Accountant

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

 

 

 

Accountant

 

Context:

 

The Finance function is structured along functional lines with the aim of embedding the ‘three lines of defence’ model at its heart, clearly separating the financial control (first line) and risk and assurance (second line) functions, ensuring the integrity of our results and the strength of our controls. 

 

This will allow the organisation to focus more easily on business decision making, strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting on the basis of accurate monthly results.

 

Spain is one of the largest British Council operations overseas, which includes a total of 11 teaching centres, a large exams operation, the only primary and secondary school in the British Council network and a Project team that leads on various cultural relations activities, focused on Arts, Education and English

 

 

Role Purpose:

 

This role is responsible for supporting the end to end accounting process in the country, including month and year end close, and ensures consistent, accurate and robust financial accounting processes in line with accounting practices and corporate policies. This is a supporting role in the Financial Controlling and Accounting process which is a key function in the new organisational structure emerging from the Financial Transparency recommendations.

 

Challenges & Accountabilities:

 

 

Complete all financial tasks required for the financial month-end pre-closing steps and provide support as required for the financial month-end closing steps.

Complete all financial tasks required for the financial year-end pre-closing steps and provide support as required for the financial year-end closing steps.

Maintain financial records as per corporate policy and internal audit.

Provide support as required on accounting transactions and adjustments (accruals, deferrals and provisions), including Intercompany accounting.

Provide support as required with manual journals and off-system payments requests ensuring accuracy and compliance with relevant policies.

Assist with reconciliation of all relevant accounts and ensure that this is completed to corporate standards.

To support the senior accountants in the tasks for the preparation of the quarterly FCCF return. To provide feedback and support on financial compliance to operational colleagues on a monthly basis to help achieve future financial compliance.

Assist Senior Accountant with preparation of local Tax submissions and other statutory returns.

To support SII and assist with the preparation of the information and submission to the tax authorities on a timely basis.

Assist Senior Accountant in the review of all DPC/TEX card envelopes for intra-community VAT purchases and invoices that need to be included in SII submissions  

Assist Senior Accountant / Financial Controller with provision of information to internal / external auditors.

Assist in the implementation of audit recommendations.

Complete daily cash reconciliations.

Be responsible for ensuring integrity of cash collection process.

Be responsible for ensuring integrity of customers refund process.

Support the income reconciliation process by extracting relevant reports.

Ensure compliance with treasury policy.

Submit relevant documents to local bank as requested including bank mandates updates.

Monthly Extraction of WBS reports for Pan Spain budget holders

Support the Head of Procurement in analysing expenditure for procurement exercises

Monthly Analysis and reporting of travel expenditure per staff member to the payroll team for statutory reporting requirements

Consolidation of the additions and disposals in the local FAR for the Delegation

Maintain the depreciation schedules for the FAR in SAP

Prepare invoices to governmental agencies through FACE (local mandatory system).

To provide adhoc reports as requested by the Director Finance and Resources, Financial Controller or Senior Accountant.

 

Regional and Functional Team Working:

 

Contribute to ensuring the policies, procedures and systems are delivered with integrity.

Work closely and effectively as part of the regional and global finance teams.

Actively support equality and diversity and work to the British Council’s EDI policy at all times.

 

 

Role specific knowledge and experience

 

Minimum/essential

Fluency in written and spoken English

Shortlisted candidates will either demonstrate they have met the required standard through presentation of an agreed English language certificate or will be required to take the APTIS test and demonstrate a B1 level of English proficiency.

Proven accounting experience.

 

Desirable

Experience working with SAP

Finance graduate

 

Further Information

 

Pay band: Grade H / 4

Department: Finance

Contract type: Temporary

Location: Madrid

Start date: 15 March of 2024

 

 

  

 

Closing Date:      applications will close on 10 March 2024 at 23:59hs

 

 

 

 

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

 

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

 

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

 

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

 

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

 

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

 

If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org

 

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.

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