Finance Business Partner - Support Functions at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

We are looking for a talented candidate with significant finance business partnering experience in international, complex, and fast-paced environments, who will play a key role in shaping budgeting processes, improving performance reporting, supporting strategic initiatives and support senior leadership to meet their commercial obligations.

Key Responsibilities

Functional Leadership

• Develop and deliver an Africa operating model for the Finance function, implementing the relevant systems, policies and processes, and aligning with other operational functions (Legal, Security, IT and People)
• From the point of start-up, ensuring the delivery of timely, effective and quality support to local and regional stakeholders across the Finance function
• Collaborating with our global Finance team in London, counterpart Finance Managers in other regions, and as part of the global community of operational roles
• Identify, assess, and inform regional leadership of any internal and external finance matters that may impact operations at an organizational level, recommending interim or permanent solutions wherever possible and applicable
• Lead or collaborate with others on special projects and other operational assignments as directed by regional leadership
• Accountable for month-end process including accruals, prepayments, balance sheet and reviewing cash reconciliations

• Continue to roll out the functionality of Workday and contribute to a five-working-day close

Systems, Policies and Processes

• Ensure the implementation of global policies and standards for Finance across the region and any relevant local variations
• Providing dedicated financial support to leadership and budget holders within the regions, including cost modelling and forecasting and variance and performance analysis
• Enhance cash flow reporting within W&C Africa region, and improve the use of funds, maximising cash flow and liquidity
• Produce Month end reports for region
• Continue to roll out the functionality of Workday and contribute to a five-working-day close
• Review and establish a reformed banking regime and signatories within region

 Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Conduct in-depth financial analysis to support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Prepare and present financial reports including variance analysis, trend analysis, and performance metrics. 
• Provide actionable insights on profitability and cost recovery opportunities.
• Analyse non-financial KPIs and operational performance indicators to identify trends and drivers impacting financial outcomes.
• Assist in the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reporting packs (For the Africa region) and review quality regional reports provided by the regional Finance Managers
• Review and approve journals for month-end close activities and develop presentation materials for senior leadership.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Modelling

• Lead and coordinate the Africa budgeting and forecasting process across departments.
• Forecast income and revenue streams, ensuring accuracy and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Monitor Africa actuals vs. budget performance and provide variance analysis and corrective action insights.
• Support operational budget holders in planning, monitoring, and forecasting activities with support from the Regional Finance Managers

Regional Growth

• Support leaders in the region and across the organization to establish TBI’s presence in new countries, including the financial aspects of end-to-end program activation (and, where relevant, closure) and support on regional procurement and negotiations by providing financial analysis and ensuring contracts are compliant with TBI and donor regulations
• Assist in the regionalisation process to ensure that we have the right systems, processes and capabilities within the region as we move to be regionally empowered
• Step in and support the Regional Finance managers acting as their back-up when team members are out of office

Person Specification

• Open and Progressive – you will believe in the value of teamwork
• Bold and Pragmatic – you will approach everything you do with integrity and authenticity
• Optimistic Changemakers – you will be focused on results
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and perform other duties as reasonably required to achieve the goals of your team and the Institute
• Qualified accountant
• Experience working within an NFP - preferable
• Knowledge of accounting for donor funds – preferable
• Dynamic, confident candidate who can articulate verbally and by written presentation; ability to express complex ideas in a clear and straightforward manner to a variety of stakeholders
• Must be able to take ownership and manage their own workflow with minimal input from management, set their own goals and plan how to achieve them – translate into actions and follow through to completion, prioritise against tight deadlines
• A motivational, collaborative and supportive manager and team-player, with demonstrable experience in working as part of a team
• Great interpersonal skills - able to establish good cross departmental working relationships
• Enthusiastic, self-driven, ambitious and always seeking continuous improvement
• Positively embraces change, maintaining an open curious mindset
• A keen interest in our work as an Institute, expansion and sharing of knowledge and personal development