Payment Operations Specialist

Pay Band: 5 Country/Location: Noida, India Department: Exams Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract-1 Year Please Note: This opportunity is advertised as "Payment Operations Specialist". However, the official job title within the British Council is "Freelance Payments Specialist", and this title will appear in your offer letter and employment records. The role purpose, main accountabilities, and qualifications & experience remain as highlighted below. Role Purpose Payments Specialist is responsible for managing freelancer and vendor payment processes, purchase orders, and related compliance activities to ensure accurate and timely payments . It focuses on processing and validating freelancer and vendor claims, supporting finance-related compliance activities, and coordinating both internal and external audits. Strong organisational skills, the ability to work effectively in a global matrix environment, and effective multitasking are essential. A customer-driven and team-oriented approach is also key. Main accountabilities: The role requires working from the office and supporting end-to-end processing of freelance examiner and vendor payments while ensuring strong compliance, accuracy, and operational efficiency. The role involves creating purchase orders based on claims received from freelance examiners and vendors, ensuring all POs are properly validated in coordination with relevant teams, and maintaining accuracy in line with organisational requirements. You will also manage vendor creation requests, ensuring all necessary documentation and compliance requirements are fully met. A key part of the role includes ensuring timely closure of open purchase orders, goods receipt and invoice receipt items, and related control accounts to support internal compliance standards. You will coordinate closely with stakeholders and vendors to ensure invoices are received on time and submitted to the invoice processing team without delay. The role also involves handling vendor queries related to purchase orders and invoice payments, and supporting line managers during internal and statutory audits. In addition, you will be responsible for preparing MIS reports and management dashboards, analysing operational data, and supporting reporting requirements. The position includes processing and validating examiner claims, ensuring smooth coordination with internal stakeholders such as examiners, PSN, VCS, and global marking support teams to ensure timely completion of purchase orders. This role requires strong governance and reporting capabilities, including proficiency in MS Excel and other MS Office applications for accurate reporting and analysis. You will be expected to work in alignment with BCMS policies and procedures while maintaining high standards of compliance and control. We are seeking candidates with strong analytical skills, excellent attention to detail, effective stakeholder management abilities, and a proactive mindset. The ability to prioritise tasks, make sound decisions, and support team members effectively is essential for success in this role. Qualifications & Experience * Education: Graduate. * Must Have 2–3 years of experience managing payment-related processes * Experience managing vendor onboarding, including vendor creation requests, documentation, and compliance. * Experience monitoring and ensuring timely closure of open purchase orders and related control accounts. * Experience handling vendor queries related to purchase orders and invoice payments. * Experience preparing and maintaining MIS reports and management dashboards. * Experience supporting internal and statutory audits. Work Schedule: This is a 24/7 on-site role with rotating shifts, including night shifts. The position offers two days off per week, which may not always fall on weekends. Flexibility and adaptability to a continuous shift-based environment are essential. There is no hybrid work arrangement for this position, and it requires working onsite five days a week Condition of Employment: Further Information Right to Work: Locally recruited Applications are welcomed from candidates currently in this location with a natural right to work. Applications are also welcomed from candidates currently based in other British Council country offices. However, please note candidates must have a natural right to work in the country, on a permanent basis, as immigration clearance and/or on-going visa support is not provided by the British Council for this role. Relocation support is also not provided. India (OCI) Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders will need have, or be able to obtain, a valid special work permit issued from Government of India (GOI) to work in the British High Commission (BHC). BHC will not be able to sponsor work visas or obtain/ assist with the special work permit from GOI. Offers of employment made to OCI card holders will be conditional upon candidates obtaining a special work permit. Note: For requisite special permission to take up employment in any foreign Diplomatic Missions in India, OCI Cardholder must visit https://ociservices.gov.in