Senior Financial Controller

For over 90 years, the British Council has fostered peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding, and trust between people in the UK and around the world. Operating in more than 100 countries and territories, including Pakistan, the organisation shapes brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

This role is responsible for statutory reporting, tax compliance, audit, and financial risk management for the British Council’s operations in Pakistan. The postholder ensures accurate and timely financial statements, tax filings, and regulatory reporting. They oversee local tax matters, advise business and finance teams on regulatory requirements, coordinate with external tax advisors and authorities, and monitor changes in the tax and accounting environment to proactively identify and manage financial and tax risks.

As a key finance partner, the role manages financial accounting activities with the Retained Shared Service Center (RSSC) across Procure-to-Pay (P2P), Order-to-Cash (O2C), Record-to-Report (R2R), and cash and liquidity management. The postholder leads and mentors the Pakistan financial control team, drives tax compliance and IFRS reporting, oversees local cash flow reporting, and ensures effective financial controls and compliance with accounting standards and corporate policies.

The position focuses on high-risk and complex finance activities within country operations, supporting monthly close and financial compliance. It contributes to finance strategy and promotes a unified finance culture by working closely with business leaders, senior finance teams, Group Tax, RSSC, Regional Finance, Centers of Excellence, Global Process Owners, Treasury, audit and compliance teams, and local tax authorities. The ideal candidate will be proactive, strategic, commercially aware, detail-oriented, and possess strong communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

- Provide leadership and financial management for the Pakistan finance function, including people management, coaching, and promoting British Council values, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), professionalism, financial discipline, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure accurate and timely financial accounting across P2P, O2C, R2R, and cash and liquidity management in collaboration with RSSC.
- Oversee complex local statutory and tax reporting, e-invoicing, banking responsibilities, cash flow forecasting, audit processes, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Manage tax matters in partnership with Group Tax, external tax advisors, Treasury, and local authorities, including corporate income tax, sales tax, withholding tax, and statutory reporting.
- Act as a key finance business partner and subject-matter expert, building strong stakeholder relationships and providing guidance on local tax, statutory, accounting, and reporting requirements.
- Identify and recommend appropriate accounting or tax treatments for complex transactions, challenge issues, and support resolution.
- Lead implementation of new or changing tax, accounting, and reporting requirements, ensuring effective communication, training, compliance monitoring, and continuous improvement aligned with professional standards and corporate policies.

Required Qualifications

- Qualified accountant with at least 5 years of post-qualification experience.
- Several years of financial controllership experience with strong knowledge of local laws and corporate income taxation, tax compliance, sales tax management, withholding tax deductions, and statutory reporting.
- Good understanding of financial control processes and professional accounting standards, including local requirements applicable to commercial and/or charitable organisations.
- Proven track record of managing key finance functions and leading efficient, innovative, and results-oriented teams.
- Strong influencing and negotiation skills.
- Experience working with ERP systems.
- Proficiency in English (written and verbal) and fluency in Urdu to support external stakeholder engagement.
- Higher education degree.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

- Experience in Shared Services operations.
- Background working in international and multicultural organisations.
- Leadership experience in change projects or initiatives.
- SAP experience is desirable.
- The British Council supports hybrid working arrangements subject to line management approval and operational requirements.
- Candidates must have the legal right to work in Pakistan at the time of application; relocation or visa sponsorship is not provided.

The British Council is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. As a Disability Confident Employer, it guarantees interviews for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements and supports reasonable adjustments to enable full participation. The organisation is also committed to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults in line with legal requirements and its safeguarding policies.