Regional Financial Controller, MENA (Location-UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, KSA, Jordan, Lebanon)

Regional Financial Controller, MENA (Location-UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, KSA, Jordan, Lebanon)

Job Description

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.

British Council Pay Band 9

Location: UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, KSA, Jordan, Lebanon

Department: Finance and Corporate Services

Contract type: Fixed-term contract for 1 or 2 years, depending on local regulations. Some countries may offer an indefinite contract, and fixed-term contracts will be extendable depending on local regulation Specific details will be discussed directly with candidates at a later stage.

No of position – 1

Closing Date:  22nd March 2025 at 23:59 UK time

Interview Dates: will be decided and confirmed at later stages.

Eligibility: This role is open for applications in GCC countries, as well as Jordan and Lebanon, as mentioned above. GCC countries operate under a sponsorship system when hiring foreign workers, while candidates in Jordan and Lebanon must have the right to work. Visa and sponsorship support will be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on nationality, country-specific regulations, and local laws. This will be confirmed with candidates before interview stage.

The British Council supports flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and ensuring that service levels are maintained. While hybrid working may not be suitable for all roles, this can be discussed during the interview process.

Role purpose

This is a leadership role that oversees the financial accounting activities for a key area of the British Council and works closely with the Managed Service Provider (MSP) and FC COE to ensure the financial accounts are completed correctly and in a timely manner, and numbers are reported accurately, and risk/controls are managed.

The role will lead a specialist team of financial controllers who will be based in multiple locations providing retained in-country specific activities/processes, local, complex statutory/tax reporting, managing retained banking responsibilities, liaising with local authorities, supporting sanctioned countries and management of escalations raised by in-country teams and the MSP.

Role Context

The MENA region is rapidly evolving on regulatory requirements especially in the Gulf states with new and complex tax implementations e.g. VAT & Corporate Income Tax requiring proper and urgent response to ensure compliance. With support of Tax accountants, global tax team and Statutory & Tax COE, this role will be critical in ensuring proper and timely response to these changes and ensuring the region is tax compliant

Main accountabilities include but not limited to:

Leadership and Management

• Provide leadership and people management to the team, role model British Council values and EDI in day-to-day interactions with colleagues at all levels. Ensure high levels of professionalism are demonstrated by everyone and that client and customer needs are reflected in ways of working.
• Champion financial accounting, providing a good standard of financial insight and financial discipline.

Financial Management

• Lead the provision of retained in-country specific activities/processes, local, complex statutory/tax reporting, managing retained banking responsibilities, liaising with local authorities, supporting sanctioned countries and management of escalations raised by in-country teams and the MSP.
• Responsible for Treasury and Liquidity management of British Council operations and subsidiaries including review and approval of cashflow forecasts, management of trapped/restricted cash and forex risk within the region. Oversee implementation of currency re-denomination/changes and new payment solutions in countries.

Relationship and Stakeholder Management

• Lead stakeholder engagement and business partnering for retained financial processes, building strong working relationships with key stakeholders and the MSP to ensure that activities comply with professional accounting standards, technical accounting issues and other external reporting requirements in British Council.

Sector/subject expertise.

• Provide guidance and advice on professional accounting standards, local accounting and reporting requirements, technical accounting issues and other external reporting requirements in British Council. Liaise with other specialist finance functions such as Tax, Treasury, Finance Policy, and Global Process Owners as needed. Pro-actively identify unusual or complex transactions and recommend appropriate professional accounting treatments. Produce periodic reports relating to financial accounting.

Service Improvement

• Develop, manage, and execute plans for implementation of new or updated accounting and reporting requirements in line with professional accounting standards; communicate change effectively with internal stakeholders, ensure appropriate training.

Role specific skills

• Strong communication and influencing skills, able to relay complex financial information in an easy-to-understand way.
• Well-developed analytical skills.
• Highly organised and deadline oriented.
• Building relationships at all levels of the organisation.
• Flexibility, independence, and initiative to perform successfully in a rapidly changing environment.

Role specific knowledge and experience

Minimum/essential

• A significant number of active years of financial controllership and related experience. Experience of leading a geographically dispersed and culturally diverse team.
• Experience of leading a finance team supporting multiple business models with varying funding streams on a large scale.
• Experience of working in a matrix management structure.
• Knowledge of Professional Accounting Standards
• SAP/ERP experience.

Desirable

• Shared Services Operations.
• Leadership of change projects/initiatives.

Education/Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with considerable experience post-qualification.

Language Requirements

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required

Applications must be in English.

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.