Commercial Finance Business Partner at British Council

Role Purpose

The role will support Cultural Engagement (CE) in delivering a sustainable, financially robust and high-performing contracts portfolio by providing commercial insight, management information and strategic financial advice. Acting as a trusted business partner, the post holder will ensure that contracts are priced appropriately, deliver value for money and align with CE priorities on surplus, quality, partnerships and impact.

The role leads the ongoing development and governance of CE’s pricing and costing model and associated commercial tools, embedding good practice in commercial proposal development across the organisation. Through rigorous financial appraisal of new opportunities, the post holder is accountable for ensuring contracts are financially viable, risks are understood, and returns are appropriate for the delivery model. The role provides independent commercial challenge and formal recommendations to the global contracts Tripartite Approval Board (TAB) on whether to proceed with contract opportunities.

As a key contributor to TAB, the role has high visibility across the CE Strategic Business Unit and plays a critical role in shaping commercial decision-making. They must display an understanding of the organisation’s aims and build strong, effective relationships with senior leaders, operational teams and finance colleagues. Operating across a complex, multi-location international environment, the role requires a proactive, forward-looking commercial finance professional with strong strategic thinking, analytical and interpersonal skills.

Role Accountabilities

• Act as a trusted business partner, providing commercial and financial insight to advise and constructively challenge stakeholders. Support new business development through robust pricing, sustainable commercial terms and alignment with Cultural Engagement priorities. Lead financial appraisal of new opportunities, ensuring consistent use of pricing and costing models and clear measurement of benefits and investment.

Strategy & planning

• Support strategic planning through commercial modelling, analysis and insight. Assess donor landscapes, contract types and service models to understand financial implications and inform sustainable growth.

Relationship, stakeholder and key account management

• Champion Cultural Engagement as a centre of excellence in commercial and contract finance, sharing best practice across the organisation. Build strong relationships with non-financial colleagues, funders, partners and suppliers, providing constructive challenge and strengthening commercial capability, value for money and financial performance. Support the Business Strategy, Performance and Partnerships function to deliver and exceed business development objectives.

Business development

• Provide commercial support throughout the contract lifecycle, from pipeline review and risk assessment through to pricing, approvals and reporting. Evaluate proposals using pricing and costing models, ensuring alignment with delivery models, funder requirements and specialist tax and treasury advice. Support colleagues to develop financially sustainable, funder-attractive offers and negotiate balanced terms. Develop compelling financial narratives, Value for Money approaches and enhanced reporting to strengthen tenders, and provide financial quality assurance and recommendations on bids.

Business performance

• Support the transition from contract award to delivery, using programme learning to inform future opportunities. Provide accurate management information, analysis and insight for decision-making and reporting, while championing performance improvement, efficiency and value creation. Develop and embed consistent global approaches to pricing and costing, including overhead calculation, allocation and recovery.

Leadership, professional expertise & development

• Maintain high professional standards and ensure client needs shape commercial finance priorities. Share expertise and learning to drive continuous improvement, build understanding of organisational interdependencies and take responsibility for ongoing professional development. Deputise for the Head of Commercial Finance as required.

Risk Management and Compliance Monitoring

• Identify and communicate material financial risks and recommend appropriate mitigation. Work with global and specialist finance teams, including tax and treasury, to assess new business risk. Ensure projects and reporting meet funder, regional and corporate requirements, and maintain relevant commercial finance policies, systems and information in line with governance standards.

Knowledge & Experience

Education

Essential:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
• Qualified accountant with proven experience of successfully managing and delivering similar roles

Experience

Essential:

• Business partnering experience, (minimum of 5 years), with at least 3 years recently supporting business development teams.
• Operating in international and multi-cultural organisations
• Knowledge of and experience of commercial finance activity in bid pursuit and tendering environments
• Proficiency in financial modelling and analysis.
• Excellent working knowledge of cost & pricing tools and advanced Excel.
• Awareness of tax and treasury implications of contract/partnership work in an international context

Desirable:

• Experience of commercial tendering for FCDO, EU and/ or other major international funders
• Knowledge of sector best practice on value for money and transparency reporting
• Experience of working in public sector organisations particularly aligned to a central government remit.
• Contract management knowledge and experience.
• Experience of using accounting and planning applications.
• What constitutes best practice in the upper quartile of finance functions