Programme Manager in London

Location: London
Salary: £55,699 per year
Recruiter: British Council
Job Hours: Full-time

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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.

Programme Manager

Pay Band: 9 SMPS

Salary: Starting £55,699 - £68,649 (+ £3,300 market allowance if based in London)

Contract Type:  2-year fixed term contract

Location:  UK; London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast.

Role Type: Advisory, Policy and Expertise

Reports to: FTX Programme Director

Requirements:  Candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) right to work in location.


Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. 

Benefits include, but are not limited to:

  • 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
  • 3 days volunteering leave
  • Career average defined benefit pension scheme
  • An unrivalled opportunity for you to get to use all the experience you've built up working in and / or leading global organisations to support us in building trust across the world
  • Closing date: Sunday 30 June, 11:59pm UK time

    Role Purpose


    The Programme Manager for the Finance Transformation Programme reports directly to the Programme Director and is responsible for the day-to-day management and execution of the programme.

    This role will play a pivotal role in driving the successful delivery of transformational initiatives within the finance function, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, timelines, and budgets.

    Context


    FTX is a comprehensive initiative designed to revolutionise and modernise the financial management processes and capabilities of the British Council.

    With a focus on optimising financial operations, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring long-term sustainability, the programme encompasses a range of strategic objectives.

    Key components of the programme include the adoption of financial technologies and systems to streamline processes and improve data accuracy.

    Additionally, it aims to restructure Finance teams across all regions.

    FTX places a strong emphasis on aligning financial practices with the British Council's mission and values.

    FTX is expected to yield significant benefits, including cost savings, improved financial reporting, and more efficient resource allocation.

    Furthermore, it will enable the British Council to allocate resources towards its core activities, such as promoting cultural exchange and education, and supporting international relations.

    FTX represents a crucial step in ensuring the British Council's financial resilience and capacity to continue its valuable global work.

    Main accountabilities


    Programme Planning and Execution:

  • Develop and maintain detailed programme plans, identifying critical paths, resource requirements, and dependencies.
  • Lead the execution of the programme, managing project managers, teams, and external vendors to ensure successful delivery of projects within scope, time, and budget constraints.
  • Stakeholder Management:

  • Collaborate closely with the Programme Director to communicate programme progress, risks, and issues effectively to stakeholders, providing regular updates and addressing concerns proactively.
  • Engage with key stakeholders, including senior leadership, finance teams, and operational and strategic business units, to ensure alignment and engagement throughout the programme.
  • Resource Management:

  • Work with the Programme Director to allocate resources effectively across projects, ensuring the right skills and expertise are available to deliver on programme objectives.
  • Monitor resource utilisation and capacity, adjusting as needed to optimise performance and productivity.
  • Risk Management and Issue Resolution:

  • Identify programme risks and issues, working with the Programme Director and stakeholders to develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
  • Provide leadership and support to project teams in addressing challenges and overcoming obstacles to project delivery.
  • Quality Assurance and Governance:

  • Support the Programme Director in establishing programme governance structures, processes, and standards to ensure adherence to best practices and quality standards.
  • Contribute to regular reviews and audits to assess programme performance and compliance with relevant policies and regulations.
  • Role specific skills

  • Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the British Council.
  • Excellent strategic planning and execution capabilities, with a focus on delivering results and driving continuous improvement.
  • Proficiency in project management methodologies and tools.
  • Ability to develop and maintain detailed programme plans, identifying critical paths, resource requirements, and dependencies.
  • Experience in risk management and issue resolution, with the ability to develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
  • Quality assurance and governance capabilities, with the ability to support the establishment of structures, processes, and standards.
  • Strong stakeholder management skills, including effective communication and engagement with senior leadership, finance teams, IT, and operational and strategic business units.
  • Role specific knowledge and experience

    Minimum/essential

  • Proven experience in programme management, leading large-scale transformation initiatives within the finance function.
  • Sound understanding of finance processes, systems, and best practices, with experience in process optimisation and standardisation
  • Desirable

  • Experience in managing cross-functional teams and working with external vendors.
  • Familiarity with emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation in finance transformation projects.
  • Education

    Bachelor’s degree in finance, Business Administration, or a related field

    Professional Qualifications and Certification

    Relevant professional certifications such as CPA, CMA, PMP.


    MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred.

    Closing date: Sunday 30 June, 11:59pm UK time

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

    Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement


    About British Council


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

    We uniquely combine the UK’s deep expertise in arts and culture, education and the English language, our global presence and relationships in over 100 countries, our unparalleled access to young people and influencers and our creative sparkle.

    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.

    For more information, please visit: http://www.britishcouncil.org

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