Senior Accountant - SSA Cluster 2

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

Important Information:

Contract Duration: Indefinite

Pay band: 6

Salary: ETB 86 700

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Closing Date:  Applications will close at 22:59 UK time on 16 September 2026

Right to work: You must have the legal right to work in the country at the time of application. Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. 

The Role:
 

This role supports the financial accounting activities for the British Council in Ethiopia and other countries within the cluster (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique). The role works closely with the Managed Service Provider (MSP) to ensure the financial accounts are completed correctly and in a timely manner, and numbers are reported accurately.

The role delivers effective financial support services for the British Council operations in Ethiopia and across Cluster 2 countries as required, within agreed timescales. This includes finance administration, coordination/logistical support and in-country retained Purchase to Pay (P2P), Order to Cash (O2C), Record to Report (R2R), and Cash & Liquidity Management (CLM) activities. The role ensures consistent, accurate and robust financial accounting in line with accounting practices and corporate policies.

The role supports and leads on country-level tax reporting, compliance and statutory filing activities across SSA Cluster 2 countries, working alongside the Tax & Statutory CoE team and under the direction of the Financial Controller – SSA Cluster 2.

The role also contributes to statutory reporting, tax review/filing, cashflow reporting, audit processes and will provide finance support to sanctioned/embargoed countries as required.

The postholder will support business unit leads and operations teams in Ethiopia and across countries in Cluster 2 to embed new finance ways of working post-transformation, providing guidance on MSP-supported processes and responding to finance queries from operational colleagues.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:  

Leadership and Management

• Plans and prioritises own activities, which span across a range of different work streams or internal client relationships. Responds to changing and at times competing requirements to ensure effective delivery of responsibilities over set reporting timescales. Provide a good standard of financial business partnering, financial insight and financial discipline. Provide line management and task coordination to the Accountant based in Ethiopia, ensuring consistent standards of delivery and compliance.

Financial Management

• Work closely with the MSP to deliver retained P2P, O2C, R2R and CLM financial processes in Ethiopia and other countries in cluster 2, ensuring consistent, accurate and robust financial accounting in line with accounting practices and corporate policies. Support month-end and year-end close processes, balance-sheet reconciliations and maintenance of the general ledger.
• Lead country-level tax reporting and compliance activities in Ethiopia, working alongside the Tax & Statutory CoE team and under direction of the FC – SSA Cluster 2 . Prepare local tax submissions and statutory filings, ensure timely compliance with Ethiopian tax authorities, timely application for VAT refunds and provide tax insights to senior colleagues. Identify and escalate material tax risks or regulatory changes as they arise.
• Contribute to statutory reporting working closely with the CoE – Statutory & Tax team and the Financial Controller – Cluster 2 to ensure accurate and compliant reporting

Relationship and Stakeholder Management

• Develop good working relationships with key internal customers, colleagues and the MSP to ensure that activities comply with professional accounting standards, technical accounting guidance and other external reporting requirements in British Council. As required, represent the British Council in discussions and dealings with external suppliers/providers and local authorities in Ethiopia & Cluster 2.
• Support business unit leads and operations teams in Ethiopia & Cluster 2 to embed new finance ways of working post-transformation. Provide practical guidance on MSP-supported P2P, CLM, O2C and R2R processes, and respond to finance queries from operational colleagues, escalating to the FC – SSA Cluster 2  as appropriate.

Sector/Subject Expertise

• Proactively maintains a sound working knowledge of developments in external policy, practice and regulation within financial accounting, including statutory, banking, and tax requirements, to build credibility, confidence and business insight Ethiopia & Cluster 2.
• Provide first-line advice and guidance on financial accounting and tax issues; liaise with senior colleagues and specialist finance functions including Tax, Treasury, Finance Policy and Global Process Owners as needed. Pro-actively identify unusual or complex transactions, discuss with senior colleagues and support action to resolve issues.

Service Improvement

• Support the implementation of new or updated accounting and reporting requirements in line with IFRS and professional accounting standards in Ethiopia. Support work to centralise and move activity to an MSP environment and embed the Phase 2 controllership model in-country.

Requirements of the role:

• Minimum 2 years of experience in operational financial management and/or management accounting.
• Degree level education. Part qualified with a recognised accounting body.
• Written and verbal proficiency in English is required. Written and verbal proficiency in Amharic is also required for this role based in Ethiopia.
• Financial reporting and tax compliance experience.
• Advanced experience of Excel.
• ERP systems experience (transaction level and reporting).

Desirable:

• Minimum 2 years of experience in operational financial management and/or management accounting.
• Experience working with SAP.
• Experience of working in an international organisation.

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