Budget Officer

1. BACKGROUND

The European Defence Agency (EDA) was established on 12 July 2004, and is governed by Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1835 defining the statute, seat and operational rules of the European Defence Agency. The Agency has its headquarters in Brussels.

The main task of EDA is to support the Council and the Member States in their effort to improve the Union's defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) as it currently stands and as it develops in the future.

The Agency is structured into four directorates. The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) and three operational directorates: Industry, Synergies and Enablers (ISE); Capability, Armament & Planning (CAP); Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI).

2. THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING

The Agency is an "outward-facing" organisation, constantly interacting with its shareholders, the participating Member States, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders. It works in an integrated way, with multi-disciplinary teams representing all of the Agency's functional areas, to realise its objectives. Its business processes are flexible and oriented towards achieving results. Staff at all levels need to demonstrate the corresponding qualities of commitment, flexibility, innovation, and team-working; to work effectively with shareholders and stakeholder groups, formal and informal; and to operate without the need for detailed direction.

3. THE CORPORATE SERVICES DIRECTORATE

The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) provides critical business support to EDA operations by delivering high-quality corporate services under 5 dedicated units, namely: Human Resources; Procurement and Contract Management; Finance; IT and Information Management together with Security and Infrastructure Management. Additionally, the EDA Legal Team provides legal, data protection and institutional advice and checks to its management relating to the fulfilment of Agency objectives. The EDA Programme Manager and Corporate Projects Officer provides a leadership role in, and a focal point for, good practice in Project, Programme and Risk Management. Finally, the Record Manager is responsible for the effective and appropriate management of information produced and/or received by the organisation.

CSD processes are geared towards efficient and optimal use of resources, leveraging good practice and technological solutions while ensuring sound financial management, transparency and accountability; outward focus and commitment to continuous improvement are the hallmarks of CSD.

4. DUTIES

We are looking for a dynamic hands-on finance professional with a sound track record in budget planning, monitoring and reporting who balances compliance with service focus. Working closely with the Head of Finance, the successful candidate will act as an expert reference point on day-to-day financial operations to team and staff members. Autonomy and solution-orientation are a must.

Under the supervision of the Head of Unit Finance, the jobholder will be responsible for/contribute to the following activities:

Budget planning, monitoring and reporting

organize and prepare the set-up of the Agency's budget plans (general budget, budget related to the additional revenue sources and specific budgets of ad hoc projects);
overlook and ensure compliance of financial operations;
monitor the implementation of budgets, ensuring frequent alignment with budget holders and project officers, and prepare corrective actions for management decisions, followed by execution of these decisions;
coordinate and perform the budgetary closing process, including preparing the carry forward exercise as well as ensuring budget inscriptions;
prepare formal and management reports related to budget planning, implementation and closing, as well as prepare ad hoc reports on specific budget or financial topics.

Financial initiation and verification

initiate budgetary commitments, payments and recovery orders;
perform the "financial verifying agent" role for financial transactions initiated by colleagues;
calculate and prepare call for contributions from participating Member States;
prepare proposals for budget transfers, following internal alignment.

Financial coordination and support

support the Head of Unit in the coordination of tasks to be performed by the Finance unit as well as activities that require the involvement of the entire Agency;
support the Head of Unit in the definition of financial policy and guidance, including drafting financial rules, procedures and guidance;
act as the reference point for colleagues within the unit, as well as for all EDA colleagues on all aspects related to the budget lifecycles, as well as with regard to the Financial Regulations applicable to the Agency;
provide guidance and advice on financial matters on management demand or to participating Member States (pMS).

The jobholder may take on additional tasks as required in the interest of the service.

Duties may evolve according to development of the EDA's structure and activities, and the decisions of EDA management.

5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be considered eligible to take part in this selection procedure, on the closing date for the submission of applications candidates must satisfy all the eligibility criteria as specified below:

be a national of a Member State participating in the Agency; be entitled to his/her full rights as a citizen; have fulfilled any obligations imposed on him/her by the laws concerning military service; produce the appropriate character references as to his/her suitability for the performance of his/her duties (extract from the "judicial record" or certificate of good conduct will be requested prior to recruitment); be physically fit to perform his/her duties; have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1 oral and written) of one of the languages of the participating Member States and a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2 oral and written) of another of these languages to the extent necessary to discharge his/her duties; have no personal interest (financial, family relationship, or other) which could be in conflict with disinterested discharge of his/her duties within the Agency; hold, or be in a position to obtain, a valid Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (national or EU PSC at SECRET UE/EU SECRET level). Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (PSCC) means a certificate issued by a competent authority establishing that an individual is security cleared and holds a valid national or EU PSC, and which shows the level of EUCI to which that individual may be granted access (SECRET UE/EU SECRET), the date of validity of the relevant PSC and the date of expiry of the certificate itself. Note that the necessary procedure for obtaining a PSCC can be initiated on request of the employer only, and not by the individual candidate; have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more, or a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least one year when the normal period of university education is at least three years or be a graduate of a national or international Defence College; or where justified in the interests of the service, professional training of an equivalent level.

