British Council Job Vacancy 2026 – Senior Accountant | Addis Ababa
British Council Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Role description
The British Council is seeking a Senior Accountant to support financial accounting, tax compliance, reporting, and finance operations across Ethiopia and other countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa Cluster 2. The position is based in Addis Ababa.
Vacancy Overview
Organization: British Council Job Title: Senior Accountant – SSA Cluster 2 Job ID: 50138 Job Category: Finance & Accounting Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Contract Type: Indefinite Pay Band: 6 Salary: ETB 86,700 Employment Type: Not separately specified in the vacancy Application Deadline: September 16, 2026 at 22:59 UK time Right to Work: Applicants must have the legal right to work in Ethiopia at the time of application Relocation/Visa Sponsorship: Not provided
About the Position
The Senior Accountant will support financial accounting activities for the British Council in Ethiopia and other countries within SSA Cluster 2, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Malawi, Mauritius, and Mozambique.
The role works closely with the Managed Service Provider (MSP) to ensure financial accounts are completed accurately and on time. It also supports financial administration, country-level tax compliance, statutory reporting, cashflow reporting, audit activities, and retained finance processes covering Purchase to Pay (P2P), Order to Cash (O2C), Record to Report (R2R), and Cash & Liquidity Management (CLM).
The position also provides finance guidance to business unit leads and operations teams as new finance processes are implemented following transformation activities.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Management
Plan and prioritize activities across multiple finance workstreams and internal relationships. Deliver effective financial business partnering, financial insight, and financial discipline. Provide line management and task coordination to the Accountant based in Ethiopia. Ensure consistent standards of delivery and compliance.
Financial Management
Work with the MSP to deliver retained P2P, O2C, R2R, and CLM processes in Ethiopia and other Cluster 2 countries. Support accurate and consistent financial accounting in accordance with accounting practices and corporate policies. Support month-end and year-end closing activities. Perform balance-sheet reconciliations and support general ledger maintenance. Lead country-level tax reporting and compliance activities in Ethiopia. Prepare local tax submissions and statutory filings. Ensure timely compliance with Ethiopian tax authorities. Support timely applications for VAT refunds. Provide tax-related insights to senior colleagues. Identify and escalate significant tax risks and regulatory changes. Contribute to statutory reporting in coordination with the Statutory & Tax team and Financial Controller for Cluster 2.
Stakeholder and Relationship Management
Develop effective working relationships with internal customers, colleagues, and the MSP. Help ensure financial activities comply with professional accounting standards, technical accounting guidance, and external reporting requirements. Represent the British Council, when required, in discussions with external suppliers, service providers, and local authorities in Ethiopia and Cluster 2. Support business unit leads and operations teams in adopting new finance processes. Provide practical guidance on MSP-supported P2P, CLM, O2C, and R2R processes. Respond to finance-related queries from operational colleagues and escalate matters when appropriate.
Financial Accounting and Tax Expertise
Maintain current knowledge of developments in financial accounting, statutory requirements, banking, and taxation. Provide first-line guidance on financial accounting and tax matters. Work with specialist finance functions, including Tax, Treasury, Finance Policy, and Global Process Owners. Identify unusual or complex transactions and support their resolution with relevant senior colleagues.
Service Improvement
Support implementation of updated accounting and reporting requirements in line with IFRS and professional accounting standards. Support the transition of activities to an MSP environment. Help embed the Phase 2 controllership model in-country.
Requirements
Essential Qualifications and Experience
At least 2 years of experience in operational financial management and/or management accounting. Degree-level education. Part-qualified status with a recognized accounting body. Experience in financial reporting and tax compliance. Advanced Excel skills. Experience using ERP systems at transaction and reporting levels. Written and verbal proficiency in English . Written and verbal proficiency in Amharic .
Desirable Experience
Experience working with SAP . Experience working in an international organization.
Key Skills
Financial accounting Financial reporting Tax compliance Management accounting Advanced Microsoft Excel ERP systems Stakeholder management Financial analysis IFRS and accounting standards Ethiopian tax compliance
Working Across SSA Cluster 2
The role supports financial activities not only in Ethiopia but also, as required, across the British Council’s SSA Cluster 2 countries:
Ethiopia Kenya Tanzania Uganda Rwanda Sudan Malawi Mauritius Mozambique
Salary and Contract
Salary: ETB 86,700 Pay Band: 6 Contract: Indefinite
Right to Work
Applicants must have the legal right to work in Ethiopia at the time of application.
The British Council states that mobility, relocation, and visa sponsorship support will not be provided for this position.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The British Council states that it is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
The organization also states that it is a Disability Confident Employer and provides an interview guarantee for disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the role. Applicants can discuss specific requirements or reasonable adjustments that may support participation in the recruitment process.
