View Vacancy – Finance Co-ordinator (Joint Europe Consular Network)- ESP20.429

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption. You may find more information in the Additional Information section below.

The British Embassy in Madrid is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is looking to recruit Finance Co-ordinator to the Joint Europe Consular Network.

The main purpose of the job is to monitor, report and record two consular network budget expenditure and allocations; coordinating and collaborating with all consular network budget holders to ensure adherence to FCDO financial management best practice and Value for Money (VFM) principles. First point of contact on consular financial management matters for the two consular networks and Consular Directorate in FCDO.

Resources (65%)

• Budget Process/Communications: Provide clear and concise budget communication to European consular networks on a monthly basis, talking widely across both networks to budget holders and challenging budget forecasts when required.
• Budget Management: Responsible for providing accurate and timely budget data to budget holders, ensuring the European consular networks meet their deadlines. Manage three separate budgets that are underpinned by robust monthly forecasts. Proactively advise and work with colleagues who are running high cost events to ensure the budget process and forecast returns are robust, reliable and VFM.
• Budget Analyses: Independently analyse the overall performance of both Euro-Asia Network (EAN) and Europe-South Network (ESN) budgets (separately and collectively). Make recommendations direct to Consular Regional Directors (CRDs) ahead of Quarterly Business Performance reviews with Consular Directorate. Provide monthly budget and trend analysis to CRDs and to Consular Finance in London, updating and drawing down on data from OBIEE and Hyperion (internal FCDO financial managment systems), highlighting risks and potential mitigating measures.
• Budget guidance/advisor: Provide ongoing training and support to EAN and ESN budget holders to ensure they provide robust and timely forecasts.
• Quality Control: Analysis, identify and evaluate any network quality issues, putting in place solutions or referring emerging risks to Consular Regional Directors and or Consular Directorate Finance Team. Independently responsible for monitoring and investigating Open POs, GRNIs and charging errors, taking appropriate action to rectify any issues.
• Budget Bids: Lead on the bidding process for each financial year. Ensure timely rollout of bidding documents, evaluate and interrogate bids and produce a bid summary for CRDs and London.

Resource Envelope (35%)

• Envelope Process: Tracking consular LE staff resources across 77 British diplomatic and consular posts, ensuring that accurate and timely data on any savings and costs is available for CRDs to deploy as appropriate.
• Communications: responsible for proactive communication and engagement to ensure Corporate Service Managers (CSM) are aware of the Consular Resource Envelope Policy. Regular liaison with CRDs, CSMs and CROMs to ensure real-time clarity on resource envelope operations. Keeping Consular Finance informed of changes and, in addition, after liaising with the relevant CSMs and Finance Directorate, action the movement of funds from one country to another – if required.

• Excellent written communication skills, including copywriting, editing, and proofreading, with a commitment to communicating clearly and in plain English (C1 level).
• Previous experience in budget management (process and managing budgets).
• Demonstrable communications skills – verbal and written (written communications and guidance).
• Experience of working autonomously and globally within networks (establishing and maintaining remote working relationships).
• Advanced level of Excel (or ability to develop this skill quickly).
• Excellent use of Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Excellent team working and collaboration skills.