Programme Finance Manager

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.

Programme Finance Manager – Zantchito Project

Role Purpose

To enable the successful delivery of the EU-Funded Zantchito- Skills for Jobs project Technical Assistance (TA) component through effective financial leadership, management, and coordination in line with client, corporate, and project quality, controls and compliance standards and ensuring achievement of targets, maximization of outcomes and appropriate return on investment.

The purpose requires a dynamic, competent individual with experience in successfully leading the finance function of a multi-year, multi-million GBP project, demonstrating financial rigor, operational effectiveness, and robust safeguarding of project financial health.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:

Financial Planning and Reporting

• Provide input into strategic project planning and advice to support decision-making.
• Lead on financial planning, delivering accurate and realistic financial plans, budgets, and forecasts toward meeting project expenditure projections, spending targets, and reconciliation rigor.
• Produce monthly financial reports as needed, manage budget checks, and correct errors in postings, accruals, and journals on SAP to ensure accurate data is maintained.
• Produce client financial reports as required in line with programme of work and contract requirements.
• Prepare and manage client invoicing and payments and reconcile income received to the project budget.
• Ensure financial risk measurement and mitigation plans are in place.

Financial management and monitoring

• Lead on monthly monitoring and reconciliation of project/contract budgets – forecasting, cash flow, reporting, and analysis to ensure accurate, timely, and complete financial management of the project/contract budget.
• Evaluate the financial performance of the project regularly, together with the Project leadership.
• Review actual project income and expenditure monthly; ensuring accurate reliable financial data is maintained in the finance system and the project financial management toolkit.
• Provide monthly commentary on the variances as part of the budget monitoring and planning process.
• Prepare invoices to clients, manage client payments, and reconcile income received to the project budget on SAP.
• Oversee financial procedures and payments with partners, suppliers/vendors, and consultants.
• Assist with procurements ensuring value for money considerations are applied within budget ceilings.
• Review and ensure delivery team familiarity with contract- and/or client-specific financial requirements.
• Support grant selection, contracting, disbursements, and capacity building in financial management for any grantees.

Financial Assurance and risk management

• Provide assurance on efficiency, effectiveness, and robustness of proportionate and appropriate financial risk management measures.
• Ensure all project activity is financially compliant (both corporately and according to the contract), cost-effective, delivers value for money, and meets British Council and client requirements.
• Ensure due diligence checks financial management processes, procedures, and controls as required.
• Lead on preparations for audit ensuring audit and verifications ensuring that day-to-day project audit trail is visible, transparent, and maintained by all members of the team in transactions.
• Support delivery managers on management control checks (MCCs).
• Ensure financial risk is identified, mitigated, or escalated in a timely manner.
• Ensure that the project is fully compliant with the British Council financial control standards and Annual Compliance checks (ACCs).

Information provision and management

• Ensure all systems and documents developed are in full compliance with British Council corporate standards and country legal and financial requirements.
• Maintain financial records and information in line with the British Council guidelines and standards and line with EU’s requirements.
• Verification and archiving of project expenses and claims (including travel and subsistence) from the British Council project team, consultants, and partner organizations, ensuring that there is a clear audit trail before acceptance.
• Manage internal and external requests for financial information, ensuring accurate reliable financial data is maintained in the finance system and the project financial management toolkit.
• Providing and interpreting financial information competently and confidently
• Keep abreast of financial and allied legislation, regulations, and requirements of the country.

Role-specific knowledge and experience:

Essential requirements:

• A university degree in Finance, Accounting, or a similar discipline.
• Qualified accountant – ACCA, CPA, or CFA – with at least 5 years post-qualification experience
• Experience with an ERP system (SAP preferably)
• At least 3 years experience in comparable role(s) working on donor-funded development projects.in international organisations.
• Direct experience in applying financial controls and procedures within complex operating environments to meet robust standards.
• Ability to relay complex financial information in an easy-to-understand way to support non-financial managers to deliver against financial performance indicators.
• Experience working with diverse teams or groups of stakeholders in multiple locations.
• Ability to troubleshoot financial challenges.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Desirable:

• Postgraduate degree in Finance, Accounting
• Experience in financial management of EU contracts.

Further Information

• Pay Band – 7
• Remuneration: MWK  2,857,321.00 Gross Per Month
• Contract Type – -Fixed Term Contract Lapsing on 31 December 2026 
• Location – Malawi, Lilongwe
• Department/Function – Finance
• Additional information
• Language requirements: Strong written and oral English communication skills.
• The Role holder must have existing rights to live and work in the country the role is based.
• Closing Date – 17 March 2024. Applications will close at 23:59 East 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.

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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 askhr@britishcouncil.org

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.