Safeguarding
The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people, and adults who it works with. Where a position involves direct involvement with vulnerable groups, appointment is subject to the required checks under applicable legal and safeguarding requirements.
Vacancy Overview
Organization: British Council Job Title: Senior Accountant – SSA Cluster 2 Job ID: 50138 Job Category: Finance & Accounting Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Contract Type: Indefinite Pay Band: 6 Salary: ETB 86,700 Employment Type: Not separately specified in the vacancy Application Deadline: September 16, 2026 at 22:59 UK time Right to Work: Applicants must have the legal right to work in Ethiopia at the time of application Relocation/Visa Sponsorship: Not provided
About the Position
The Senior Accountant will support financial accounting activities for the British Council in Ethiopia and other countries within SSA Cluster 2, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Malawi, Mauritius, and Mozambique.
The role works closely with the Managed Service Provider (MSP) to ensure financial accounts are completed accurately and on time. It also supports financial administration, country-level tax compliance, statutory reporting, cashflow reporting, audit activities, and retained finance processes covering Purchase to Pay (P2P), Order to Cash (O2C), Record to Report (R2R), and Cash & Liquidity Management (CLM).
The position also provides finance guidance to business unit leads and operations teams as new finance processes are implemented following transformation activities.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Management
Plan and prioritize activities across multiple finance workstreams and internal relationships. Deliver effective financial business partnering, financial insight, and financial discipline. Provide line management and task coordination to the Accountant based in Ethiopia. Ensure consistent standards of delivery and compliance.
Financial Management
Work with the MSP to deliver retained P2P, O2C, R2R, and CLM processes in Ethiopia and other Cluster 2 countries. Support accurate and consistent financial accounting in accordance with accounting practices and corporate policies. Support month-end and year-end closing activities. Perform balance-sheet reconciliations and support general ledger maintenance. Lead country-level tax reporting and compliance activities in Ethiopia. Prepare local tax submissions and statutory filings. Ensure timely compliance with Ethiopian tax authorities. Support timely applications for VAT refunds. Provide tax-related insights to senior colleagues. Identify and escalate significant tax risks and regulatory changes. Contribute to statutory reporting in coordination with the Statutory & Tax team and Financial Controller for Cluster 2.
Stakeholder and Relationship Management
Develop effective working relationships with internal customers, colleagues, and the MSP. Help ensure financial activities comply with professional accounting standards, technical accounting guidance, and external reporting requirements. Represent the British Council, when required, in discussions with external suppliers, service providers, and local authorities in Ethiopia and Cluster 2. Support business unit leads and operations teams in adopting new finance processes. Provide practical guidance on MSP-supported P2P, CLM, O2C, and R2R processes. Respond to finance-related queries from operational colleagues and escalate matters when appropriate.
Financial Accounting and Tax Expertise
Maintain current knowledge of developments in financial accounting, statutory requirements, banking, and taxation. Provide first-line guidance on financial accounting and tax matters. Work with specialist finance functions, including Tax, Treasury, Finance Policy, and Global Process Owners. Identify unusual or complex transactions and support their resolution with relevant senior colleagues.
Service Improvement
Support implementation of updated accounting and reporting requirements in line with IFRS and professional accounting standards. Support the transition of activities to an MSP environment. Help embed the Phase 2 controllership model in-country.
Requirements
Essential Qualifications and Experience
At least 2 years of experience in operational financial management and/or management accounting. Degree-level education. Part-qualified status with a recognized accounting body. Experience in financial reporting and tax compliance. Advanced Excel skills. Experience using ERP systems at transaction and reporting levels. Written and verbal proficiency in English . Written and verbal proficiency in Amharic .
Desirable Experience
Experience working with SAP . Experience working in an international organization.
Key Skills
Financial accounting Financial reporting Tax compliance Management accounting Advanced Microsoft Excel ERP systems Stakeholder management Financial analysis IFRS and accounting standards Ethiopian tax compliance
Working Across SSA Cluster 2
The role supports financial activities not only in Ethiopia but also, as required, across the British Council’s SSA Cluster 2 countries:
Ethiopia Kenya Tanzania Uganda Rwanda Sudan Malawi Mauritius Mozambique
Salary and Contract
Salary: ETB 86,700 Pay Band: 6 Contract: Indefinite
Right to Work
Applicants must have the legal right to work in Ethiopia at the time of application.
The British Council states that mobility, relocation, and visa sponsorship support will not be provided for this position.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The British Council states that it is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
The organization also states that it is a Disability Confident Employer and provides an interview guarantee for disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the role. Applicants can discuss specific requirements or reasonable adjustments that may support participation in the recruitment process.
Safeguarding
The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people, and adults who it works with. Where a position involves direct involvement with vulnerable groups, appointment is subject to the required checks under applicable legal and safeguarding requirements.