Financial Planning and Analysis Lead - West Africa at British Council Nigeria

The British Council is the world's leading cultural relations organization and creates opportunities for people in the UK and worldwide to understand each other, to work together and learn from one another. We see this as crucial to building secure, more prosperous and sustainable futures for us all. We build trust and understanding between different countries and cultures and develop strong international links that are of benefit to people in Britain and the rest of the world.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Financial Planning and Analysis Lead - West Africa Cluster

Location: Nigeria
Pay Band: 7/F
Reports To: Regional Head of Financial Planning and Analysis
Duration of Job: Indefinite
 
Role Purpose

• To support the Regional Head Financial Planning and Analysis in providing professional guidance in Financial Planning and Analysis, supporting regional Business Development Managers and providing assurance on the underlying business financial performance. 
• The post holder will be in charge of analysing and interpreting long - and short - term financial and operational plans through management reporting, analysis and interpretation of financial trends, impact assessment in conjunction with the Regional Head in order to enable informed decisions.
• This post will be part of the SSA regional FP&A team that is dispersed across the region. The role will support all countries and SBUs within the cluster. 

Main Opportunities/Challenges for this Role

• The Finance function is structured along functional lines with the aim of embedding the ‘three lines of defense’ model at its heart, clearly separating the financial control (first line) and risk and assurance (second line) functions, ensuring the integrity of our results and the strength of our controls.  
• This will allow the organization to focus more easily on business decision making, strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting on the basis of accurate monthly results. This is a critical advisory role where effectiveness is dependent on ability to influence. 
• Personal confidence and credibility is required to ensure advice is seriously considered by senior members of the Regional team.

Main Accountabilities

• Accountable for the analysis and interpretation of long-term financial and operational plans for Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Senegal, being countries within the West Africa cluster, including all SBUs through management reporting, analysis and interpretation of financial trends

Planning, Forecasting and Budgeting: 

• Lead the planning process for Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Senegal, being countries within the West Africa cluster, including all SBUs, challenging submissions and identifying synergies and ensuring delivery to deadlines.
• Provide clear summaries of Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Senegal, being countries within the West Africa cluster, including all SBUs planning / forecasting
• Support planning and rolling re-forecasting processes as requested by Regional Head FP&A to ensure that information obtained from these processes is reliable
• Support the Regional Head FP&A in developing reporting procedures and templates for regional and local use
• Reconciliation and review of SAP plans before system closure. 

Financial Analysis: 

• Analyses growth trends, product trends and KPIs and support the Regional Head FP&A in making recommendations to maximise opportunities and manage risks to ensure targets are met. 

Management Reporting: 

• Manage Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Senegal, being countries within the West Africa cluster, including all SBUs management reporting for consolidation at Regional level for SBU leads and Executive Board
• Liaise with business leads and Regional Head FP&A for any variances between business planning and operational planning figures and provide explanations / commentary. 

Business Performance Management: 

• Review financial performance with the business leads and make recommendations for action to address issues identified at Country or Regional levels
• Monitor cost allocation accuracy
• Deliver outputs within corporate and regional timelines as requested by Regional Head FP&A.
• Support the business in relation to Master Data set up (WBS, PC, CC). 

Team Leadership:

• Coach and support individuals and teams within the cluster countries and SBUs
• Actively support equality and diversity and work to the British Council’s EDI policy at all times.

Key Relationships:

• Internal & External
• Regional Director
• Country Directors 
• Cluster Leads
• SBU Leads
• Regional Finance
• Corporate Planning Team
• Corporate Finance

Person Specification
Qualifications:

• Degree level education. Part qualified with a recognized Accounting body.
• Fully qualified with a recognized Accounting body ACCA, CPA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent professional accountancy qualification.

Role Specific Knowledge & Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of experience in Operational financial management and or management accounting
• Delivery of results within a complex international structure and reporting to tight deadlines
• Working in virtual teams.
• Working in Sub Saharan Africa
• Experience in finance planning and management reporting. ï‚· Experience working with SAP. 
• Role Specific Skills (if any) Assessment Stage
• Reporting, planning & forecasting within a complex multi-site environment
• Ability to explain complex financial data to non-finance people, using non-technical language
• Advanced excel skills including pivot tables
• ERP systems experience (transaction level and reporting).

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English  
  • Shortlisted candidates will either demonstrate they have met the required standard through presentation of an agreed English language certificate, or will be required to take the APTIS test and demonstrate a B2 level of English proficiency.

Application Closing Date
22nd May, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here to download job details (pdf)

Click here to download BC Behaviour (pdf)

Click here to download BC Core skills (pdf)

Note: Short-listing will be carried out against the essential knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience as specified in the Role Profile which accompanies this.