About

• 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

• We are looking for a proactive and strategic Commercial Finance Business Partner to work closely with Regional Business Directors and leadership teams across SSA and other regions. In this role, you will help shape and deliver a sustainable, financially successful, and high-quality portfolio of contracts.
• You will provide expert financial insight, management information, and commercial advice to guide decision-making throughout the contract lifecycle—from opportunity development to delivery. This includes conducting rigorous financial appraisals of new business opportunities using our costing and pricing models, ensuring risks are understood and contracts deliver value for money while aligning with Cultural Engagement priorities on surplus, quality, partnerships, and impact.
• As a key decision influencer, you will offer independent commercial challenge and regional financial sign-off on bids and contracts, making clear recommendations on financial viability, risk, and return. You will also support regional financial planning and forecasting for client-funded contracts, producing high-quality analysis and insights to drive performance improvement.
• This is a high-visibility role within the Cultural Engagement Strategic Business Unit, requiring strong strategic thinking, analytical capability, and relationship-building skills. Operating in a complex, multi-location international environment, you will need to demonstrate commercial acumen, forward-looking perspective, and the ability to collaborate effectively with senior leaders, operational teams, and finance colleagues.

Accountabilities

• The role drives multi-year financial planning for regional contracts, ensuring sustainability and viability, and analyses donor landscapes to assess financial implications of different contract types and service models.
• A core responsibility is leading rigorous financial appraisals of new opportunities, applying consistent pricing and costing models, and monitoring benefits against investment, while maintaining oversight of the regional contract portfolio to ensure an appropriate balance of risk and return.
• Across the full contract lifecycle, the role provides commercial support for pipeline reviews, risk assessments, pricing, approvals, and reporting. It evaluates financial proposals, conducts quality reviews of bids, and presents recommendations to improve governance, profitability, and risk mitigation. It drafts financial narratives to strengthen tenders and helps negotiate balanced terms with funders, partners and suppliers.
• The role supports smooth transitions from contract award to delivery, embedding learning from programme monitoring and promoting efficiency and value creation.
• Championing Cultural Engagement as a centre of excellence in commercial and contract finance by sharing best practice and building regional capability in commercial awareness and value for money.
• The role manages risk and compliance by identifying and communicating material financial risks, liaising with global finance teams, ensuring reporting processes meet requirements and supporting audits. Leadership responsibilities include deputising for the Head of Commercial Finance when required.

Requirements of the role

• Operating in international and multi-cultural organisations
• Knowledge of and experience of commercial finance activity in bid pursuit and tendering environments
• Proficiency in financial modelling and analysis.
• Excellent working knowledge of cost & pricing tools and advanced Excel.
• Awareness of tax and treasury implications of contract/partnership work in an international context
• Business partnering experience, (minimum of 5 years), with at least 3 years recently supporting business development teams.
• Qualified accountant with proven experience of successfully managing and delivering similar roles.
• Closing Date: Applications will close at 23:59 on Monday 12th January 2026 UK Time.
• You must have the legal right to work in the mentioned regions, appointed candidate will remain in present country. British Council is not able to support or sponsor work visa applications.

Important Information

• Department: Finance
• Contract type: Indefinite
• Pay band: 8
• Location: United Kingdom, EU, Wider Europe, MENA, Sub Saharan Africa or South Asia. Location approvals will be obtained at the time of application. Progression to the next stage will depend on whether specific approval has been given for your country within these regions. This means if approval has not been given for a specific country, applications from that location will not be progressed.
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Requirements

• Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in the mentioned regions, appointed candidate will remain in present country. Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.

• 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