View Vacancy - Senior Finance Officer B3 (31/20 NR)

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:

To play a key role in managing and delivering the BHC finance portfolio, dealing with a range of corporate returns and providing support to the Head of Financial and Human Resources and the Director of Corporate Services in maintaining high-level financial performance in BHC. Financial services are provided to a range of UK Government departments working on Kenya and Somalia.  The successful candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of finance objectives and processes aimed at providing a high quality finance service and accurate forecasting.

Roles and responsibilities

Working closely with the Head of Financial and Human resources, the key focus of the role will be:-

  • Ensuring correct implementation of Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and other UK Government Departments’ financial policies while best meeting internal customers' needs in a fair and effective manner.
  • Ensuring successful day-to-day operation of the Finance team within the High Commission’s Corporate Services and more widely within the Corporate Services operation within Kenya and in support of Somalia, including working with colleagues in Pretoria and Manila on finance processes.

 The main duties include:

 Finance


  • Quality control the preparation of payroll for over 250 staff for checking by Head of finance and human resources to meet monthly KPIs
  • Oversee preparation of tax reports for the Kenya Revenue Authority
  • Ensure relevant FCO Finance and Prism Compliance Indicators are met and the indicators remain green
  • Assist with the implementation of changes to cross-government financial policies and procedures to continually improve the efficiency of the financial/accounting operation
  • Ensure appropriate management of finances and undertake spot checks

 Budgeting and Forecasting


  • Coordination of budget monitoring and reporting at post , ensuring relevant FPCI targets are met
  • In conjunction with the Finance Analyst, Prepare monthly financial performance report and presentation to budget holders
  • Monitoring recharges to other government departments
  • Provide suggestions and recommendations for improved financial results based on monthly financial performance reports.
  • Identify problems and review actions needed to improve or correct processes and routines at post.
  • Preparing reports on local expenditure for Corporate Services Director and other Teams
  • Review forecast data on a monthly basis and propose budget amendment from time to time
  • Manage BHC local budget ensuring accurate budget profiling and that delegated and central budgets are carefully controlled to ensure an outturn within the range of 99-100% of allocation.
  • Tracking foreign currency forecasts and re-allocation of budget by currency to take account of USD and sterling spend (on credit cards)

Accounts


  • Liaise with other UK government departments on issues that may arise and respond to queries
  • Ensure compliance with FCO accounting procedures and correct charging of other government departments;
  • Management of other Departments’ charging in line with the UK Memoranda of Understanding
  • Oversee the raising of invoices for staff debts, manual invoices and the preparation of journals to correct mischargings
  • Follow up on refunds of purchase advances, travel advances and payment of debit memos to ensure swift payment and reconciliation
  • Conduct accounts filing system to ensure it is up to date at all times and ensure good record keeping 

Management


  • Line management of 2 Finance staff.
  • Continuously review business processes and resource management to identify new ways of working and deliver a more effective, efficient and professional operation.
  • Training & Development of staff within the team, mentoring and coaching of other BHC staff on Prism functions.
  • Training non finance managers (budget holders) to manage budgets with ease.
  • Providing cover during absences as necessary for the other Corporate Services team members including the Head of Financial and Human resources.

Resources managed:

2 Finance staff. Local budget of Over £1.5  arrayed in up to 3 currencies

1.     Certified Public Accountant registered with the Institute of Public Accountants of Kenya/ Chartered Accountant registered with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Finance/Accounting).

2.     Complies with CPD requirements of their professional body

3.     Demonstrates understanding of budget and risk management

4.     Minimum 5 years work experience in a large institution.

1.     Good communication skills, attention to detail and initiative

2.     Excellent IT skills (advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook is essential).

3.     Experience of staff management (the job holder will manage two staff members)

4.     Proven budget management and analysis experience;

5.     Previous experience of accruals accounting and operating oracle based ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning software will be an added advantage

9 October 2020
Executive Officer (EO)
Permanent
Africa
Kenya
Nairobi
British High Commission
KES 206,171.53
1 December 2020

Learning and development opportunities:

The British High Commission provides in-house training courses through the year, and offers training courses at regional hubs in Pretoria and Manila. Professional membership fees and continuous professional development opportunity up to 40 CPDs per year.

Leave:

Members of staff are entitled to paid annual leave, which is earned, from the day they commence employment. Entitlements are as follows:

Grades B3 (L) 30 days

In addition to annual leave, the BHC normally observes no fewer than 9 and no more than 14 Kenyan and British public and religious holidays in a year. These vary from year to year and are at the discretion of the High Commissioner. A list of holidays is published each year.                                         

  • 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 Nairobi are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Kenya.
  • It is essential that the applicants already have the right to live and work in Kenya without the need to apply for a work permit
  • 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: Job grade AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
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.