Website British Embassy Kathmandu
Head of Finance, BE Kathmandu
he British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Job Category: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)
Job Description
(Roles and Responsibilities)
Main purpose of job
The Head of Finance (HoF) role is essential to the effective working of the finance function and the delivery of quality programme management/ corporate service in BEK. Head of Finance works as part of the Operations team to deliver assurance on financial performance, providing challenge, advice, and support to ensure teams contribute to Departmental objectives. Head of Finance also works with internal and external partners, including stakeholders in other professions, to ensure excellence in financial performance and financial capability in the Embassya. This includes working with Sr Management, Team Leaders, Corporate service team, programme teama and finance colleagues across the organisation to ensure effective value for money and oversight in the use of public funds.
Head of Finance supports programme teams and corporate service teams in delivering programme and corporate activities effectively. This includes providing clear advice and being able to identify and outline technical finance solutions as required. They will provide regular, robust financial information, detailed analysis, and business insight to His Majesty Ambassador/ Development Director/ Dy Head of Mission/ Group Heads/ Operations Team Leader/ Team Leaders and Finance Business partners to support effective planning, decision making and capacity building. The successful candidate will lead the finance team and report to Operations and ACE Team Leader.
Job description
Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?
- Financial leadership across the organisation, leading and managing Overseas Development Assistance and Operations budgets; ensuring effective financial planning and management across the British Embassy Kathmandu;
- Building information into effective reporting (MI) using technical knowledge, standards and enabling the business to be able to make decisions on the reports produced.
- Accountable for the operation and continuous improvement of key finance processes to generate quality timely and accurate performance reports, quarterly/ monthly report (to corporate board and delivery board), analysis and recommendations to facilitate effective decision making.
- Conduct challenge meetings with Senior local budget holder/ Senior Responsible Officer/ Programme Responsible Officer / Corporate team and promote accountability and Value for Money, better forecasting, budget management and variance analysis of Overseas Development Assistance and operational budget.
- Complete corporate finance returns such as Resource Allocation Round submissions, interim and year end accounting returns, refresh of the operational plan, support in country business planning from finance perspective, monthly returns, and local implementations of corporate initiatives/ policies.
- Prepare and support local scenario-based forecasts (Overseas Development Assistance and Operational budget) and programming, considering risk probability and contingency planning and support management of pipeline and pipeline budgets in year and across future years.
- Contribute maintenance and strengthening of the internal control environment to mitigate risks, by ensuring compliance with key finance processes, highlighting control weaknesses identified and making associated recommendations for improvement. Support internal and external audits and delivery of associated recommendations relating to finance and control.
- Support Senior Responsible Officer/ Programme Responsible Officer/ Programme Managers and advisors on financial aspects of programme design (including risk mitigation, counter fraud, corruption, and leakage), implementation, planning and forecasting, monitoring, reporting and delivery of results. Develop and support relationships with third parties and provide local support in the alignment of results and resources.
- Provide basic financial support to Commercial Advisors/ Manager, e.g. on contract negotiations and delivery chain analysis.
- Provide financial input and contribution to enhance business case quality through advice and challenge, both locally at the design stage and through quality assurance work undertaken as an active member of the finance cadre/ community.
- Improve the standards of financial awareness and financial management locally, for example by providing support in undertaking due diligence and fiduciary risk assessment.
- Apply professional judgement in interpreting management information, partner evidence and accounting standards and explain this to non – finance staff.
- Provide finance/budget input to pay and work force related commissions.
- Provide input to mitigate finance risk across British Embassy Kathmandu.
- Line management responsibility for Finance Manager and quality assurer for Finance support officer. Responsible for developing Finance team capability to deliver operational finance duties and support strengthened financial management locally.
- Fraud Laision officer (around 10% role) for the post including ensuring effective management of fraud risk, contribute to development/ update of fraud risk action plan, coordinate with UK fraud and investigating team.
Key behaviours required for the job:
Behaviour 1: Leadership Behaviour 2: Communicating and influencing
Behaviour 3: Seeing the big picture Behaviour 4: Working together
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
Essential on arrival:
- Bachelors in finance or business or equivalent field.
• Extensive Financial Management experience (5 – 7 yrs) - Strong understanding of development assistance in Nepal
- Ability to analyse, manage and present complex financial information clearly both verbally and in writing to support organisational decision-making.
- The job holder must understand different financial planning and budgeting techniques and their application in different contexts.
- Advanced practical skills in one or more area of management accounting and cost analysis, investment finance, treasury management, planning and budgeting and financial accounting, and who can set and interpret financial policy in these areas and combining this with sound business knowledge, is able to provide advice, guidance and leadership to others.
- Good leadership and management experience, including working across teams. A proactive approach and a focus on continuous improvement of self and service, with an appetite to work with others to simplify processes and improve efficiency.
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
Desirable:
- Part Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent; or working towards qualification; with financial experience over an extended period of time.
- ODA financial management experience
Part Qualified is defined as completion of: ACCA Applied Skills Level; CIMA Management Level Case Study; CIPFA Professional Diploma; ICAEW Professional Level. Government Finance Function Career Frameworks are available on the OneFinance website: Finance Business Partnering (civilservice.gov.uk)
Required behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
Application deadline: 31 December 2023
Grade: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Type of Position: Full-time, Permanent
Region: South Asia & Afghanistan
Country/Territory: Nepal
Location (City): Kathmandu
Type of Post: British Embassy
Number of vacancies :1
Salary Currency: NPR
Salary: 265451
Start Date: 1 March 2024
Other benefits and conditions of employment:
The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance.
Around half of our work forces are women. We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment.
This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCDO has anywhere across the globe. We are aiming to make it the best.
Learning and development opportunities : British Embassy Kathmandu offers continuous learning and development opportunities both in Nepal and abroad.
Work Pattern: BEK offers some flexible working including working from home for up to 2 days a week where compatible with the role.
Additional information
Note : All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details and the behavioural questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.’’
For BHC candidates, the Local BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.
For other than BHC candidates, Basic Salary will be NPR 265451/- Monthly Salary
To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined and the standards expected for this position.
Please go through the technical competency framework before completing the technical questions: FCDO technical competency frameworks – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.
For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.
The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.
To Apply:
Please note applications without (a) and (b) will not be considered.
A. Complete the Online Application Form
B. Complete the Motivation and Competency Segment in the Online Application Form
Internal candidates applying for this position need to upload their appraisal forms for the previous 2 years (if applicable) and also inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.
We will accept only online applications by 31st Dec 2023 -23:55 hours NST).
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted within 2 months of the application deadline, and no telephone/email enquires regarding the status of application will be dealt with. Basis the scores, the candidate/s who did not score as highly as the successful candidate, might be placed on the reserve list. If during the reserve period of 12 months, the same or largely similar role becomes available, the role may be offered to the second or subsequent appointable candidates.
Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission.
Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.
The appointment will be subject to Police Verification and other checks including references, medical, educational and professional.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.