Job Description
The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. We work in two ways - directly with individuals to transform their lives, and with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term, creating benefit for millions of people all over the world. We help young people to gain the skills, confidence and connections they are looking for to realise their potential and to participate in strong and inclusive communities. We support them to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications. Our work in arts and culture stimulates creative expression and exchange and nurtures creative enterprise. We connect the best of the UK with the world and the best of the world with the UK. These connections lead to an understanding of each other's strengths and of the challenges and values that we share. This builds trust between people in the UK and other nations which endures even when official relations may be strained. We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications.
Assistant Consultant - Compliance Officer
Pay band: 6
Salary:£20,254 - £22,505 per annum. Along with 32 days annual leave plus bank holidays, civil service pension and many more benefits.
Location: Cardiff, London, Manchester, Edinburgh, or Belfast (The UK Only).
Department: Erasmus+
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract until 31st December 2023.
Closing Date: 25th September :59 UK Time.
Requirements: You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
The Context:
Erasmus + is a large E.U. education programme providing funding opportunities for international exchange and linking for all sectors of education, training and youth across Europe and beyond. The programme is worth €940m to the UK over 7 years (). The British Council is the UK National Agency for Erasmus +, working in partnership with Ecorys UK. The National Agency and programme activities sit with the Education and Society Strategic Business Unit (SBU), and directly support both our cultural relations objectives and our financial targets.
The National Agency delivers the programme according to an annual Work Programme agreed with the E.C., to strict contractual and compliance frameworks, and in the context of annual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) agreed with BIS. The Erasmus + National Agency team delivers grants to beneficiaries in all education and training sectors in the UK, across 3 Key Actions or types of activity, plus the e-Twinning online platform for schools and a number of smaller E.C. contracts. The British Council Erasmus+ team has its delivery hub in Cardiff, with smaller number of posts located in all other UK offices.
This is the largest contract the British Council has ever managed and is critical in terms of the impact it can deliver and the stakeholder relationships it supports. The programme also has challenging delivery targets including delivery of substantial savings through the use of technology and process standardisation.
The Opportunity.
Role Purpose:
Reporting to the Compliance Manager (Consultant), the Compliance Officer (Assistant Consultant) ensures that grant-related checks on beneficiaries, also known as "primary checks", are carried out in line with the contractual requirements for the Erasmus+ programme.
The Compliance Officer role undertakes compliance audit visits to beneficiaries (Higher Education Institutes, Schools and Youth organisations), to carry out checks of supporting grant information, and provide accurate reporting on primary checks for internal and external purposes. The role also assists with Fraud and Irregularities investigations.
Main Responsibilities:
Managing Service Delivery:
- Undertake a wide range of primary checks on Erasmus+ programme beneficiaries, including pre-audit preparation for System Checks, OTSC During & After and Desk Checks.
- At the direction of the Compliance Manager, undertake check visits of beneficiaries on a risk basis, and write beneficiary reports as a result of checks undertaken
- At the direction of the Compliance Manager, monitor and report on progress on outstanding issues raised in previous checks and visits
- At the direction of the Compliance Manager, identify trends in corrections found during primary checks, and develop action plans to address any recommendations or outstanding issues, and agree deadlines and solutions with Auditees.
- At the direction of the Compliance Manager, contribute to financial analysis and reporting on primary checks on Erasmus+ and predecessor programmes, and assist E+ Link closure on all Primary Checks.
- Contribute to quarterly reports of compliance work undertaken.
Main Accountabilities:
Business Management and Delivery
• Undertakes administrative tasks for a project or internal service/function
• Undertakes financial tasks including invoicing, raising POs and administer grant agreements
Business Development
• Supports logistical management of positioning events
Commercial Business management
• Supports Consultants in drafting business performance reports (including income, cost management, results and impact, risks etc)
Stakeholder Management
• Supports broader team in managing the logistics of client/partner meetings and project boards
• Engagement with customers e.g. scholars, grant awardees, teachers etc
Key Challenges and Opportunites:
1. Supporting the compliance of Erasmus+ beneficiaries project administration by undertaking primary checks on grant related activity.
2. Ensuring all Compliance primary checks deadlines and standards are met
3. Working effectively alongside colleagues across dispersed teams within the UK National Agency (NA): Delivery, Finance and Recoveries.
4. Developing a detailed knowledge of Erasmus+ compliance, its procedures, systems, calendar and contractual standards.
5. Member of Erasmus+ Compliance Team.
Requirements of the role:
Further information:
Closing Date:25th September 2022 at 23:59 UK Time.
Requirements: You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
Interviews will be held around the middle of October 2022.
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.
Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion(EDI) Statement
The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
The British Council iscommitted to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.
