Head of Finance Business Partnering at British Council
Job Description
The Role
The Cultural Engagement (CE) Head of Business Partnering
acts as the deputy and strategic partner to the Director of FP&A – Cultural
Engagement, providing leadership across finance business partnering for the CE
sectors enabling functions and the Geographic Directorate. The role is
responsible for delivering high-quality Business Decision Support (BDS),
financial planning, forecasting, reporting and analysis to support effective
decision-making during a period of significant organisational change. It also oversees
financial support to the Grant-in-Aid Board, ensuring that grant funding is
allocated, monitored and utilised in line with British Council strategic
priorities and FCDO settlement requirements.
The postholder plays a key role in driving strategic
alignment and influencing decision-making across CE and improving financial
planning capability across the organisation. A major focus of the role is to
champion finance transformation initiatives, including adoption of the new
financial planning tool, enhancement of business partnering capability, and
continuous improvement of reporting and planning processes.
Operating within the FP&A Business Decision Support
(BDS) team, the role supports a complex global portfolio spanning Arts,
Education, English programmes, research, commercial activity, grant-funded
programmes, and mixed-funding models. The successful candidate must bring
strong commercial finance expertise, international business partnering
experience, excellent analytical and communication skills, and the ability to
translate complex financial information into clear strategic insights that
support the British Council’s global cultural engagement objectives.
Main responsibilities
Acting as the right hand to the Director of FP&A – CE,
the role leads CE’s global Business Partnering team of 14 in providing a
consistent, high-quality business partnering service and financial
oversight across the Cultural Engagement (CE) portfolio The role works
across the CE matrix of regional grant programmes, enabling functions, and the
Geographic Directorate to drive aligned financial planning, governance,
performance management, and strategic decision-making, while representing CE’s
consolidated finance interests within the wider global finance community.
The position also has responsibility for management
reporting, financial analysis, and strategic planning, overseeing global
budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, investment appraisal, scenario
modelling, grant-in-aid reporting, and financial risk management. It ensures
the delivery of timely, accurate, and insightful management information across
grant funded and commercial activities, translating complex financial and
programme trends into actionable strategic recommendations for senior stakeholders
and supporting CE transformation initiatives through robust financial analysis
and performance insights. It also ensures that CE is aware of material
financial risks and provides support and solutions as to how these risks will
be mitigated.
The role acts as the key liaison between CE and Corporate
Finance, ensuring that strategic alignment, governance, and compliance are
maintained through senior-level engagement.
Role specific skills
- Financial
Acumen: solid understanding of budgeting, forecasting and financial
performance drivers.
- Business
Partnering: strong interpersonal and influencing skills, ability to
communicate complex financial issues in accessible language.
- Management
Reporting & Financial Analysis: able to extract, analyse and interpret
complex data.
- Ability
to multi‑task effectively, managing simultaneous financial cycles,
reporting requirements and deadlines across a diverse portfolio of grant
programmes.
- Ability
to identify financial risks and propose mitigations.
- EPM
System Expertise (preferably Anaplan): confident in both planning and
reporting functions.
- Building
relationships at all levels in the organisation.
Role specific knowledge and experience
Minimum/essential
- Min.
10 years’ experience in financial management, FP&A, management
accounting or grant finance.
- Professional
accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent).
- Demonstrable
experience supporting complex programmes or portfolios, ideally involving
funded work.
- Demonstrable
experience of business partnering senior business stakeholders (Executive
leadership or Board level)
- Experience
working with multiple stakeholders in a matrix or multi‑country
organisational context.
- Team
leadership and staff development of global teams (10+ staff).
- Demonstrable
experience of delivering finance process improvements and efficiencies.
Desirable
- Strong
capability in financial modelling, forecasting and analytics.
- Experience
in Cultural Engagement, development programmes or non‑profit grant
management.
- Experience
with SAP or similar ERP platforms.
- Experience
with Anaplan or similar EPM platforms.
Language Requirements
- The
British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written
and verbal proficiency in English is required”.
Education
- Educated
to degree level
Professional Qualification and Certification
- Recognised
International Accounting or Finance qualification
People Solutions Consultant MEA at British Council
The Role:
The People Solutions Consultant ensures the delivery of
accurate, compliant, and efficient HR operational support across the region
through effective governance, workflow oversight, and stakeholder
collaboration. This role acts as the functional SME and workflow approver for
HR data changes and certain leave transactions processed by the Managed Service
Provider (MSP), ensuring adherence to policies, process controls, and
service-level standards. For out-of-scope countries not covered by the MSP, the
role manages end-to-end HR operational processes such as onboarding,
offboarding, and employee data updates. The postholder is pivotal
in maintaining data integrity, service consistency, and a seamless employee
experience through strong operational oversight, stakeholder coordination, and
continuous improvement.
Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:
HR Operations Governance (In-Scope Countries)
- Act as
workflow approver for employee data changes (e.g., job change, contract
amendment, working pattern change) and specific leave transactions entered
by the MSP.
- Ensure
all system updates are accurate, policy-compliant, and completed within
defined timelines and controls – through myHR workflows.
- Review
and validate transactions processed by the MSP (myHR workflows),
identifying and rectifying discrepancies.
- Manage
exceptions and provide process clarification to the MSP or internal
stakeholders.
End-to-End HR Operations (Out-of-Scope Countries)
- Deliver
HR operations directly for countries not covered under the MSP model,
including onboarding, offboarding, contract and letter generation,
employment data updates, and benefits administration.
- Ensure
all transactions comply with local labour laws, internal policies, and
audit requirements.
- Partner
with country HR and Finance teams to ensure timely processing of employee
movements and payroll-impacting actions.
Case Management & Service Excellence
- Manage
HR-related cases through the case management system (e.g., C4C), ensuring
accuracy, timeliness, and a customer-centric approach.
- Act as
the escalation point for complex or sensitive employee cases, providing
process guidance.
- Monitor
service levels, case resolution times, and customer feedback to identify
improvement opportunities.
- Partner
with the MSP to enhance case resolution quality and reduce repeat issues
through process or system refinements.
Data Quality & Systems Integrity
- Ensure
data integrity in MyHR and other systems by validating and reconciling
transactions.
- Perform
data audits to identify gaps or errors and initiate corrective actions.
- Collaborate
with Digital & Technology and Data teams to support system
enhancements, testing, and process automation.
- Ensure
compliance with information governance, PDPA, GDPR, and record-retention
policies.
Continuous Improvement & Collaboration
- Identify
and propose opportunities for process simplification, standardisation, and
automation.
- Participate
in service optimisation and knowledge management initiatives led by the
Payroll & People Data Manager.
- Contribute
to the maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), process maps,
and knowledge articles.
Requirements of the role:
- Written
and verbal proficiency in English
- Experience
in HR operations or shared-services delivery, with strong understanding of
employee lifecycle processes.
- Familiarity
with HRIS platforms (e.g., SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle, or equivalent) and
workflow approvals.
- Proven
experience managing cases and ensuring SLA adherence.
- Demonstrated
ability to maintain data accuracy, manage exceptions, and coordinate with
vendors.
- Experience
working in a complex, multi-country or regional environment.
Desirable:
- Exposure
to managed-service delivery models and vendor performance management.
- Experience
in continuous improvement or digital process automation.
- Knowledge
of analytics or reporting tools (Excel, Power BI).
Payroll Accountant at British Council
The Role:
The Payroll Officer supports the delivery of accurate and
compliant payroll operations across assigned countries, ensuring all
payroll-related data is processed on time and to the highest standard of
accuracy.
The postholder is responsible for preparing, validating, and
reconciling payroll input data, assisting in payroll runs, managing employee
queries, and maintaining records in compliance with statutory and internal
policies. This role contributes to continuous improvement, risk mitigation, and
audit readiness by supporting payroll consultants and ensuring effective
coordination with Finance, HR, and external vendors.
Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:
Payroll Execution & Validation
- Support
end-to-end payroll processing by validating input data (new hires, exits,
salary changes, allowances, deductions, and benefits) in coordination with
HR and Finance.
- Prepare
and verify payroll input templates for review and approval by the Payroll
Consultant.
- Ensure
all payroll transactions are compliant with internal controls and
statutory regulations.
Records Management & Documentation
- Maintain
accurate and up-to-date payroll records, ensuring documentation is
complete and properly stored in line with Information Governance and
Records Management (IGRM) policies.
- Ensure
all payroll records are available for internal and external audits.
- Support
archiving and data-retention compliance in accordance with PDPA and GDPR
standards.
Compliance & Risk
- Ensure
compliance with local statutory regulations (tax, pension, social
security) and escalate any discrepancies or anomalies for resolution.
- Follow
payroll control checklists to ensure audit readiness and mitigate
operational risk.
- Support
the Payroll Consultant in preparing reports for compliance reviews,
audits, and reconciliations.
