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.

Senior Accountant
Location Bangladesh
Contract Type Indefinite
Pay Grade: 6
Closing date: 21th Aug 2026 at 21:59 IST Time
Requirements Candidates are expected to have researched whether they have the right to live and work in the country in which the role is based. We are unable to support with visa sponsorship and relocation.

Role Context - About The Team:

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.

The British Council has been on the ground in Dhaka since 1951 and currently operates from offices in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. British Council Bangladesh is a vibrant operation and which consists of three strategic business units: English, Exams and Cultural Engagement (Education, Arts and English Programmes).

British Council Bangladesh, part of the South Asia region, opened its first office in 1951. This is a large, priority British Council operation including teaching, exams and partnership funded projects and programmes. We currently operate from 3 cities (Dhaka, Chattogram & Sylhet), but our programme reaches all 64 districts of the country. We do also have some off-site premises for delivering exams and teaching and project offices for delivering programmes. The operating environment and context can often be complex and challenging.

Role purpose – The job:

This role will support the financial accounting activities for the British Council and works 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 will 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. The role will also contribute to statutory reporting, tax review/filing, cashflow reporting, audit processes. The postholder will support communication across operational areas and with the MSP and will work closely with Group Controllership to support on-going continuous improvement and effective management of the MSP. With oversight from the Financial Controller and support from the Bangladesh Finance team, this role is responsible for managing the end-to-end accounting function for the country. The role oversees the month-end and year-end close processes and ensures that financial accounting activities are performed consistently, accurately, and in compliance with applicable accounting standards, corporate policies, and internal control requirements.

Main accountabilities:

Leadership and Management

• Plans and prioritises own activities, which span across a range of different work streams or internal client relationships. Responds to changing and at times competing requirements to ensure effective delivery of responsibilities over set reporting timescales. Provide a good standard of financial business partnering, financial insight and financial discipline. Tasks and coordinates others (e.g. internal customers, colleagues or third party suppliers) to complete activities in accordance with agreed financial procedures.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Work closely with the MSP to 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.
• Contribute to statutory reporting, tax review/filing, cashflow reporting and audit processes. Provide Cash flow information and manage payment runs and debt management processes.
• Support the provision of information to internal / external auditors. Implement and report on the progress of audit recommendations. Identify issues and bring them to the attention of senior members in the team for resolution in relation to financial accounting matters.

Relationship and Stakeholder Management

• Develop good working relationships with key internal customers, colleagues and the MSP to ensure that activities comply with professional accounting standards, technical accounting issues and other external reporting requirements in British Council. As required, represents the British Council in discussions and dealings with external suppliers/providers.

Sector/Subject Expertise

• Proactively maintains a sound working knowledge of developments in external policy, practice and regulation within financial accounting to build credibility, confidence and business insight.
• Provide first line advice and guidance on financial accounting issues and liaise with senior colleagues and/or other specialist finance functions such as Tax, Treasury, Finance Policy, and Global Process Owners as needed.
• Pro-actively identify unusual or complex transactions, discuss with senior colleagues and support action to resolve issues. Assist the production of periodic reports relating to financial accounting.

Service Improvement

• Support the implementation of new or updated accounting and reporting requirements in line with professional accounting standards. Support work to centralise and move activity to an TCS environment.

Requirements of the role:

Minimum/essential

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance/ Accounting
• At least 3 years’ experience of working in accounting and finance role.
• Good knowledge and skills on understanding of local reporting.
• Good knowledge of general and local accounting practices alongwith international accounting standards (IAS/IFRS).
• Experience in the use of SAP.

Desirable

• Qualified/ Part Qualified Accountant of ACCA/ ACA or other IFAC professional body members
• Experience of working in a complex environment / international organisation.
• Experience in handing statutory reporting and external audit.

Language Requirements

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills both in English and Bangla.

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