We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.
Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council's Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you have any problems with your application please email
Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our 'ASK HR' email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.
Assistant Consultant - Compliance Officer
Pay band: 6
Salary:£20,254 - £22,505 per annum. Along with 32 days annual leave plus bank holidays, civil service pension and many more benefits.
Location: Cardiff, London, Manchester, Edinburgh, or Belfast (The UK Only).
Department: Erasmus+
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract until 31st December 2023.
Closing Date: 25th September :59 UK Time.
Requirements: You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
The Context:
Erasmus + is a large E.U. education programme providing funding opportunities for international exchange and linking for all sectors of education, training and youth across Europe and beyond. The programme is worth €940m to the UK over 7 years (). The British Council is the UK National Agency for Erasmus +, working in partnership with Ecorys UK. The National Agency and programme activities sit with the Education and Society Strategic Business Unit (SBU), and directly support both our cultural relations objectives and our financial targets.
The National Agency delivers the programme according to an annual Work Programme agreed with the E.C., to strict contractual and compliance frameworks, and in the context of annual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) agreed with BIS. The Erasmus + National Agency team delivers grants to beneficiaries in all education and training sectors in the UK, across 3 Key Actions or types of activity, plus the e-Twinning online platform for schools and a number of smaller E.C. contracts. The British Council Erasmus+ team has its delivery hub in Cardiff, with smaller number of posts located in all other UK offices.
This is the largest contract the British Council has ever managed and is critical in terms of the impact it can deliver and the stakeholder relationships it supports. The programme also has challenging delivery targets including delivery of substantial savings through the use of technology and process standardisation.
The Opportunity.
Role Purpose:
Reporting to the Compliance Manager (Consultant), the Compliance Officer (Assistant Consultant) ensures that grant-related checks on beneficiaries, also known as "primary checks", are carried out in line with the contractual requirements for the Erasmus+ programme.
The Compliance Officer role undertakes compliance audit visits to beneficiaries (Higher Education Institutes, Schools and Youth organisations), to carry out checks of supporting grant information, and provide accurate reporting on primary checks for internal and external purposes. The role also assists with Fraud and Irregularities investigations.
Main Responsibilities:
Managing Service Delivery:
- Undertake a wide range of primary checks on Erasmus+ programme beneficiaries, including pre-audit preparation for System Checks, OTSC During & After and Desk Checks.
- At the direction of the Compliance Manager, undertake check visits of beneficiaries on a risk basis, and write beneficiary reports as a result of checks undertaken
- At the direction of the Compliance Manager, monitor and report on progress on outstanding issues raised in previous checks and visits
- At the direction of the Compliance Manager, identify trends in corrections found during primary checks, and develop action plans to address any recommendations or outstanding issues, and agree deadlines and solutions with Auditees.
- At the direction of the Compliance Manager, contribute to financial analysis and reporting on primary checks on Erasmus+ and predecessor programmes, and assist E+ Link closure on all Primary Checks.
- Contribute to quarterly reports of compliance work undertaken.
Main Accountabilities:
Business Management and Delivery
• Undertakes administrative tasks for a project or internal service/function
• Undertakes financial tasks including invoicing, raising POs and administer grant agreements
Business Development
• Supports logistical management of positioning events
Commercial Business management
• Supports Consultants in drafting business performance reports (including income, cost management, results and impact, risks etc)
Stakeholder Management
• Supports broader team in managing the logistics of client/partner meetings and project boards
• Engagement with customers e.g. scholars, grant awardees, teachers etc
Key Challenges and Opportunites:
1. Supporting the compliance of Erasmus+ beneficiaries project administration by undertaking primary checks on grant related activity.
2. Ensuring all Compliance primary checks deadlines and standards are met
3. Working effectively alongside colleagues across dispersed teams within the UK National Agency (NA): Delivery, Finance and Recoveries.
4. Developing a detailed knowledge of Erasmus+ compliance, its procedures, systems, calendar and contractual standards.
5. Member of Erasmus+ Compliance Team.
Requirements of the role:
- Experience of managing internal and external stakeholder relationships.
- Communicating and Influencing (Level 2) - Communicates clearly and effectively: listens to others and expresses self clearly, with grammatical accuracy and awareness of a diverse audience in speaking and writing.
- Finance and Resource Management (Level 2) - Uses resources efficiently in own role and complies with financial rules and procedures
Further information:
Closing Date:25th September 2022 at 23:59 UK Time.
Requirements: You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
Interviews will be held around the middle of October 2022.
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.
Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion(EDI) Statement
The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
The British Council iscommitted to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.
We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.
Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council's Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you have any problems with your application please email
Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our 'ASK HR' email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.
About British Council