JOB DESCRIPTION

Selection reference: DIGIT/C0M/2025/1926 Domain: Information and Communication Technologies Where: DIGIT CERT-EU, Brussels

Staff category and Function Group: Temporary agent 2b/2d Grade range: AD5-7

Publication deadline: 25.11.2025 – 12.00 (Brussels time)

WE ARE

DIGIT is the Directorate-General for Digital Services whose aim is to deliver digital services to enable EU policies and to support the Commission’s internal administration. CERT-EU is the Cybersecurity Service for the European Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies (Union entities). CERT-EU is administratively attached to DIGIT.

Established in 2011 to shore up the ICT security for the Union entities, we have been steadily expanding our IT security operations over the years and currently serve over 90 such entities spread across the Continent and beyond. From our base in Brussels, we work with a range of peers, partners and researchers from all over the world to ensure we maintain our technological edge and have access to the best-in-class expertise.

WE PROPOSE

CERT-EU is looking to hire a truly motivated Financial Officer – Finance Project Manager. This is a highly challenging and empowering job which provides many opportunities for one’s competencies to shine in a very friendly, supportive, human and professional environment.

The selected candidate will serve as CERT-EU’s primary source of financial expertise providing financial support and guidance, including budget planning and performance monitoring. The job holder will be assigned to provide the day-to-day financial guidance that supports CERT-EU’s operational sectors/teams, as well as overseeing the financial projects, from conception to execution, ensuring alignment with organisational mandate and stakeholder expectations. In parallel, the job holder will lead projects across diverse sectors/teams in CERT-EU, to ensure successful delivery within scope, schedule, and budget. This includes coordinating project teams and closely monitoring progress to achieve project objectives effectively, as well as fostering effective communication with all teams in CERT-EU and external stakeholders.

The position will consist of the following, amongst other tasks:

• Planning and preparing the draft budget by conducting comprehensive analysis of past budget executions and future requirements, coordinating with CERT-EU operational sectors to collect, analyse, assess and consolidate their assumptions and requests, liaising with and reporting to management to finalise the annual budget plan.
• Monitoring and overseeing the execution of the budget, program its implementation to ensure compliance, proper allocation, and alignment with strategic goals and financial regulations. Conducting regular reviews of budget performance against targets, making necessary adjustments based on analysis to maintain efficiency and financial integrity.
• Providing guidance and support on financial procedures and best practices.
• Identifying, proposing, and implementing cost-saving and efficiency measures to optimise budget allocation and utilisation, while also implementing new budgetary procedures and tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Conducting regular checks and financial reviews to ensure the integrity and transparency of financial reporting and systems.
• Coordinating with auditors (internal and external) to promptly address any financial discrepancies or concerns.
• Leading projects across diverse sectors in CERT-EU, to ensure successful delivery within scope, schedule, and budget. Coordinating project teams and closely monitoring progress to achieve project objectives effectively, as well as fostering effective communication with all sectors in CERT-EU and external contractors.
• Overseeing financial projects, from conception to execution, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and stakeholder expectations.
• Coordinating with cross-functional teams to define project scope, objectives, and deliverables, while adhering to budget and timeline constraints. Communicating project progress and status updates to stakeholders and management, fostering transparency and alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Liaising with relevant EC units, agencies, and external partners to coordinate budgetary and financial processes effectively.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of procedures, and guidelines to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of budgetary and financial management within CERT-EU.

WE LOOK FOR

The selected candidate should also possess knowledge and experience in the following domains:

• Professional experience in finance, including budgeting, financial analysis, and contract management, with the ability to integrate financial considerations into project planning and execution.
• Professional experience in planning and preparing the budget, as well as monitoring and overseeing its execution.
• Professional experience in managing budget planning and financial oversight for cybersecurity operations, tools, and platforms, including direct support to middle and senior management in financial decision-making.
• Professional experience in designing, developing and implementing contribution-based funding mechanisms in compliance with legal, financial, and policy frameworks such as Regulation 2023/2841 and other Commission guidelines, including effective stakeholder communication and continuous monitoring of financial performance.
• Professional experience in IT project management by leading projects across diverse sectors, with a solid understanding of project management methodologies and tools, while ensuring clear communication among key stakeholders, effective stakeholder facilitation, and alignment with strategic objectives.

• Professional experience in working with EU financial regulations and tools such as MAP tool, ABAC (Accrual Based Accounting), SUMMA or similar financial management systems, with an understanding of legal, and policy frameworks, including Regulation 2023/2841 and other Commission guidelines.
• Experience in communicating financial and project-related information clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven track record of identifying cost-saving measures and improving budgetary efficiency.
• Ability to support high-level decision-making through financial analysis and reporting, including the preparation of dashboards, forecasts, and data-driven recommendations tailored to cybersecurity contexts, as well as CERT-EU Work Programme, Annual Activity Report, and similar reporting conducted by middle and senior management of CERT-EU.

The candidate should also demonstrate the following skills:

• High level of customer-orientation and willingness to remain aware of customers’ needs.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills including the ability to deal with a large amount of information in a limited time, developing project plans, optimising resource allocation, assessing project risks, and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Awareness about cybersecurity related topics and understanding of current IT risks.
• Security-oriented and vigilant mentality.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both orally and in writing.
• High degree of commitment and flexibility, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and navigate complex organisational structures in an international and multi-disciplinary work environment.
• A focus on constant learning and improving technical and personal skillsets.
• Ability to maintain attention to detail and accuracy, even under the pressure of tight deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders across sectors/teams, leveraging communication skills to align project objectives with organisational strategy and goals.

To make your application stand out, please consider that the ideal candidate will possess some, or all, of the following:

• A university degree in finance.
• At least 10 years of hands-on professional experience in finance, including at least 3 years in IT project management.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, with the ability to motivate and coordinate cross­functional teams, foster collaboration, and drive project success.
• Ability to align projects with organisational strategy and financial objectives, while proactively identifying opportunities for process improvement.
• Experience in IT systems and software development lifecycle, familiarity with object- oriented programming languages, SQL (Structured Query Language), HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), as well as with Git and Gitlab platform.
• Experience in delivering presentations and training sessions to diverse audiences.

The candidate must hold a security clearance at EU SECRET level or be in a position to be security cleared.

How to Apply

You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order:

1. your CV 2. completed application form.

Please send these documents by the publication deadline to [email protected] indicating the selection reference DIGIT/C0M/2025/1926 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline.