Ref.: EUISS (2024) PERM 06

Status: Contract staff member OR appointment by secondment

Grade: A2/A3

Place of employment: Paris

Indicative starting date: as soon as possible

Salary:

Depending on the level of experience, the salary of the successful candidate will be based on grade A2/A3 of the Coordinated Organisations of which the EUISS is part. For a secondment, the salary will remain as determined (and paid) by the current employer plus a daily allowance of €110.40 paid by the EUISS.

Duration:

The successful candidate will be offered a contract of

• 3 years, renewable for up to 2 further years, if under the status of contract staff member;
• up to 2 years, renewable for a further period of 1 year maximum, if seconded.

Job description

The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) is the EU Agency that analyses foreign, security and defence policy issues. With its Headquarters in Paris and a Liaison Office in Brussels the Institute acts as a trusted interface between EU officials and member state diplomats and Europe’s wider think tank and scholarly community.

Through its publications and events, it works to enhance policymakers’ understanding of the underlying trends and complexity of a fast-changing world. It always combines rigorous research with policy-relevant conclusions and recommendations. It has a solid track record of strengthening the links among EU think tanks working in the field of foreign, security and defence policy, thus helping to build a stronger EU ‘strategic community and culture’.

The EUISS seeks to hire an experienced Financial Officer & Controller who will oversee all financial matters of the EUISS, including budget management, accounting oversight, preparation of financial reports, and ensure sound financial management of all transactions in compliance with the EUISS rules and procedures. In this role, the incumbent will report to the EUISS Director, work closely with the Head of Administration and Personnel, and coordinate a small team.

Main responsibilities

Budget management

• Prepare the annual budget of the EUISS in consultation with the Director and the Authorising Officers by Delegation.
• Coordinate and monitor the budget execution and recommend any budget revisions as required.
• Prepare the annual budget closure exercise including the carry forward of budget appropriations.
• Oversee the financial management of extra-budgetary projects and advise projects staff on related matters.

Accounting

• Ensure all accounting transactions are recorded timely and correctly in the General Ledger.
• Regularly perform the accounts reconciliation including the reconciliation of cash and bank statements.
• Perform the accounting period closure process, including calculation of the fixed assets’ depreciation.

• Prepare the annual financial statements in accordance with IPSAS and other applicable reporting standards.

Financial control

• Review and certify the budgetary commitment requests in line with the approved budget.
• Ensure that all financial transactions are compliant with the EUISS Financial Regulations.
• Ensure the relevant internal control measures are properly implemented.
• Liaise with EUISS College of Auditors for all audit-related matters.

Eligibility criteria

On the closing date for applications, candidates must fulfil all the following conditions:

• Be a national of a member state of the European Union who enjoys full rights as a citizen attested by a recent extract from judicial records and/or certificate of good conduct;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by national law on military service;
• Be physically fit to perform the required duties;
• Hold, or be in the position to obtain, a valid security clearance certificate.

Education

• Minimum of a first‐level university degree in the field of finance, accounting, business administration or closely related field(s). A professional financial certification (ACCA, CIMA or similar) will be considered as an asset.

Professional experience

• Minimum six years of relevant professional experience in similar positions, of which a minimum of three years acquired at the international level, preferably in an EU public administration environment;
• Minimum two years of proven experience in leading finance teams in the public or private sector;
• Demonstrated ability to provide guidance in financial management paired with a proven record of budgeting and financial reporting;
• Very good IT skills and demonstrated knowledge of ERP and financial management tools;
• Proven ability to work well under pressure and to deliver high-quality results within tight deadlines;
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, including the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment as a team coordinator and independently;
• High professional values and standards characterised by objectivity, analytical rigour, integrity, and confidentiality.

Languages

• Excellent English writing and speaking skills are essential. Satisfactory knowledge of at least one other EU language is required. A good command of French will be considered as an asset.

Procedure

All interested candidates must complete the online application form and attach:

• A detailed CV in English (with a clear indication of educational attainment and professional experience);
• A cover letter in English addressed to the EUISS Director;
• If applying for a secondment: a duly signed authorisation/letter of sponsorship from the current employer for the secondment to the EUISS.

Applications received by email, or post will not be considered. Only correctly and fully completed applications will be accepted.

NB Regarding applications for the position under the status of secondment: NB in accordance with the rules applicable to secondments to the EUISS, a person seconded to the Institute remains in the service of their current employer and continues to be paid their salary by that employer. Therefore, to be considered in the selection process, candidates for a secondment to the advertised position must be sponsored by their current employer. Confirmation is required in the form of an employer authorisation/letter of sponsorship for the secondment to the EUISS by the application deadline. Applications without proof of such confirmation will not be considered for the next steps of the procedure.

The deadline for submitting applications is Monday 14 October 2024, 12:00 CEST.

The Selection Board, chaired by the Director of the EUISS, will screen the applications and establish a shortlist of candidates to be interviewed. The interview will be completed through a written test, the exact nature of which will be communicated to the candidates concerned in advance.

Following the interviews and written test, the successful candidate will be offered an initial contract of three years with a nine-month probationary period (or an initial secondment for a period of up to two years).

All applicants will be informed of the results of their application by the end of the procedure.

The EUISS is an equal opportunities employer and accepts applications without distinction on the grounds of age, race, political or religious conviction, sex or sexual orientation and regardless of disabilities, marital status or family situation.

Any questions related to this selection procedure have to be submitted to EUISS Human Resources via the online contact form and indicating the reference of the vacancy notice.

The processing of personal data by the EUISS is governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) N° 45/2001 and Decision N° 1247/2002/EC. By submitting an application, the applicant consents to the processing of the personal data contained in the application form and the supporting documents enclosed therewith, in the sense of Article 5.1 (a) of the Regulation. The personal data in question is collected by the EUISS for the sole purpose of this selection process.