Case Management & Employee Support
- Manage
payroll-related cases and queries in the case management system (e.g.,
C4C), ensuring prompt, courteous, and accurate resolution within SLA.
- Collaborate
with HR, Finance, and the MSP to resolve employee concerns related to
payroll, benefits, or statutory deductions.
- Maintain
a strong customer-service mindset, providing empathetic and professional
support to employees.
- Escalate
complex cases to the Payroll Consultant or Manager for review.
Continuous Improvement & Collaboration
- Contribute
to the documentation and refinement of Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) and process checklists.
- Participate
in post-payroll reviews, lessons-learned sessions, and
continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Support
the implementation of automation tools or process simplifications
introduced by the Payroll & People Data Manager.
Requirements of the role:
- Written
and verbal proficiency in English
- Experience
in payroll administration or data processing within a shared-services or
multi-country environment.
- Knowledge
of payroll processes, data validation, and statutory deductions.
- Familiarity
with HRIS and payroll systems (e.g., SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle, or
similar).
- Ability
to manage confidential data responsibly and maintain high standards of
accuracy.
- Strong
communication and teamwork skills, with an ability to work under tight
timelines.
Desirable:
- Experience
working with external vendors or managed service providers.
- Exposure
to continuous-improvement initiatives or process documentation.
- Understanding
of statutory payroll compliance in one or more Asia-Pacific countries.
Project Manager Skills for Inclusive Digital Participation at British Council
Important Information:
- Department: Education
- Contract
Duration: One (1) Year fixed term
- Gross
Monthly Salary: KES 379 502
- Location: Nairobi,
Kenya
Role Purpose
The Project Manager, SIDP is responsible for the successful
implementation of the Skills for Inclusive Digital Participation Project in
Kenya. He/she will be responsible for effective planning, management,
Coordination, delivery and evaluation of the SIDP project in Kenya.
The post holder will also be actively involved in nurturing
and managing relationships with different project stakeholders. Working under
the guidance of the Programme Manager, SIDP project, the post holder will be
part of the SIDP project strategy team and will be involved in implementing the
project deliverables and executing the strategy to achieve the same in Kenya.
Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:
Operational and Programme Management:
- Responsible
for planning, coordinating, managing, implementing, and quality assuring
of the SIDP Project work in Kenya as per the project management framework,
Project plans, project management standards and client needs. This will
include sound and effective programme management practices that deliver
outstanding impact for the British Council and its partners.
- Identify
opportunities for the program development and expansion; building on
lessons learned, needs assessments, and coordination with key
stakeholders.
Risk management:
- To
identify, assess, report and monitor progress in addressing risks to the
achievement of the project objectives.
- Maintain
a robust and updated project risk management register
Budget and financial management:
- To
manage project budgets to corporate standards, ensuring prompt reporting
and continuous monitoring of the project expenditure in line with the
implementation plan.
- Meeting
the agreed project financial spend targets.
Procurement:
- To
ensure all procurement and contracts for service are in line with
corporate and client policy and that documentation is robust and stored
appropriately for future reference.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Support
the development and implementation of M&E plans for the SIDP project
(including databases and data collection; outcome and impact evaluation;
success stories)
- Working
closely with the project monitoring, evaluation consultants/teams to
ensure proper documentation and clear reporting on progress against
indicators and targets and determine corrective measures to improve
project delivery.
External and Internal Stakeholder Management:
- To
maintain and nurture relationships with key stakeholders internally and
externally, and to support the Programme Manager- Creative Economy, Deputy
Director Kenya and other colleagues to identify potential partnerships and
new business possibilities and opportunities to strengthen the Skills for
Inclusive Digital Participation Project.
Equality, diversity and inclusion and Child
Protection/Adults at Risk standards:
- Support
the Programme Manager Creative Economy to ensure that the project delivery
and activity reflect British Council EDI policy.
- Ensure
that Child Protection/Adults at Risk Policy, standards and other
Safeguarding measures/policies are followed and maintained throughout the
project lifecycle.
Requirements of the role:
- First
degree or equivalent in a relevant field
- Knowledge
and experience of project management.
- Experience
in programme management in the local context.
Desirable:
- Experience
of working in a matrix management structure
- You
must have the legal right to work in the country at the time of
application.
Contract Duration: One (1) Year fixed term
Gross Monthly Salary: KES 379 502
Requirements:
- Please
note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in
Kenya
- Mobility
/ relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.