Exams Finance Officer

Exams Finance Officer

Date: 8 May 2024

Location: Riyadh, Middle East and North Africa, SA

Company: British Council

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 Purpose:
This role supports the finance and compliance elements of Gulf Central Cluster Exams strategy by ensuring high quality financial control and reporting functions in the exams business in the cluster and supporting the Exams Finance Manager in these areas.
Main Accountabilities:

Financial Planning and Reporting:

• Prepare monthly and yearly closing procedures by posting revenue and expenditure accruals and deferrals in the period of activity. Ensure period end results are in line with plan / forecast and provide variance analysis where required.
• Support in internal and external audit review by furnishing appropriate documentary evidence, approvals and explanations within close timelines.
• Process board invoice payables to UK exam boards by performing invoice reconciliation and verification in coordination with exams operations teams.
• Process exams refunds to candidates along with other off-system vendor payments by correctly following existing SOPs and ensure due diligence.
• Responsible for preparing and submitting Cash Flow Forecast on a monthly basis, along with explanations of variance with actuals and possible reasons for re-forecasting future months in order justify adjustments made.
• Ensure financial transactions and documents are recorded in files and folders with appropriate indexing and naming for management reporting and audit tracking.
• Responsible for nation-wide exams revenue recognition and recording journal entries in SAP

Relationship & stakeholder management

• Liaise with internal stakeholders on a monthly basis to identify financial process improvements and provide solutions.
• Work with EFM to ensure systematic collection of business data to inform monthly business reviews and reporting requirements.
• Deal with specialized enquiries related to Exams Finance.
• Keep updated professionally to provide a service that is in line with current best practice, with at least one formal training course each year in accordance with PMPD guidelines.

Financial Control and Monitoring

• To ensure that all income reconciliations are completed, on time and to audit standards.
• To monitor GR/IR reports for open POs on a regular basis and to take necessary action to clear them.
• Manage accounts receivable and aged debt recovery by invoicing, tracking and ensuring follow-up correspondence with local and international business partners in liaison with Account

Relationship Managers for exams delivered on credit

• To collaborate proactively with EFM and EOMs to provide support in ensuring that exams corporate finance standards are understood, communicated, applied and adhered to.

About you (Essential requirements for the role):

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Excellent written and verbal proficiency in English is must (B2 level).
• University Graduate OR diploma or equivalent certification relevant to the field
• 2 years of experience in finance or exams operations
• Strong working knowledge of SAP

Desirable requirements:

• Knowledge of British Council finance policies and processes
• Professional qualification in finance

Further Information:

• Role: Exams Finance Officer (40800)
• Number of positions: 1
• Pay Band: BRC 4H
• Location: Kuwait, Bahrain or KSA
• Contract type: Fixed term local contract 1 year
• Closing date: 14th May 2024 23:59 (Gulf Standard Time)
• Other: This role is open to candidates who have right to work and are located/based in Kuwait, Bahrain or KSA

• Please note that all applications should be submitted only in English.
• It is advisable to apply in advance to avoid any technical issues at the last moment
• The post involves weekend work depending on operational requirements, frequent off-site work, and occasional travel across the country and possibly other countries for trainings and meetings. It may include occasional unsociable working hours.

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 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.