Only diplomas that have been awarded in EU Member States or that are the subject of equivalence certificates issued by the authorities in the said Member States shall be taken into consideration. In the latter case, the authority authorised to conclude contracts of employment reserves the right to request proof of such equivalence. Please note that degrees awarded in the United Kingdom up to 31/12/2020 are considered valid.

It should be noted that due to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 31/01/2020, candidates from the United Kingdom who do not hold the nationality of another participating EU Member State, are not eligible.

For native English speakers, your ability to communicate in another EU language will be tested during the selection process. To assess your foreign language levels, see: >

6. SELECTION CRITERIA

A. Essential

Only applications meeting all essential selection criteria will be assessed.

(1) Professional

The candidate will be required to demonstrate that he/she has:

(2) Personal

All staff must be able to fit into the Agency's way of working (see para. 2). Other attributes important for this post include:

ability to work in a team;
strong sense of duty and responsibility;
ability to work in multinational and multicultural environment;
ability to determine priorities;
strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
accuracy and dependability;
excellent customer service skills;
ability to work under pressure.

B. Desirable

The following will be considered an advantage:

a university degree in business administration, economics, finance, accounting or public sector management; knowledge and experience with international public accounting standards (IPSAS); experience in a similar position in another EU Agency or Institution, having all beforementioned duties as principal tasks; solid experience with the use of ABAC Workflow, proven through work experience or documented training; knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics Finance, proven through work experience or documented training. 7. INDEPENDENCE AND DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The Budget Officer will be required to make a declaration of commitment to act independently in the Agency's interest and to make a declaration in relation to interests that might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence.

8. APPOINTMENT AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The Budget Officer will be appointed by the Chief Executive.

Recruitment will be as a member of the temporary staff of the Agency for a four-year period . Renewal is possible within the limits set out in the EDA Staff Regulations. The successful candidate will be recruited as Temporary Agent, grade AD7.

The pay for this position consists of a basic salary of supplemented with various allowances, including as applicable expatriation or family allowances. The successful candidate will be graded on entry into service according to the length of his/her professional experience. Salaries are exempted from national tax, instead an Agency tax at source is paid. For further information on working conditions please refer to: Failure to obtain the requisite security clearance certificate before the expiration of the probationary period may be cause for termination of the contract.

Candidates are advised that part of the recruitment process includes medical analyses and physical check-up with the Agency's Medical Adviser.

Applications are invited with a view to establish a reserve list for the post of Budget Officer at EDA. This list will be valid until 31/12/2024 , and may be extended by decision of the Chief Executive. During the validity of the reserve list, successful candidates may be offered a post in EDA according to their competences in relation to the specific requirements of the vacant post. Inclusion on the reserve list does not imply any entitlement of employment in the Agency.

9. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

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

10. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Candidates must submit their application electronically solely via the EDA website. Applications by any other means (hard copy or ordinary e-mail) will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted no later than midnight. Candidates are reminded that the on-line application system will not accept applications after midnight (Brussels time, GMT+1) on the date of the deadline.

When applying, candidates from Ministries of Defence or other governmental entities are encouraged to inform their national administration.

A selection panel will be appointed. Please note that the selection panel's internal proceedings are strictly confidential and that any contact with its members is forbidden. Each application will be screened based on the requirements of the job profile stated in the vacancy notice. The most suitable applicants will be called for an interview and a written test. If recruited, you will be requested to supply documentary evidence in support of the statements that you make for this application. Do not send any supporting or supplementary information until you have been asked to do so by the Agency.

Please note that once you have created your EDA profile, any correspondence regarding your application must be sent or received via your EDA profile. For any prior enquiry, please refer to the FAQ (Frequently asked questions) section, or send an e-mail to

11. DATA PROTECTION

Please note that EDA will not return applications to candidates. The personal information EDA requests from candidates will be processed in line with Regulation (EU) N° 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) 45/2001 and Decision No. 1247/2002/EC.

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