CE Finance Business Partner

As a valued employee of the British Council, you already help us deliver our mission to support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For over 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

You are part of our organisation in over 200 countries and territories and where we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

The Role:

This role provides targeted support and business partnering to Cultural Engagement (CE), covering both, commercial and grant-funded activities. The CE Finance Business Partner (BDS) helps ensure financial clarity, provides insight on programme and geographic performance, supports planning and forecasting cycles, and contributes to effective decision‑making.

The postholder plays a key role in supporting CE’s operational teams to understand their financial position, make informed choices, and deliver programmes within budget. Working under the guidance of the Senior Finance Business Partner, the role ensures high‑quality financial information, meaningful analysis, and consistent financial practice. The role operates within a complex matrix, supporting the CE Sectors (Arts, Education, English & School Education), CE enabling functions, and regional/Geographic Directorate teams. 

In addition, the role contributes to:

•              Supporting efficient and effective resource allocation and planning, helping ensure budgets, delivery capacity and funding are aligned with programme needs and organisational priorities.

•              Supporting the delivery of the CE portfolio strategy and financial targets by providing accurate financial analysis, clear performance insights and well-structured planning inputs.

•              Contributing to the standardisation of planning and reporting processes, helping improve consistency and efficiency in FP&A cycles and supporting effective use of the Anaplan tool for planning and forecasting.

As a Finance Business Partner, the role ensures financial rigour, transparent performance insight, commercial awareness and consistent application of financial governance across all CE operations. The role is programme‑facing, collaborative, and insight‑driven, positioned as a core finance partner supporting delivery teams to maximise impact.

Accountabilities:  

This role serves as a day-to-day finance partner and trusted advisor to Cultural Engagement (CE) teams, supporting commercial, grant-funded and enabling services. It works closely with stakeholders across CE sectors, Geographic Directorates, programme delivery and corporate services to provide financial insight, challenge and guidance. A key focus is helping non-finance colleagues understand financial performance, cost drivers, KPIs, risks and opportunities, while responding to programme queries and managing competing priorities based on risk, impact and urgency.

The role supports financial planning, budgeting and forecasting for regional grant programmes, including ODA and non-ODA funding. Responsibilities include preparing and consolidating budgets and forecasts, ensuring consistent planning assumptions, supporting effective resource allocation, and contributing to multi-year operational planning and scenario modelling. It also ensures financial plans are aligned with approved guidelines and the wider CE strategy.

In addition, the role is responsible for financial monitoring, reporting and analysis, including management reporting, variance analysis, dashboards, KPI tracking, margin analysis and ad-hoc financial deep dives. It identifies performance trends and emerging risks, supports performance review meetings, contributes to cash-flow planning, and provides financial modelling and risk assessment for CE Change initiatives. The role also works with the FP&A CoE to maintain consistent reporting standards.

Finally, the position supports the Senior Finance Business Partner with Grant in Aid (GIA) Board requirements, including gathering, validating and organising financial information and preparing supporting schedules and documentation for Board submissions.

Role specific knowledge and experience: 

Essential:

• Intermediate experience in financial management, FP&A, or management accounting.
• Strong financial modelling, forecasting and analytics skills.
• Strong data literacy (Power BI, dashboard creation).
• Experience providing financial support to operational teams with positive feedback.
• Strong communication skills, including story telling supported with data, and the ability to effectively explain financials to non‑finance colleagues.
• Experience handling multiple deadlines and working with a portfolio of activities.

Desirable:

• Experience in Exams, Teaching, or broader education / commercial service environments.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP platforms.
• Experience with Anaplan or similar EPM platforms.

Role specific skills:

• Business Partnering: able to build trust and communicate financial information clearly to non‑finance teams.
• Financial Acumen: solid understanding of budgeting, forecasting and financial performance drivers.
• Analytical Skills: able to prepare meaningful internal variance analysis and identify early warning indicators.
• Multi‑tasking and prioritisation: able to manage multiple demands and deadlines.
• Collaboration: strong relationship‑building skills across dispersed teams.
• EPM System Expertise (preferably Anaplan): confident in both planning and reporting functions.

Language Requirements:

The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.

Closing Date:   Applications will close at 23:59 IST on Sunday, 11 October 2026

Important Information:

• Business Division: Finance and Corporate Services
• Pay Band: 7-F
• Country/Location: Sarajevo- Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sofia- Bulgaria, Poland, London- UK, Kyiv- Ukraine, Belgrade- Serbia
• Contract Type: Indefinite Contract (Permanent)

• Proof of Identity requirements/right to work in country: Candidates should ensure they have the pre-existing legal right to live and work in the country where the role is based. Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. 

 
British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service.  This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

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

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

Safeguarding Statement

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 in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org