Finance Officer / Accountant

Opportunities:   

• Working in an international organisation with flexible working practices, and matrix environment 
• Learning and development   

Challenges:  

• Being responsible for direct support of the end to end accounting process in the country including month and year end close 
• Actively supporting maintenance of consistent, accurate and robust financial accounting processes in line with corporate and statutory accounting practices and policies; 
• Assisting the review and update of internal processes and analysis

Main Accountabilities:     

In accordance with British Council equal opportunities, diversity and other corporate policies:   

• Complete all financial tasks required for the financial year-end pre-closing steps and provide support as required for the financial year-end closing steps. 
• Maintain financial records as per corporate policy and internal audit. 
• Provide support as required on accounting transactions and adjustments (accruals, deferrals and provisions), including Intercompany accounting. 
• Provide support as required with manual journals and off-system payments requests ensuring accuracy and compliance with relevant policies. 
• Assist with reconciliation of all relevant accounts and ensure that this is completed to corporate standards. 
• Assist Senior Accountant and accounting & taxation services provider with preparation of local Tax reports, submissions and other statutory returns.   
• Complete Travel & Expenses audits as per policy addressing issues in a promptly manner. 
• Assist Senior Accountant / Finance Manager, WE Financial Controller and accounting & taxation services provider with provision of information to internal / external auditors. 
• Assist in the implementation of internal and external audit recommendations. 
• Assist accounting & taxation services provider in monthly VAT accounts reconciliations. 
• Responsible for ensuring integrity of cash collection process – material responsibility 
• Responsible for ensuring integrity of customers refund process. 
• Support the income reconciliation process by extracting relevant reports. 
• Ensure compliance with treasury policy. 
• Consolidate and submit cash flow for the country 
• Assist to review and maintain GL accounts 
• Submit relevant documents to local bank as requested including bank mandates updates. 
• Process payment orders and cash withdrawals through the bank 
• Payroll taxation and accounting in line with local legislation 
• Processing of payroll related payment orders for the bank 
• Prepare and submit all relevant information to accounting & taxation services provider for local accounting and tax reporting 
• Sense check the accuracy of monthly VAT reports prepared by outsourced company 
• Maintain the local e-tax portal 
• Maintain the finance documents and archive 

Key Relationships:

Internal   

• Country Finance Manager 
• Regional Financial Accounting team 
• Shared Services Centre 
• Corporate Finance 
• Country Director 
• Country Operational team 
• Country Resources team 
•  HR team   

External 

• Outsourcing company providing local and tax accounting services 
• Local Bank 
• Service Suppliers 
• Ministry of Taxes

Role Requirements

• Passport requirements/ Right to work in country
• Eligible to live and work in Azerbaijan
• Notes: Police check required.

Language Requirements 

Minimum / essential 

• Excellent spoken and written communications skills in English and Azerbaijani

Desirable 

• Knowledge of Russian

Qualifications 

Minimum / essential 

• University Degree in Finance/Accounting

Desirable 

• Diploma/certificate in IFRS (ACCA, CIMA, DipIFR)   
•  MPS – Azerbaijan Certified accountant

Role Specific Knowledge & Experience

Minimum / essential 

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a similar role / Proved accounting experience; ·         
• High experience in Excel; ·         
• Experience in local accounting, taxation and reporting.

Desirable 

• Experience in working with a diverse team;     
• Experience in working with SAP& 1C.

British Council Core Skills 

• Analysing Data and Problems / Level 1: Is systematic – Breaks down problems into a list of tasks to be done and decides on appropriate action.   
• Communicating and Influencing / Level 2: Relates communications to circumstances – Displays good listening, writing and speaking skills, setting out logical arguments clearly and adapting language and form of communication to meet the needs of different people/audiences.   
• Managing risks / Level 1: Follows good practices – Demonstrates understanding of risk management policies and procedures and record of following them.  
• Planning and Organising / Level 1: Is methodical – Able to plan own work over short timescales for routine or familiar tasks and processes.  
• Managing People / Level 2: Supervises a small team – Supervises a small team of people doing similar jobs to deliver short term tasks to agreed quality and time standards.   
• Financial Reporting and Compliance - Level 1: Understand and apply general compliance standards. Understand core elements of financial statements and reports.   
• Professional Accounting Standards - Level 1: Apply accounting principles to accurately record financial transactions and maintain appropriate supporting documentation.   
• Transactional Accounting and Closing - Level 1: Understand and apply the British Council's accounting practices. Understand and apply account reconciliations.Highly organised and deadline oriented.High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

British Council Behaviours

• Connecting with Others (ESSENTIAL): Making regular opportunities to understand others better.     
• Making it Happen (ESSENTIAL): Delivering clear results for the British Council.   
• Working Together (ESSENTIAL): Establishing a genuinely common goal with others. 

The British Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and is keen to reflect the diversity of society at every level within the organisation. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. 

For more details about the post and application procedure, please follow the below link: https://jobs.britishcouncil.org/ Deadline for applications- UK time: 23:59, 6th January 2019

On the portal page please choose External Vacancies. You will be taken to “Search Vacancies” page. On this page please choose the relevant country and location (city).