Financial Controller

Transformation has resulted in changes in skills requirements, roles, and numbers of roles required in the new operating model. The roles in the new operating model will be restricted to employees in the selection pool in the first instance. Selection for any jobs that remain unfilled following the agreed selection process will be conducted in line with the Global Recruitment policy.

Financial Controller France

Further Information

• Number of positions: 1
• British Council Pay Band: 7
• Employment Type: Indefinite Contract
• Location: Paris, France
• Deadline to receive applications: 23rd June 2025
• Candidates are expected to have the right to live and work in France

 Role Purpose

This role supports financial accounting activities for the British Council and its subsidiary in France, which is a SASU (Société par Actions Simplifiée Unipersonal). The postholder will work 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 retained financial processes supporting Purchase to Pay (P2P), Order to Cash (O2C), Record to Report (R2R) and Cash and Liquidity Management (CLM), ensuring consistent, accurate and robust financial accounting in line with accounting practices and corporate policies.
• The role also contributes to statutory reporting, tax review / filing, cash flow reporting and audit processes, liaising closely with the external accounting firm and auditors.
• The postholder will improve communication across operational areas and with the MSP and will work closely with Group Controllership to support ongoing continuous improvement and effective management of the MSP.
• The postholder must be comfortable challenging senior stakeholders to ensure consistent, accurate and robust financial results whilst complying with financial accounting processes and in line with accounting practices and corporate policies.
• This role provides financial accounting professional advice and provides specialist retained financial services.

Main Accountabilities:

 Leadership and Management

• Role model British Council values and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in day-to-day interactions with colleagues at all levels. Ensure high levels of professionalism are demonstrated by everyone and that client and customer needs are reflected in ways of working. Champion financial accounting, providing a good standard of financial insight and financial discipline. Promote learning from our experience across the unit and wider organisation.

Financial Management

• Manage and oversee all aspects of financial accounting, including maintenance of accurate financial records, preparation of monthly and annual financial statements, including statutory reporting, adhering to the relevant accounting standards.
• Ensure compliance with relevant French tax laws and regulations, including TVA, corporate income tax and other relevant legislation. File necessary tax returns with the French authorities.
• Work closely with the MSP to ensure that the financial accounts are completed correctly and in a timely manner, and numbers are reported accurately.
• Deliver retained financial processes supporting P2P, O2C, R2R and CLM ensuring consistent, accurate and robust financial accounting in line with accounting practices and corporate policies.
• Provide retained in-country specific activities / processes, local, complex statutory / tax reporting, managing retained banking responsibilities, liaising with local authorities, supporting sanctioned countries and management of escalations raised by in-country teams and the MSP.
• Provide cash flow information and manage payment runs and debt management processes, and by extension, influencing these processes across the global network. Develop cash flow forecasting and management and liaise with the central Treasury team.
• Manage provision of information to internal / external auditors. Prepare for external audits and ensure compliance with reporting requirements. Implement and report on progress of audit recommendations. Identify and challenge issues and bring resolution in relation to financial accounting matters.
• Provide financial support to other departments, developing and implementing cost saving measures and efficiency improvements.

 Relationship and Stakeholder Management

• Provide stakeholder engagement and business partnering for retained financial processes, building strong working relationships with key stakeholders and the MSP to ensure that activities comply with professional accounting standards, technical accounting issues and other external reporting requirements in the British Council.
• Supervise and mentor accounting staff, where applicable.

          Sector/subject expertise

• Provide guidance and advice on professional accounting standards, technical accounting issues and other external reporting requirements in the British Council. Liaise with other specialist finance functions such as Tax, Treasury, Finance Policy, and Global Process Owners as needed. Proactively identify unusual or complex transactions and recommend appropriate professional accounting treatments. Produce periodic reports relating to financial accounting.

Service Improvement

• Implement new or updated accounting and reporting requirements in line with professional accounting standards; communicate change effectively with internal stakeholders, ensuring appropriate training.
• Work alongside the Transformation team to centralise and move activity to an MSP environment. Implement financial procedures, policies, and systems necessary to meet the organisation’s global reporting.

Role specific knowledge and experience

• Proven experience as a Financial Controller, ideally in a similar sector or environment in France.
• Good financial reporting, accounting, closing and compliance skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong understanding of accounting standards, including UK and French GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), and local tax laws.
• Excellent IT skills and proficient in Excel.
• Effective communication and influencing skills, able to relay complex financial information in an easy-to-understand way.
• Highly organised and deadline oriented, able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong leadership skills with experience in managing a team.
• Building relationships at all levels of the organisation.
• Flexibility, independence, and initiative to perform successfully in a rapidly changing environment.

 Minimum/essential

• Experience and knowledge of financial control processes and professional accounting standards (including relevant local requirements where applicable) for commercial and/or charitable organisations.
• Good influencing and negotiating experience.
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system experience.

Desirable

• Shared services operations.
• Experience of working in international and multicultural organisations.
• Leadership of change projects / initiatives.
• SAP experience.

Education

• Qualified accountant, for example a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or equivalent (such as ACCA), with at least 3 years of post-qualification experience.

Language

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English and French is required. French C1 minimum / C2 or native desired. English C1.

Please note that all applications should be submitted in English only.
It is advisable to apply in advance to avoid any technical issues at the last moment.

We are committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We will support all employees to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.