CoE Head of Central Services

The British Council—the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities—is recruiting a Head of Central Services (Center of Excellence / FP&A) for its operations in Nigeria. Operating on a hybrid model out of Lagos or Abuja, this senior leadership role within the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) division oversees global financial planning, reporting automation, and finance shared service operations.

Key Details

• Job Title: CoE Head of Central Services (Job ID: 49835)

• Location: Lagos or Abuja, Nigeria (Hybrid)

• Industry: International NGO, Civil Society, Corporate Finance & Shared Services

• Employment Type: Indefinite / Permanent Contract

• Experience Required: Substantial senior leadership experience in FP&A, finance shared services, or Center of Excellence (CoE) operations within a global or matrixed organization

• Remuneration: ₦55,302,176 Annually

• Application Closing Date: September 13, 2026 (23:59 IST)

Key Responsibilities

• CoE Leadership & Global Team Management: Direct and scale the Central Services FP&A team; manage cross-border finance capabilities and resource planning across Group FP&A, Professional Services, and Network Indirects.

• Financial Planning & Analysis Oversight: Drive global budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and performance reporting workflows to support executive decision-making.

• Process Standardisation & Digital Transformation: Lead process automation and operational excellence using enterprise financial tools (Anaplan, Power BI, SAP); establish global SLAs and KPIs.

• Strategic Business Partnering: Serve as senior finance liaison to global department heads, aligning CoE operational deliverables with organization-wide strategic priorities.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Academic & Professional Credentials: Graduate degree and Qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA, ACCA, ICAN, or global equivalent). Professional designations such as CMA, CPA, or an MBA in Finance are desirable.

• Work Experience: Deep background leading FP&A / finance shared services in global or matrix environments; experience with finance transformation programs preferred.

• Technical & Soft Skills: Proficiency with enterprise financial systems (SAP, Anaplan, Hyperion) and BI analytics; strategic leadership, English language fluency, and executive stakeholder management skills.