Graduate Associate Intern - Finance at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Role Summary

We are hiring for the Graduate Associate Intern - Finance, this is a role in a fast-paced team, working within complex divisions that are highly scrutinised.

Therefore, the successful candidate for the role should be able to display the majority of the following:

• Bank and Cash Reconciliations: Ensure timely reconciliations of TBI bank accounts both UK and overseas including petty cash/foreign currencies/ in country trackers/credit cards/prepaid card.
• Liaise with bankers for queries and resolve discrepancies, e.g., payment queries.
• Supplier Invoice Processing: Process supplier invoices in the accounting systems accurately and efficiently including check authorisations and prepare payments to suppliers in accordance with relevant TBI policies & KYC process.
• Supplier Account Reconciliation: Reconcile all supplier accounts regularly to resolve any discrepancies.
• Review creditor’s aging report regularly for timely payment processing.
• Process required payments ensuring correct authorisations.
• Ensure all entries are posted with the correct VAT coding.
• Manage your own workload to meet team deadlines for month end and offer support to other team members.
• Review receipts, accuracy of accounting recording and process staff expenses reports in accordance with TBI expenses policy.
• Compliance and Regulations: Ensure compliance with finance polies and procedures and assist with audit by providing relevant documentations and explanations.
• Collaboration with finance team and other departments to address financial concerns and provide support.
• Other duties including filing of financial records/data accurately.
• Any reasonable duties required by the Financial Manager or wider Finance team.

Know-How:

• Ensuring detailed knowledge of finance processes, policies and procedures
• Ensuring clear communication is provided to stakeholders.
• Ensuring up to date with the Institute’s structure, especially in relations to the allocation of costs and a clear understanding of the importance of donor funded projects
• Strong understanding of finance systems and tools, ensuring all relevant training is up to date.

Accountability:

• Ensure expenditures are posted accurately with relevant supporting approval documentation.
• Prepare the suppliers/staff expense payments within the payments run cycles.
• Timely reconciliation of bank statements each day.
• Proactively follow-up on late submissions and/or incomplete information (e.g., unallocated receipts)
• Full ownership of all Finance entries and administration e.g., reconciled creditor accounts.

Responsibility:

• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure information is shared effectively and collaboratively.
• Informed challenges of details on invoices with internal stakeholders/suppliers for details which do not appear correct e.g., VAT codes.
• Embracing global finance team, supporting all team members when needed.
• Ad hoc pieces of work or projects as required by Financial Manager or Finance Leadership team.

Judgement:

• Anticipate and mitigate any concerns or risks appropriately and escalate where necessary.
• Ability to challenge others if you perceive a decision to be incorrect or damaging to TBI.

Ownership/ambition:

• Contributing to overall Finance OKRs
• Influence process change within and out of your region.
• Be an ambassador for work that the Institute undertakes.
• Help shape best practice guidelines and methodology for Finance processes.
• Model & maintain TBI Core Values - Courageous, Collaborative & Compassionate.

Person Specification

• A qualification in a finance background or equivalent demonstratable experience, and fundamental knowledge and understanding of accountancy.
• Experience of general accounting – e.g., Debit vs Credit entries, Purchase Ledger, Reconciliations, accruals, and prepayments.
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills required.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong organisational skills
• A collaborative and supportive team-player, with demonstrable experience in working as part of a team.
• Great interpersonal skills - able to establish good cross departmental working relationships.
• Great time management skills.
• Ability to articulate verbally and by written presentation, and toto express complex ideas in a clear and straightforward way.
• Demonstrate the ability to prioritise against tight deadlines.
• Customer service/experience focused - flexible & adaptable approach
• A flexible approach – you’ll be open to taking on unfamiliar tasks and learning new skills.
• Enthusiastic, self-driven, ambitious, and always seeking continuous improvement.
• Experience of the demands of working within a growing business advantageous.
• Understanding of local financial regulations and compliance requirements.
• Experience of working with Workday System is beneficial.
• Demonstrate discretion working with sensitive information.