View Vacancy - Accounts Officer, US Network Finance - British Embassy Washington
Main purpose of job:
The British Embassy in Washington has an exciting opportunity for two motivated and resourceful individuals to join the US Network Team as Finance Officers. As Finance Officer, you will support US Network Finance colleagues in various financial and operational procedures, ensuring excellent customer service, thorough documentation and adherence to policies, and the efficient running of various payment and expense processes. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the life and work of one of the biggest and busiest missions in the UK diplomatic network.
The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible.
In this role you will be working in a diverse international environment with UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country-based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Manage local payments including cash and bank account monitoring
- Ensure purchasing and supplier maintenance processes are followed, to manage the timely handling of invoices and payments through the FCDO payment system, dealing with any escalated issues at post
- Act as first point of contact for suppliers on operational queries
- Process outgoing payments in compliance with financial policies and procedures
- Perform day-to-day financial transactions, including verifying, classifying, and recording accounts payable data
- Verify and investigate discrepancies, if any, by reconciling vendor accounts and monthly vendor statements
- Facilitate payment of recoveries due by sending bill reminders and contacting clients
- Understand expense accounts/Cost Centers/General Ledger
- Understand compliance issues around accounts payable processes
- Support other colleagues within corporate services as and when necessary and ad hoc duties as required
- Ensure commitments to service level agreement within the Corporate Services Charter are met
- Build and foster working relationships with UK and US colleagues on finance processes within the FCDO’s standard framework/policies
Resources managed:
No resources, staff/budgets, are directly managed by this role, however there is an overarching requirement to safeguard UK taxpayer’s resources by ensuring value for money and utilising effective/efficient financial process.
- Must have background/understanding of accounts payable/receivable functions/processes
- Must be proficient in use of standard office equipment e.g. IT (laptops), scanners, photocopiers etc.
- Competent with IT applications such Microsoft Excel, Word, Teams and Outlook. Prior Oracle experience would be desirable, but not essential
- Have a good/high standard of reading, writing and speaking in English
- Demonstrated experience/background in an accounts payable/receivable environment, a degree is not essential
- Attention-to-detail and adaptable mindset
- Legal status to live and work in the US in your own right, from time of application.
Please note: Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents, A and NATO visa holders with EAD cards, and L2 visa holders with an up-to-date I-94 form.
You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.
- Knowledge of budgets and forecasting activity
- Knowledge of Purchase to Payment, Contracts and use of Purchase Orders
- Prior experience in a government/non-profit/similar organisation, such as city/county/state/federal
The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).
The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.
Working patterns:
This role and the Finance Team are able to accommodate a varied working pattern, and a job share can be considered. If applying for a job share, each applicant must send in their own application. Additionally, please specify the applicant who is applying with you.
This role is 40 hours (full time) a week and does not require set working hours each day; flexibility around the Embassy’s ‘core’ hours is available.
The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working, allowing its staff to typically work from home up to 2 days a week. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of teamwork, and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.
Working flexibly around the Embassy’s core hours allows for time-zone differences between the East Coast and UK (UK is 5 hours ahead), as well as the consulates on the West Coast (3 hours behind) and the consulates in Central Time.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.
Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive; we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.
The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.
The FCDO operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.
This opportunity is closed to applications.