Travel & Expense Compliance Manager

We don't just talk, we do. Lead the change with us.

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, we work with political leaders around the world to drive change. We help governments turn bold ideas into reality so they can deliver for their people. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. And by sharing what we learn on the ground, so everyone can benefit. We do it to build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere.

We are a global team of over 800 changemakers, operating in more than 40 countries, across five continents. We are political strategists, policy experts, delivery practitioners, technology specialists and more. We speak more than 45 languages. We are working on over 100 projects, tackling some of the world's biggest challenges. We're all here at TBI to make a difference.

In a world of ever more complex challenges, we believe diversity of background and perspective is a strength. We pride ourselves on a culture that values and nurtures difference. We are dedicated to unlocking potential, not only for the countries we work in but also for each of our team members. No matter where you're from or who you are, if you're passionate about the transformative power of progressive politics, we invite you to build a better future with us.

Role Summary

The Travel & Expenses Compliance Manager plays a critical role within the Finance team, responsible for ensuring adherence to the organisation's global Travel & Expenses policy. This role will lead the compliance oversight of all travel and expense activities, manage the relationship with the global travel provider, and produce detailed monthly travel packs for senior stakeholders. The postholder will also have line management responsibility for one team member, supporting their development and performance. The ideal candidate will be highly analytical, Excel-proficient, and confident in engaging with stakeholders at all levels to drive policy compliance, improve processes, and deliver insight-led reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Travel:

• Own and manage the relationship with the organisation's global travel provider, ensuring adherence to service levels and policy compliance.
• Lead procurement activities related to travel services, including assessing suppliers, managing the tender process, and supporting the transition to a new provider.
• Monitor and review all travel activity for policy compliance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Produce and present monthly travel packs for senior stakeholders, including detailed insights, trends, and exceptions.
• Scrutinise travel bookings and behaviour down to the employee level to identify breaches, training needs, or areas for escalation.

Expenses:

• Oversee the review and approval process for employee expense claims, ensuring accuracy and alignment with the Expenses policy.
• Conduct spot checks and regular audits on claims to prevent policy deviations.
• Provide training and guidance to employees and managers on appropriate claiming practices.
• Drive improvements in expense processing, leveraging systems such as Workday and Excel-based analysis.

Compliance:

• Own and update the global T&E policy, ensuring clarity, fairness, and alignment with organisational goals.
• Ensure consistent application of policy across all regions and escalate non-compliance appropriately.
• Work closely with HR, Legal, and Internal Audit to align compliance activities and reporting.
• Maintain and improve internal controls related to travel and expenses, ensuring strong governance.

Leadership:

• Line manage and develop one direct report, providing coaching, performance feedback, and support for professional growth.
• Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within the T&E function.
• Represent the T&E function in finance meetings and when engaging with senior stakeholders.
• Lead process improvement initiatives and drive system enhancements to support policy compliance and efficiency.

Know-How:

• Strong understanding of Travel & Expenses compliance principles, financial controls, and global travel policy frameworks.
• Proficient in Excel, with the ability to analyse and interpret large data sets to identify trends, anomalies, and compliance risks.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems (e.g. Workday, Concur) and experience improving or maintaining Travel & Expenses systems and processes.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, policy interpretation, and clear communication across a global organisation.

Accountability:

• Responsible for ensuring all employee travel and expenses comply with internal policies and external regulations.
• Accountable for the effective monitoring and reporting of T&E activity to senior stakeholders, with a focus on accuracy, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Owner of the global travel provider relationship and procurement process, including supporting any transitions or service changes.
• Holds accountability for training and guiding employees on policy, as well as enforcing compliance across all levels.

Judgement & Leadership

• Leads by example in upholding high standards of integrity, fairness, and compliance.
• Applies sound judgement in identifying and addressing non-compliance, balancing policy, risk, and business needs.
• Manages and develops one direct report, providing clear direction, performance feedback, and coaching.
• Makes informed decisions on escalations, policy exceptions, and process improvements based on data, stakeholder input, and best practice.
• Builds trust and credibility with senior stakeholders, acting as a subject matter expert and key adviser on all T&E matters.

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• Demonstrable experience in a travel, expenses, compliance, or financial control role within a finance function.
• Proven ability to interpret and apply organisational policies and enforce compliance effectively.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel (e.g. pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, conditional formatting, data validation).
• Experience working with expense and ERP systems (e.g. Workday, Concur, SAP).
• Comfortable managing and presenting data to senior stakeholders, with strong attention to detail.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to identify trends, risks, and process improvement opportunities.
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence, challenge, and build relationships at all levels.
• Experience managing or mentoring a team member, with a focus on development and performance.

Desirable Experience

• Experience managing travel providers or supporting travel procurement processes.
• Background in compliance, audit, or policy management within a global organisation.
• Knowledge of finance operations across multiple regions.
• Familiarity with project management or change implementation related to systems or process rollout.

Behaviours & Attributes

• High integrity and a commitment to upholding policy and ethical standards.
• Proactive and solutions-focused, with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Resilient and able to work under pressure, with strong time management and prioritisation skills.
• Approachable and collaborative, with the ability to coach and support colleagues.
• Professional and discreet in handling sensitive information and stakeholder interactions.

Closing Date:
2025-06-22