View Vacancy - BMA - Corporate Services Manager – Finance, People & Operations (EO)

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Finance, HR, Information Technology Services

The British Embassy Bahrain is seeking a dynamic and experienced Corporate Services Manager to oversee and integrate Human Resources, Finance, and Information Technology functions. This multifaceted role is essential to ensuring the smooth operation of the Embassy’s internal services, supporting staff, and maintaining compliance with UK government and local regulations.

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.

Roles and responsibilities:

Finance: 

  • Support Head of Corporate Services with the operational management of Post’s/ Embassy’s day-to-day finances and supervision to improve/ maintain financial performance and compliance indicators on budget forecasting, financial planning, and reporting for the Bahrain Network.
  • Actively engage with the Finance and Procurement Hubs to inform colleagues of Post’s compliance.
  • Lead on the bi-annual VAT returns to ensure all relevant claims are submitted within the deadline and respond to any audit queries.
  • Support Head of Corporate Services with embassy wide financial planning, liaising with stakeholders to understand financial requirements for future years.
  • Oversee all finance administration within the department ensuring all processes are done efficiently and effectively (including but not limited to cash management, supplier set ups, purchase orders, distribution sets and invoicing to support income generation events).
  • Oversee the preparation of financial returns (e.g., OAR) and manage high-value contracts.
  • Review audit requirements and ensure all records are maintained to the correct standard.

Human Resources (HR):

  • Serve as the primary HR liaison with the MENA Regional HR Hub.
  • Manage recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee relations.
  • Maintain accurate personnel records and ensure compliance with FCDO and local labour laws. Issue all probation letters, employment contracts, and other official HR letters in a timely manner, ensuring soft and hard copies are filed centrally.
  • Support legal compliance and updates to Terms & Conditions of Service, identifying anomalies between current TACOs, FCDO guidance, and local labour law.
  • Oversee payroll coordination and benefits administration.
  • Manage the medical and life insurance schemes, including procurement of contract and maintaining a relationship with the provider’s account manager.
  • Embassy lead on the annual appraisal cycle, including upskilling staff on setting goals, managing performance. Organising a calibration / quality control committee to ensure the process is consistent and fair.

Operations (IT Support):

  • Oversee basic IT infrastructure whilst providing IT Support to the Embassy team, including onboarding support for new staff in coordination with the FCDO UK Service Desk.
  • Refer escalating IT problems and system faults to UK Service / Help desk.
  • Conducting ad-hoc system and IT projects (including office moves), upgrades & hardware replacements as directed by Senior Management and/or the FCDO in UK.
  • Ensure compliance with IT Security Operating Procedures, reporting breaches to the security team. Maintain accurate IT asset inventories, including consumables stock such as printer cartridges.
  • Liaise with telephone and internet providers, managing any structured cabling & eLAN setups, troubleshooting connectivity issues.
  • Assist with maintaining the Information Asset Register to ensure up to date records of information that we hold are maintained, whether electronic or hard copy, and to promote best practise in information management across the Embassy.

Others:

  • Line manages up to two (2) staff members. Ensure the team have the right skills to complete their roles and responsibilities and are supported through our performance management approach.
  • Lead on ad-hoc projects for Corporate Services and cover additional Corporate Services duties as requested by the Head of Corporate Services.
  • Regular opportunity to cover for Head of Corporate Services.

Wider Embassy contribution: 

  • The Job Holder, as with all members of staff, will contribute to the life of the Embassy community beyond their formal job description. This could include broader roles such as fire warden or joining a People Committee.
  • The Job Holder will form part of crisis preparedness, exercising and any operational response.
  • Respond flexibly and actively to evolving priorities and needs.

Resources Managed

  • Manage x2 AO team members, and support Head of Corporate Services in the management of a £1.8m budget.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required.

Key behaviours required:

  • Managing a Quality Service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
  • Working Together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
  • Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
  • Communicating and Influencing: Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.

 


  • Minimum two (2) years of experience in Finance or HR roles, preferably in a corporate or diplomatic environment.
  • Strong financial and budget management skills.
  • General understanding of IT networking principles/ practices.
  • Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams).
  • Strong interpersonal skills and customer service orientated, with excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken).
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.
  • Experience with Oracle-based systems (HR/Finance) is desirable.
  • Familiarity with UK government or public sector processes is an advantage
    • Working knowledge of maintaining and troubleshooting networks. Working knowledge of administering user accounts and passwords, setting group permissions, etc.
    • Experience of installation and maintenance of desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and server hardware and software.
    Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together
    20 July 2025
    Executive Officer (EO)
    Full-time, Permanent
    35
    Middle East & North Africa
    Bahrain
    Manama/Bahrain
    British Embassy
    1
    BHD
    1,278.65
    monthly
    1 October 2025

    Working hours and remuneration:

    The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role. The salary for this role is at BHD 1,278.65 per month based on 35 hours per week. 

    If you are exempt from paying local social insurance in Bahrain, your salary will be abated by an amount equivalent to the social insurance that would otherwise be payable. Further information on this may be provided at interview if necessary. 

    No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. 

    The package includes private medical insurance and learning and development (L&D) opportunities. Specific training and mentoring for the role will be provided, and your Line Manager will help you develop a personalised L&D plan and will share opportunities, resources and guidance to ensure you continue your learning. 

    This role is for a full-time employment on a permanent contract. The successful candidate will be subject to a three-month probationary period. The appointment is subject to satisfactory local and UK security clearances. 

    Normal working hours at the Embassy are from 07:30-14:30 from Sunday to Thursday, with core working hours from 09:00-13:00. The Embassy operates a flexible working policy, which allows staff to work more flexibly as long as the core hours are worked subject to line manager agreement. This will be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies. The jobholder will be expected to work mostly from the Embassy in support of senior colleagues.

    There may be limited opportunity / requirement to travel for work.

     

     

     

    How to apply: 

    Interested candidates must include in their online application form the following:

    1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV);

    2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and

    3) Examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required. 

    Please refrain from the use of AI based tools when completing your application, this is to ensure a fair competition for all candidates and helps maintain the integrity process. If the use of AI is identified, your application may be rejected. 

    Applications that do not include this information will not be considered. 

    Applications must be submitted before 23:55 Bahrain local time on 20 July 2025. 

    Applications submitted after the stated deadline will not be considered. 

    The Embassy can provide visa sponsorship to the successful candidate (if needed). 

     

    Process: 

    Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted. 

    Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate. 

    The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks. 

    The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and in the UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidates profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption. 

     The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. The British Embassy Bahrain is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local labour law.

    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.