Overview

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.Role

Finance OfficerPay Band: 7Salary: £33,995 (+ £3,300 market allowance if based in London)Contract Type: Fixed term contract until 31 August 2025Role Type: Business DeliveryLocation: UK; London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, BelfastBenefits include, but are not limited to: 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays; 3 days volunteering leave; career average defined benefit pension schemeRequirements

Candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) right to work in location. Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.Closing date

Monday 5th August, 11:59pm UK timeRole Purpose

The Finance Officer is central to delivery of the Chevening and Marshall programme, ensuring all scholars are paid their monthly stipends, host universities receive their tuition and housing fees, and that monthly internal and external reporting is accurate and timely. The Finance Officer works alongside the Finance Manager on all aspects of delivery and requires excellent financial literacy and organisational skills, with the ability to develop a positive rapport with individuals and strong relationships across teams. The role will also help the programmes teams to plan their quarterly and annual budgets, providing ad hoc support, when needed.Context

The British Council performs the role of Secretariat for the prestigious Chevening and Marshall Scholarship programmes funded by the government via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Together through these programmes, around 1,500 scholars are selected to study at post-graduate level in the UK from over 100 countries and territories worldwide. The Secretariat is responsible for the majority of the administrative services to deliver a successful scholarship programme. This includes promotion of the programme, the scholar selection process, supporting scholars with placement and then supporting them while studying in the UK, as well as delivering alumni engagement programmes. Both Chevening and Marshall scholarships are prestigious and highly sought-after post-graduate programmes selecting scholars of the high academic ability and with the potential to become future leaders and influential figures in their home countries. The role of the finance team is crucial in ensuring Chevening and Marshall scholars are paid their monthly stipends on time and that host universities receive their tuition and housing fees. The finance function plays a critical and active role in ensuring the SBU remains financially sustainable, through more efficient operations and greater commercial focus. It provides commercial advice to support good decision-making and high-quality management information and analysis. The function also has a global remit to support regional finance and delivery teams ensuring a consistent approach to financial planning, reporting and business support.Main accountabilities

Working alongside the named, single point of contact for finance on the Chevening and Marshall Scholarship Programmes, liaising with other finance teams as and when necessary.Providing support for the annual and quarterly business planning cycle for the Chevening and Marshall Scholarship Programmes.Working with FPandA to ensure compliance with the planning process, helping develop standard reports that meet KPI reporting requirements and ensuring the quality and validity of KPI reporting.Working with FPandA to ensure agreed projections are correctly reflected in SAP planning.Providing support for financial month-end reporting and reviewing monthly and annual business performance, including accounting transactions and adjustments, ensuring compliance with accounting rules.Preparing cash-based management reports and variance analyses, highlighting areas for improvement to maximise ROI and value for money, as well as financial compliance and operational efficiency.Working with delivery teams to ensure reports are provided on a “self-service” basis with support if required.Providing support for contract reporting to FCDO, MACC and IATI, including ad hoc report production.Providing financial advice to Project Delivery teams with timely, accurate financial information and interpretation to support decision-making.Working with delivery team leads to manage financial viability of contracts and identify risks/opportunities; ensuring budgets are managed and income/ expenditure, debtors/creditors, activity risk and year-end processes are delivered effectively.Developing and embedding effective finance processes, standards, templates, tools and systems to provide financial business partner support to the Chevening and Marshall programmes.Supporting the development and maintenance of guidance notes and liaising with the policies team to ensure consistency; monitoring compliance with policies where appropriate.Providing financial input for Monthly Control Check (MCC) for the programmes to identify potential financial risks and ensure appropriate communication.Identifying and resolving issues with financial control and financial accounting.Supporting requests for set-up of client reporting and Master Data Items for the programmes.Manage system for payment of stipends to new scholars with no UK bank account (currently managed via cashcards).Review regular scholar stipend payments (cashcards and bank transfers) and all other payments to scholars.Review “non award” expenditure to ensure it is accurate and within budget. Ensure invoices are issued to the FCDO.Assist with monthly bank reconciliations for all Chevening, Marshall and MACC bank accounts.Manage the aged debt internal control process and guide operations in aged debt recovery in line with policy.Provide guidance to the Marshall Scholarships team in recording and reporting partnership and other income (Income in kind).Record management to ensure financial and contractual documentation is maintained to British Council standards.Manage the financial year-end process in compliance with corporate and regional control procedures and deadlines; prepare year end balance sheet reconciliations for MACC.Support MACC audit and respond to NAO requests for information and queries.Role-specific skills

Support budget management. Monitor and control an agreed budget within a defined area, producing reports and analyses and contributing to planning.Role-specific knowledge and experience

Minimum/essential

Experience of working in a busy team with the ability to work flexibly in response to changing priorities and deadlines. Commercial finance experience gained in an organisation undergoing change and driving for growth. Minimum of 3 years of qualified experience in a relevant managerial post.Desirable

A knowledge of scholarship programmes and/or international mobility within the UK higher education sector.Education / Professional Qualifications / Certifications

Finance degree level education or equivalent experience. CCAB qualified or part qualified accountant or other finance degree with proven experience of successfully managing and delivering similar roles.Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

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