Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
**Main Purpose of Job**:
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated self-starter to join a team central to the delivery of high-quality, excellent Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) in the Indo Pacific. The role is a 50:50 split to manage the responsibilities of Finance Officer for a new Indo Pacific Post Support Team and for the UK Mission to ASEAN (UKMis ASEAN) programme team.
The new Indo Pacific Post Support Team supports our diplomatic posts which spend £1m or less across the Indo-Pacific (IP) region with programme management. This is to raise the quality and capability of our network's programme management. For now, the team is based in the British Embassy in Jakarta and the British High Commission in New Delhi to cover the range of time zones in the region.
We are seeking a Finance Officer for Programme Management to be based in the British Embassy in Jakarta. The Finance Officer will help UKMis ASEAN and our diplomatic missions across the IP region to assess the financial position and performance of their projects and programmes, and provide regular, robust financial information, advice and analysis. The role will be important in embedding high quality financial management throughout our operational business.
The post holder will provide support, advice and financial expertise to all programmes (both ODA and non-ODA funded). This post will also work with programme teams to ensure value for money. The post holder will support senior managers and budget holders manage their resources efficiently and effectively to deliver their priorities.
The role will work as part of the finance pillar in the Indo-Pacific Regional Department (IPRD). They will be managed by the IPRD Finance Team Leader based in the British High Commission in New Delhi, supported by a countersigning manager based in UKMis ASEAN in Jakarta. The team will need to work closely with FCDO headquarters in London to provide accurate data, analysis and advice that is in line with the organisation's financial management processes and standards.
**The FCDO's organisational culture**
How we approach our work is important. The How We Work Statement (below) sets out the ambition we share across the FCDO for how we lead and behave towards each other, how we make decisions, and how we get the job done. Some aspects may be particularly relevant to this role.
- We put respect and kindness first. We are inclusive, we get to know each other, and value our diversity and the contribution we each bring. We are fair, act with integrity, and tackle inequality and unacceptable behaviour. We work together and take responsibility to solve problems.
- We draw on the expertise, insight and diverse perspectives of people across the FCDO, HMG, and beyond. We use the best available data and evidence. We are open to challenge and take a sustainable, long-term approach. We are transparent about the rationale for decisions and smart about taking and managing risks.
- We are agile and alert to emerging opportunities. We encourage learning, innovation and use of data and digital. We are all clear on what we are expected to deliver and support each other in doing so. We look to reduce duplication and unnecessary process. We are committed to transforming both the FCDO and the way HMG delivers international policy.
**What will the Jobholder be Expected to Achieve**:
**_ Financial management for UKMIS ASEAN and eligible diplomatic posts across DG-IP_**
- Working on the annual and monthly budgeting and forecasting process, ensuring that data provided for monthly finance reports is timely, accurate and robust, to inform decisions on allocation, management and assessing requirement of ODA resources.
- Building strong relationships with spending teams to ensure strong understanding of the programmes and what they seek to achieve.
- Sharing, management information relating to finances, as required.
- Supporting strategic finance exercises, including analysis of key financial information across multiple years where necessary, for example in producing thematic, sectoral, and portfolio analysis.
- Managing and analysing data in Excel and other tools to turn financial data into user-friendly management information.
- Supporting and challenging programme managers on finance forecasts and programme pipelines.
- Helping improve local finance capability of non-finance professionals by providing 1-to-1 or group consultations.
- Preparing and submitting corporate returns and accounting packs, including large cash payment forecasts, budget transfers, monthly, quarterly and yearly returns in order to minimise variation between forecasts and actual spend.
- Developing an understanding of external partners to raise awareness of countering fraud, corruption and risk management.
- Supporting diplomatic posts in the Indo-Pacific with finances as part of programme management.
- Support the Finance Team leader in the communi