best practice at all times.
About us
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.
We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.
The programme you will be working on is funded by the EU and delivered by the British Council with UK and French government partners. It builds on the first phase of activity which brought together experienced government and civil society organisations in Tunisia, Morocco and Lebanon to workaround issues of relevance to young people to strengthen their ability to “survive and thrive” whatever pressures and hazards they confront. The second phase willbe implemented in five countries in the Middle East and North Africa extendingthe programme activity to Jordan and Algeria.
This regional role is critical in providing the necessary operational support required for the programme in Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan and Algeria to achieve its objectives.
Geopolitical/SBU/Function overview:
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is facing a time of unprecedented challenge. Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen are in civil war, causing untold damage to human lives and physical infrastructure. 15 million people have fled their homes, many to fragile or economically challenged countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia, giving rise to the biggest refugee crisis since World War II. 4.8 million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are linked to conflict in the region. Countries undergoing political transition such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan, are being forced to address security concerns as well as growth-promoting policies. Gulf economies are developing ambitious plans for economic growth and diversification, as well as the development of their national human resources. However, these ambitions are currently restricted by falling oil prices and an uncertain economic outlook.
On a positive note, the political consensus around the constitution in Tunisia, and legislation in Morocco and Jordan that gives greater rights to women and protects freedom of expression and information, indicate that citizens are increasingly engaging in policymaking. (World Bank March 2016)
As the landscape of the region has been changing, the British Council has been responding by developing a range of responses through our cultural relations work that meets young people’s concerns about making their voices heard in an inclusive and equitable society whilst improving their prospects for a better life. We have developed an ambitious strategy of growing our impact through focusing and prioritising our work in partnership with governments, NGOs, international donors and agencies.
Main opportunities/challenges for this role:
- Consistent and effective management of all aspects of project finances, ensuring rigorous financial control.
- Complete, accurate and accessible information in compliance with clear financial, administrative and audit procedures.
- Timely delivery of programme results to the satisfactionof the client (EU), British Council and associated delivery partners, and the ProgrammeLead.
- Efficient use of resources, good financial results against plans and forecasts and good audit reports.
- Effective communications across stakeholders and key relationships.
Main Accountabilities:
The post holder will be accountable for the effective management and reporting of all the programme finances in line with international best practices, and corporate, client and programme quality standards and for delivering on value for money. This includes among others: financial control and management, financial planning and delivery, budgeting and forecasting ensuring programme expenditure and income projections are realised, audit management, tax liaison, client invoicing in accordance with both EU requirements and British Council corporate standards.
Financial systems and controls
▪Maintains an effective and efficient system of internal controls which comply with British Council’s corporate standards.
▪Financial systems and processes effectively aid operational programme delivery and are compliant with client Head Contract requirements and corporate British Council standards.
▪Financial policies and guidelines are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to support operational requirements and meet both external and internal standards.
▪Ensures that all financial records and accounts are compiled timely, accurately and in line with international accounting standards and donor regulations.
▪Undertakes approval of expenditure and procurement in line with the Head Contract and British Council policies.
Financial planning & Reporting
▪Detailed annual and quarterly programme budgets are prepared in line with Head Contract requirements; multi-annual planning budgets are revised to accommodate contractual changes.
▪Annual financial targets for operational expenditure, management income, management expenses and staff costs are met; consolidation and review of budgets undertaken periodically; consolidation of cash flow forecasting for the programme undertaken appropriately.
▪Preparation of yearly financial reports; client reporting formats and conditions complied with and internal corporate financial processes are undertaken on time and to standards specified
▪Ensures internal audit receives a ‘satisfactory’ rating at minimum; facilitates and leads the programme team preparation for external audits; leads the programme management response to audit recommendations.
▪Audited accounts summary prepared in sufficient time for presentation in Annual Report and for presentation to Programme Governance bodies.
▪Ad-hoc periodic reports for budget holders, senior management and donors prepared to standards required.
▪Value for money analysis is undertaken regularly and reported on to SMT, the British Council and to the client.
Risk Management
▪Ensures corporate Financial Control and Compliance Framework (FCCF) and Enterprise and Risk Management Framework (ERMF) are followed and meetings are held in line with the corporate standard and schedule.
▪Process owners understand the framework requirements and report risk adequately and effectively; undertakes supervision, coaching and mentoring of process owners and ensures that appropriate trainings are held at the right time.
Key Relationships:
Internal
- Programme Lead and SRO
- Country teams
- Finance managers in the programme countries,
- Regional business support services teams
- UK / global Finance Support team
- Vendors (airlines, travel agencies, car rental, hotels, stationary suppliers, interpreters, and translation services)
- Client (EC and beneficiaries)
- Programme partners/sub-contractors (UK, regional and country)
- relevant government partners,
- Civil Society Organisations
- National / international short and long term consultants
Role Requirements:
Threshold requirements: / Assessment stage
Passport requirements/ Right to work in country / Ability to work in Tunisia, Morocco or Lebanon / Shortlisting
Direct contact or managing staff working with children? / No
IF YES. Appropriate police check / N/a
Notes
Person Specification: / Assessment stage
Language requirements
Minimum / essential / Desirable / Assessment Stage
- Fluent Arabic and English
Qualifications
Minimum / essential / Desirable / Assessment Stage
- Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or any other similar qualification with at least 3 years of experience
Role Specific Knowledge & Experience
Minimum / essential / Desirable / Assessment Stage
- A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a comparable role(s)
- Track record of key finance function in international / multinational organisation in similar context
- Experience in procurement of services and goods and contracts
- Familiarity with EU policies and procedures
- Knowledge about grants, CSO financing, foreign donations rules and regulations
- Technical knowledge and/or experience of SAP
Role Specific Skills (if any) / Assessment Stage
- 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.
- Ability to consistently apply best contracting and due diligence practice in a variety of situations and under time pressure.
- Ability to cope with ambiguity and changing circumstances - identifying opportunities and potential problems and formulating solutions and strategies to mitigate and manage risk.
British Council Core Skills / Assessment Stage
Analysing data and problems (level 4): Solves complex problems
Able to apply or devise specialised concepts and methods of analysis – or commission them from others. Understands the output and uses the results to make clear and / or solve complex business, market or policy problems.
Communicating and influencing (level 4): Uses influencing techniques
Uses formal and informal negotiating and motivation techniques to influence others’ behavior and persuade them to think and act differently, while respecting difference of view and culture.
Managing finance and resources (level 3): Supports budget management
Monitors and controls an agreed budget within a defined area, producing reports and analyses and contributing to planning.
Planning and organising (level 3): Develops annual plans
Develops and reviews the implementation of annual plans for a work group or function, taking account of business and customer requirements and reconciling competing demands.
Managing risk (level 3): Develops the culture
Has track record of analysing potential risks, promoting risk awareness, and holding others to account for their practices.
Using Technology (level 2): Operates as an advanced user
Works as an advanced practitioner in the use of office software and/or British Council standard and social media platforms and trains or coaches others in their use. / Shortlisting AND Interview
British Council Behaviours / Assessment Stage
Making it happen (most demanding):
Achieving stretching results when faced by change, uncertainty or major obstacles.
Working together (most demanding):
Creating the environment in which others who have very different aims can work together
Shaping the Future (more demanding):
Exploring ways in which we can add more value
Being Accountable (more demanding):
Putting the needs of the team or British Council ahead of my own / Interview
Prepared by: / Date:
Jamie Newhall / 07/03/2018
1 / [Insert job title] | [Insert date prepared] | The British Council