E+ Compliance Officer

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.

The Department for Education has announced that the British Council is set to take on the role of National Agency for Erasmus+.

In December the UK and EU arrived at a political agreement that the UK would rejoin the Erasmus+ scheme in 2027. That agreement has now been legally formalised under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The British Council has a longstanding commitment to supporting international exchange. It was a lead partner in the Erasmus+ UK National Agency from 2014-20, where Erasmus+ made a significant contribution to the UK's cultural relations activities, funding 8,091 projects, engaging 583,757 UK participants, and awarding around €1.1 billion to UK organisations.

Pay Band: Grade 6

Salary: £28,072 gross per annum plus £3,300 London Market Allowance

Contract Duration: 2 Year Fixed Term Contract with possibility of extension

Location: Strafford  

Right to Work Requirements: Current right to work in the UK. The British Council is not able to support or sponsor work visa applications.

Closing Date: Applications will close on 25 September at 22:59 UK Time

We are operating on the basis that any offer is made pending client confirmation of funds.

Role Purpose:

The Compliance Officer will be supporting the delivery of Erasmus+ by carrying out routine compliance monitoring and verification activities across the grant lifecycle.

You will be working under the guidance of the Compliance Manager, this role helps ensure that applications, awards, delivery activity, and reporting meet contractual, regulatory, and organisational requirements. 

Main Responsibilities:

• Carrying out routine compliance checks across the full grant lifecycle, including applications, awards, delivery evidence and claims.
• Conducting due diligence and verification checks on applicants and beneficiaries, ensuring required information and documentation is complete and accurate.
• Reviewing documentation against programme rules, policies, procedures and established compliance checklists.
• Recording compliance checks, findings, decisions and supporting evidence accurately to maintain clear and auditable records.
• Identifying errors, omissions, inconsistencies, risks, irregularities and potential red flags, and escalating concerns promptly.
• Supporting compliance reviews, sampling exercises, partner assessments and audit activities by gathering and organising relevant evidence.
• Maintaining complete, accurate and traceable records in line with organisational requirements and audit standards.
• Responding to routine compliance queries and providing clear guidance to programme teams and stakeholders.
• Providing data, findings and updates for compliance reports and dashboards, including identifying trends and recurring issues.
• Contributing to continuous improvement by highlighting recurring issues and suggesting improvements to processes, tools and templates.

Role Specific Knowledge & Experience:

Essential                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

• Experience working in an administrative, compliance, audit, or governance environment 
• Experience reviewing documents or working with structured processes 
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records 
• Ability to follow procedures and apply rules consistently 
• Experience handling data or documentation in an organised and auditable way

Desirable

• Experience in grant-funded, regulated, or public sector environments 
• Exposure to compliance, assurance, or audit activities 
• Familiarity with data systems or case management tools
• Working towards or interested in compliance, audit, or risk qualifications (e.g. ICA, IIA, IRM)

Specific Requirements

• Degree or equivalent work experience

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. 
#LI-Hybrid  

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