Accountant

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

Job Title: Accountant (37838)

Pay Band: 5 |Contract Type: Indefinite |Location: Beijing, China 

Role Purpose: 

• This role delivers the financial accounting transactions for China, one of 14 countries in the East Asia region division of the British Council. 
• The role ensures that the financial process and internal control deliver the end-to-end accounting requirements reporting in line with accounting practices, corporate policies, and local statutory, accounting and tax compliance regulations. 
• This role reports to the Senior Accountant for the China financial control cluster which supports the Country management team in Finance related functions and business matters.  

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following: 

Financial Ledgers and reporting
•    Ensure the accounting transactions (systems generated and manual) are accurate and reliable and properly recorded in the country’s accounting books (General Ledger, Fixed Assets Register, registers and schedules)
•    Validate the General Account balances in the Trial balance of the entities  
•    Complete all financial tasks required for the financial month end process, for the pre-closing and month end closing steps, including maintenance of accounting records.
•    Complete all accounting transactions and adjustments (accruals, deferrals and provisions), including Intercompany accounting in line with accounting rules.
•    Complete all financial tasks required for the financial year-end process in compliance with corporate and regional control procedures and deadlines.  
•    Co-ordinate with the Financial Planning & Analysis colleagues and Noida SSC to complete month/year-end preparations and journaling. 

Accounting functions and processes
•    Analyse General Ledger control accounts for reconciliation and house-keeping purposes to ensure accuracy of each account in compliance to corporate policies 
•    Prepare and book manual journals and off-system payments requests ensuring accuracy and compliance with relevant policies. 
•    Support the grant income reconciliation process by extracting relevant reports.
•    Create billing documents from approved supporting documentation. Ensure proper documentation is filed for record retention.
•    Support integrity of customers refund process. 
•    Support travellers and claimants in submitting claims accurately and promptly in the Travel systems (T&E, Procurement card or Concur) policy  in compliance with corporate and local travel policy
•    Maintain financial records as per corporate policy, document retention processes and internal audit.
•    Administer internal control processes to ensure the integrity of cash collection and custody of financial instruments. 
•    Assist Senior Accountant with preparation of local Tax submissions and the other statutory returns 
•    Assist Senior Accountant / Financial Controller with provision of information to internal and external auditors.
•    Assist in the preparation of audits and implementation of audit recommendations. 
•    Complete Travel & Expenses audits as per policy addressing issues in a promptly manner. 
•    Manage the fixed assets accounting process to ensure Balance Sheet accounts are reconciled with the Fixed Assets Register (FAR).    
•    Complete daily cash reconciliations.
•    Submit relevant documents to local bank as requested including bank mandates updates.

Other Office Administrative processes
•    Back-up role for payroll services in managing the payroll application system and processing services

Regional and Functional Team Working: 
•    Contribute to ensuring the policies, procedures and systems are delivered with integrity.
•    Work closely and effectively as part of the regional and global finance teams.
•    Actively support equality and diversity and work to the British Council’s EDI policy at all times. 

 
Role specific knowledge and experience:

Essential Behaviours
•    Being Accountable - Delivering and meet commitments.
•    Connecting with Others: Making regular opportunities to understand others better.
•    Delivering clear results for the British Council.
•    Working Together: Establishing a genuinely common goal with others.
•    Communicating and engaging picture of how we can work together. 
•    Looking for ways in which we can do things better 
 
Essential Skills
•    Reports and Analysing Data skills
•    Communicating and Influencing - 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.
•    Demonstrates understanding of risk management policies and procedures and record of following them.
•    Planning and Organising skills
•    Team / Managing People
•    Financial Reporting and Compliance
•    Apply accounting principles to accurately record financial transactions and maintain appropriate supporting documentation.
•    Transactional Accounting and Closing
•    Highly organised and deadline oriented.
•    High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
•    Fluency in written and spoken English  - have met the required standard through presentation of an agreed English language certificate, or will be required to take the APTIS test and demonstrate a B1 level of English proficiency.
 
Condition of Employment: Local Direct Hire
 
Applications are welcomed from candidates currently in this location with a natural right to work.  Applications are also welcomed from candidates currently based in other British Council country offices. However, please note candidates must have a natural right to work in the country, on a permanent basis, as immigration clearance and/or on-going visa support is not provided by the British Council for this role.  Relocation support is also not provided.   
 
Closing Date:  09 June 2023 - 23:59 China Time 

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

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; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.