View Vacancy - Regional Head of Finance (41/20 PTA)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Finance

Main purpose of job:

The Head of the Regional Finance Hub will lead on the delivery of key Finance Management activity to British Embassies, High Commissions and other Offices located across two geographic regions. The role of the Regional Finance Hub is to provide key financial services to customers across the region and to provide a strategic and professional capability to support the organisation deliver its objectives. The role reports to the Senior Finance Business partner of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK and will deliver through their Finance Hub team.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The Head of the Regional Finance Hub will lead a team of 6 Financial Account Managers delivering a range of services within that region, working alongside the Regional Procurement and HR Hubs. The team will monitor offices in the region to ensure financial compliance and to develop and manage finance policies and processes which are globally consistent. In more detail, main responsibilities will include:

• Deliver a quality service to Embassies, High Commissions and other offices.

• Lead the Regional Finance Managers, coordinating their work and ensuring they meet their Service Level Agreements / Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s);

• Provide financial advice and support to stakeholders in the region and the UK;

• Manage the balance sheet accounts against the Posts in your respective region and ensure information is accurately and effectively passed to Finance Business Partners;

• Apply any changes in accounting policy, directed by Finance Directorate, across both regions;

• Through key stakeholder engagement build up knowledge and understanding of Offices within the region including compliance and performance against KPI’s;

• Oversight of all aspects of the Finance Hub's work, including as a member of the Hub Management Team alongside HR and Procurement Managers;

• Through the team, ensure consistency of application of policies and financial processes, both within the region and across other Regional Hubs, to include:

           - Liaison with and notification to, UK-based Finance Business Partners

           - Debtor management

           - Creditor management

           - Management of identified risks / provisions / contingent liabilities

           - Cash Management, including cash forecasting

           - Fixed Asset verification, management and accounting

           - Other Balance Sheet management to ensure historic / incorrect transactions are cleared

           - Budget monitoring and forecasting

           - Use of Hyperion and OBIEE to prepare and promote budget and forecast information

           - Monitor Key Performance Indicators

           - Spend and cost driver analysis (liaising with Procurement and HR colleagues)

           - Assist with business planning

           - Chart of accounts usage

Resources Managed (Staff and Expenditure)

6 Regional finance managers

Reporting on salary, training, travel and professional development budget for finance hub staff. 

  • Fluency in English (both oral and written)
  • Part Qualified CCAB, CIMA or CPA accountant
  • 5 years team management experience
  • Experience in preparing monthly management accounts and reporting to senior managers
  • IT literate to an advanced level
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • CCAB, CIMA or CPA-qualified accountant
23 October 2020
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Permanent
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
R49,968.87 - R71,622.05 depending on qualification & experience
1 December 2020

Learning and development opportunities :

Professional qualification (CIMA, CCAB) costs for exams and books.

The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.

  • Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
  • Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
  • Working hours per week of 40

Must be able to work in South Africa and have a valid passport to travel into Africa.

  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. 
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocation 
  • The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so
  • Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
  • Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates
  • Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.