Senior Manager Financial Planning & Analysis (46727) at British Council | The UK’s international culture and education organisation

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.

British Council Pay Band 8

Department: Finance  
Location: Noida, India

Contract: Indefinite Contract (Permanent Role)
Apply by: Friday, 29th Aug 2025 23:59 IST
Interview window: 03rd week of September

The starting salary for this role is 20.80,125 per annum; this is negotiable based on skills, and expertise. In addition, this, there will be other benefits

This role is open to applicants who already have the legal right to work in India at the time of application. Relocation and visa sponsorship are not available. The British Council supports flexible working, including hybrid arrangements, subject to line manager approval and operational requirements.

Role Context

This role is responsible for ensuring the integrity of financial information through close collaboration with Data & Systems / SAP Technical teams, and for delivering accurate month-end Management Information, Financial Planning, and Forecasting in partnership with regional, country, and UK-based finance teams. The FP&A team supports global colleagues by preparing monthly reports, analysing variances to aid decision-making, and facilitating planning and forecasting activities. It also plays a key role in building new capabilities across global finance teams and fostering a unified Finance culture.

The ideal candidate will be a proactive and strategic thinker with strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and a solid understanding of commercial finance. They will engage regularly with senior finance leaders, managed service providers, global finance teams, and key stakeholders including Group Reporting, Treasury, Tax, and Audit. As the role involves managing a dispersed team of Financial Controllers and stakeholders across geographies, occasional international travel will be required.

Main responsibilities

• Lead and manage the finance team, role-modelling British Council values and EDI, while fostering a culture of professionalism, financial discipline, and continuous learning.
• Oversee month-end accounting processes and ensure timely, accurate delivery of management information packs for countries, regions, and SBUs in line with agreed SLAs.
• Support planning and forecasting activities, including administrative tasks such as salary uploads, allocation drivers, and FX rate updates.
• Engage with stakeholders to align service delivery with business objectives and conduct regular service delivery reviews to ensure performance and responsiveness.
• Drive process improvements, identifying automation opportunities and reducing turnaround times for month-end activities.
• Provide technical accounting guidance, liaising with Tax, Treasury, Finance Policy, and Global Process Owners to ensure compliance with professional standards.
• Lead service improvement initiatives, including implementation of new reporting requirements and supporting transformation efforts to centralize activities with MSPs.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, ensuring strong engagement and alignment across internal teams, external partners, and critical finance functions.

Role-Specific Skills

• Strong expertise in Procure to Pay, Financial Reporting, Accounting, Month-End Closing, and Compliance, with a solid understanding of global finance operations.
• Proficient in SAP and Excel, with excellent IT skills to support data analysis, reporting, and automation initiatives.
• Effective communicator with strong influencing skills, capable of simplifying complex financial concepts for diverse audiences.
• Highly organized and deadline-driven, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of financial outputs in a fast-paced environment.
• Skilled at build ing relationships across all levels of the organization, fostering collaboration and stakeholder alignment.
• Demonstrates flexibility, independence, and initiative, thriving in dynamic and evolving business contexts.

Role-Specific Knowledge & Experience

Minimum / Essential:

• Strong experience in Planning & Forecasting, with the ability to support strategic financial decision-making.
• Proficiency in Business Intelligence (BI) systems, enabling effective data analysis and reporting.
• Proven track record in driving process improvements across finance operations.

Desirable:

• Experience in Shared Services Operations, including service delivery and stakeholder engagement.
• Exposure to international and multicultural environments, with an understanding of global finance dynamics.
• Demonstrated leadership in change management initiatives and transformation projects.
• Hands-on experience with SAP in financial processes and reporting.

Education & Professional Qualification

• MBA in Finance from a premier institute
• Qualified Accountant or MBA with a minimum of 10 years of  post-qualification experience, showcasing deep expertise in financial operations and leadership.

Language Requirements

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

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 [email protected]