Job Description

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 Role

The Director of FP&A Centre of Excellence (CoE) is responsible for leading the British Council’s global finance capability to deliver standardised, technology-enabled financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and insight generation across Regions, Strategic Business Units (SBUs), and Central Functions. The role oversees three core pillars: Process Excellence (standardisation, governance, and continuous improvement of FP&A processes), Product & Technology Enablement (leadership of the Anaplan platform, analytics, automation, and AI/ML forecasting capabilities), and Core Delivery & Service Operations (management of central FP&A teams supporting English & Exams, Cultural Engagement, Central Services, and Staff Costs). The position also drives adoption of a globally consistent FP&A Target Operating Model, ensuring scalable, accurate, and insight-driven financial decision support.

Operating within the FP&A Centre of Excellence, the role requires a strategic, forward-looking finance leader with experience delivering global FP&A services in a complex international organisation. The Director partners closely with the Global Finance Director, Director of FP&A, Group FP&A, regional finance teams, and Business Decision Support (BDS) leaders to strengthen financial performance, embed data-driven decision-making, improve forecasting accuracy, and support organisational priorities. The role combines leadership of finance transformation, technology adoption, service excellence, and capability building to enhance the British Council’s commercial and operational decision-making worldwide.

Main responsibilities

The role provides end-to-end leadership of the FP&A Centre of Excellence (CoE), acting as the global owner of planning, forecasting, reporting, and analytics frameworks. It is responsible for managing centralised FP&A delivery teams across English & Exams, Cultural Engagement, Central Services, and Staff Costs, ensuring consistent, high-quality management information, financial models, planning tools, and decision-support services through defined KPIs, SLAs, and governance standards.

The position also leads process standardisation, continuous improvement, automation, and governance of planning assumptions and analytics quality, while serving as the product owner for the Anaplan platform and related digital FP&A capabilities, including predictive analytics and scenario modelling. In addition, it builds strong partnerships across Finance, Data, Compliance, and Business Decision Support (BDS) leadership, acts as the escalation point for CoE service issues, and develops a high-performing, multi-disciplinary global team with strong digital FP&A, systems, and analytics capabilities.

Role specific skills

• Building relationships at all levels of the organisation
• Excellent analytical and data skills along with strong planning and organisational skills are required.
• Flexibility, independence, and initiative to perform successfully in a global and rapidly changing environment.
• Ability to operate effectively and prioritise in a busy global facing role

Role specific knowledge and experience

Minimum/essential

• Experience leading a global FP&A Centre of Excellence or shared service model.
• Proven leadership across process, systems, analytics and operational finance teams.
• Experience owning an enterprise planning platform (Anaplan strongly preferred).
• Strong understanding of predictive analytics, automation and digital FP&A.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive organizational adoption of new ways of working.
• Managing and developing teams.

Desirable

• Expertise in FP&A process design, standardization and governance.
• Strong data literacy and ability to translate between business, finance and technology domains.
• Development and optimisation of SAP accounting and planning tool applications.

Language Requirements

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

Education

• Higher - Degree qualified

Professional Qualification and Certification

• CCAB qualified accountant with proven experience of successfully managing and delivering similar roles.

British Council | Pay Band LMFG (Pay Band 10)

Location: India, Malaysia, Poland, Nigeria, UK

Department: Finance
Contract:Indefinite Contract

Apply by: Wednesday, Sept 16th (11:59 local time)
Interview Window: In the following weeks

Please note that applicants must already have the legal right to work in one of the countries listed above at the time of application. The British Council is unable to provide mobility, relocation, or visa sponsorship support for this position. 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.

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