Srr - Finance and Operations Lead, Yemen Office

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Finance and Operations Lead for the Yemen Office Network (YON) on a fixed term contract for two (2) years, with a possibility of renewal.

This role provides advice, support, and challenge to YON’s Senior Management to ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and best practice accounting standards and requirements. This includes leading on Total Operating Costs (TOC) financial planning and providing advice on budgets and finance processes.

The jobholder will also co-ordinate accurate and timely financial processes for YON, including budgeting, forecasting, advice to senior management and partners, and related communications. They would also report to a diverse range of local stakeholders on all financial matters, making recommendations based on accurate forecasting of spend and central finance policy and process.

This role will also be responsible for ensuring the safety of the British Embassy in Sana’a by maintaining the contract with the security company and facilitating communications between the UK legal and procurement team and the security company.

**Duties and responsibilities**:

- Effective financial management for Development programmes in Yemen (40%)
- Financial monitoring, including cost reallocations and budget adjustments to ensure financial accuracy; oversight of the forecasting process for YON by monitoring large cash transfers and liaising with Programme Managers (PMs) to provide reminders and updates, as and when required.
- Monitor Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) effectiveness of Yemen programmes and TOC by regularly running reports and flagging irregularities to the Finance Analyst and Finance Manager. Take prompt and accurate action to resolve any P2P issues.
- Provision of TOC contributions to the monthly financial report. Assist the Finance Analyst in the analysis and production of these reports focusing on spend, variances from budget, forecasts, and other relevant updates, enabling management to make informed choices based on accurate and timely information. Participate in the presentation of those reports to senior leadership team.
- Support the Finance Analyst/ Manager on programme finance/ budget management; engaging with PMs on monthly accruals and prepayment process and in co-ordinating cash/ resource forecasts.
- Work with the Finance Analyst/ Manager in improving financial awareness and capability with Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) and PMs in the country team.
- Lead on quarterly finance returns for the development team and the end-year financial pack.
- Conduct monthly reviews of the Development team workforce, including ongoing financial implications of contingent liabilities and recruitment gaps.
- Effective financial management for Yemen Office Network (35%)
- YON budget management, including effective TOC budget management (for the Admin and Front Line Delivery (FLD) budgets) across Yemen; oversight of post expenditure to ensure accuracy; organise journal adjustments between budgets as required.
- Monitor financial performance against key performance indicators and compliance indicators.
- Coordinate finance audit responses for the YON and run regular self-audits; this is a significant contribution to the production of the Management Assurance Process (MAP).
- Lead on the finances operations, funds request, and procurement practice, including the implementation of global policy and guidance.
- Lead on expenditures and finances for country visits, including engagement with stakeholders in country.
- Co-ordinate YON annual processes including all financial planning, budgeting and forecasting, communications, timetables, data requirements and modelling to support FCDO-wide processes.
- Advise on local variable pay policy and modelling on performance pay.
- Complete change request cost templates for partners to join and leave the platform at Post, update cost cards as requested; prepare recharges to partners in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
- Provide policy and financial advice to senior management, particularly to the monthly Section Heads discussion on financial issues across the YON.
- Act as primary contact for finance queries from within YON and partners, stakeholders; provide financial inductions/ training as necessary.
- Provide cover for the HEO-equivalent Finance Analyst whenever required.
- Effective support across the Yemen Office Network (25%)
- Lead and co-ordinate on British Embassy (BE) Sana’a issues and provide updates to the Senior Management Team (SMT).
- Analyse the contract and finances related to the security company contract for guarding the British Embassy compound in Sana’a. Resolve any payment issues, including communicating with the security team and providing recommendations to SMT on options available to resolve them.
- Be the link between the security company and the legal and procurement team in the UK in terms of contract