View Vacancy - Finance Officer A2 (02/21 ABI)

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 main purpose of the role is the timely management of financial transactions and purchasing processes; preparation of monthly data on local staff salaries; management of personnel files and HR documents; and ensuring that FDCO policies relating to finance and procurement are adhered to. We are looking for a self-starting, organised and reliable colleague who is ready to collaborate with Embassy colleagues to deliver an effective service and achieve UK objectives.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

Accounts (40%)

  • Ensure compliance with financial procedures including correctly accounting for spend and reducing the risk for fraud
  • Timely handling of Embassy invoices and payments through the FCDO’s payment system;
  • Managing cash and bank account payments;
  • Responsible for cash box
  • Monitoring Post’s bank/Cash account to ensure sufficient balances are maintained
  • Timely and accurate preparation of the monthly accounting reports;
  • Support the Corporate Service Manager to implement new/improved system to ensure full financial compliance and robust management of systems
  • Implementing effective data collection in order to ensure accurate monthly financial forecast and cash funding profiles

Procurement (30%)

  • Obtaining quotes in line with procurement guidance
  • Checking invoices for accuracy before payment
  • Acts as requisitoner and receiver for purchasing and supplier maintenance processes
  • Keep Agreed Supplier List up-to-date
  • Assist with compliance e.g. setting up new suppliers and reviewing existing supplier lists
  • Receiving of goods and services
  • Effective cost management of vehicle fleet (fuel consumption, mileage, maintenance and repairs)

 

Payroll (20%)

  • Calculate and process monthly salaries of Country Based Staff (CBS), including all relevant monthly/yearly statements
  • Prepare statutory returns to local authorities, including social security (CNPS)Ensure compliant Corporate Services finance record retention at Post
  • Administration of CBS Medical Insurance
  • Preparing all necessary documents for new staff (CNPS registration, Medical scheme)

Team Support (10%)

  • Encourage and develop a learning culture within the Post, and ensure that each officer has access to appropriate learning & development activities (L&D Champion)
  • Lead on information management for the post, by providing and promoting best practice on a range of information management issues (Data Mapping, MS Teams, Data storage, etc.), with support from the centre by Information Management Department (Information Management Officer)
  • Support to other colleagues within Corporate Services as and when necessary
  • Helping other members of the Embassy team as and when required

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

No staff management

Day to day management of budget (£700,000 pa)

  • Ability to speak, read and write English and French confidently
  • 5 years’ experience in Finance and administrative work in a similar environment
  • Higher Education in business administration, finance or similar
  • Good knowledge of MS Excel and other MS Office programmes
  • Ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders, verbally and in writing
  • Understanding of labour law and salary calculations
  • Precision in implementing tasks, meticulous attention to detail
  • Organised, efficient, self-starter, meet deadlines, flexibility
  • A positive ‘can do’ approach to work and the ability to work as part of a team
24 September 2021
Administrative Officer (AO)
Permanent
34 hours
Africa
Côte d'Ivoire
Abidjan
British Embassy
1
XOF 694,007 paid 13 times per year plus XOF 30,000 transport allowance paid 12 times per year
1 November 2021

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The jobholder should complete finance training for budget holder which includes e-learning, classroom training (in UK or Regional Hub) and coaching. Opportunities for learning and development on the job through attendance at seminars, workshops, training courses and shadowing other colleagues in the region. There are further opportunities offered through the Regional Learning and Development Team in Accra. A wide range of e-learning courses are offered by the UK civil service and both on-line and traditional training is offered by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s International Academy.

Working patterns:

The British Embassy’s working hours are:

Monday-Thursday: 0830-1630

Friday: 0830-1430

Occasional evening events to attend which attract TOIL

The British Embassy is a small but dynamic mission with a culture which encourages staff to be creative and take the initiative. Staff at the Embassy are expected to be team-players, willing to support colleagues in other areas of work as necessary. Good communication and team-working skills are highly desirable

The British Embassy is a rapidly growing and dynamic mission with a culture which encourages staff to be creative and take the initiative. Staff at the Embassy are expected to be team-players, willing to support colleagues in other areas of work as necessary. We place a high value on creating a supportive and welcoming place of work where all colleagues are respected for their contribution. Good communication and team-working skills are highly desirable.  

  • 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.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Abidjan are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Ivory Coast.
  • 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;
  1. Obtain the relevant permit
  2. Pay fees for the permit
  3. Make arrangements to relocate
  4. Meet the costs to relocation
  • The British Embassy/High Commission does not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax 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.
  • The British Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position
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.