Senior Accountant

**GENERAL BACKGROUND:
SHAPE, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, is the Headquarters of Allied Command Operations (ACO), one of the two major military commands of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). ACO safeguards an area extending from the northern tip of Norway to the eastern border of Turkey. This equates to nearly two million square kilometres of land, more than three million square kilometres of sea, and a population of about 320 million people.

**POST DESCRIPTION:
**Location**:Casteau/Mons, 60 Km south of Brussels (Belgium)

**Division**:FINAC

**Post Context/Post Summary**

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) provides an integrated Strategic Effects framework, employing a multi-domain and multi-region focus to create a 360-degree approach, with the flexibility to enable, upon direction, a seamless transition from Baseline Activities and Current Operations (BACO) up to the Maximum Level of Effort (MLE). SHAPE supports SACEUR in fulfilling his terms of reference, as directed by the North Atlantic Council.

The Finance and Acquisition Directorate (FINAC) Is responsible for all international and multinational appropriated and non-appropriated funds in ACO. The responsibility encompasses supervision and oversight of subordinate ACO commands and development of financial and acquisition policies. FINAC represents SHAPE/ACO in the Budget Committee (BC), participates in the development of international agreements and the annual Consolidated Resource Plan (CRP), and advises/assists the SHAPE Command Group with respect to Military Budget-funded requirements. FINAC plans and executes the annual ACO military budget with the contracting, finance and accounting, and cash management it entails and ensures coordination with relevant parties.

The ACO Corporate Accounting and Control Branch (CAC) performs delegated financial controller functions for the Allied Command Operations (ACO) HQs.

The Corporate Accounting Management Section ensures solid finance & accounting expertise on ACO HQs and operations ACO-wide.

The incumbent provides direction, hands-on management, and continual improvement of day-to-day financial operations and systems including accounting, auditing, budgeting and reporting. Ensures that ACO general ledger and related financial statements are accurate and completed in a timely manner and prepares the consolidated annual financial statement process of ACO.

**Principal Duties**

The incumbent's duties are:

- Ensures the development, implementation and compliance with policies, directives and international accounting standards in accordance with applicable regulations.
- Contributes to the development and implementation of IPSAS and financial accounting policy/directives throughout ACO.
- Contributes to the development and training for accounting throughout ACO, when required.
- Is part of the key user team for the development of ACO centralized accounting strategy and implementation of upgraded accounting system.
- Provides direction, hands-on management, and continual improvement of day-to-day financial operations and systems including accounting, auditing, budgeting and reporting. Ensures ACO general ledger and related financial reporting are accurate and completed in a timely manner.
- Prepares the consolidated annual financial statement process for ACO.
- Contributes to the preparation of the ACO End-of-Year Guidance for the ACO Commands and MWA activities.
- Deals with logistic, finance, accounting, budgeting throughout ACO and other NATO entities all accounting matters & issues.
- Prepares proposals for improvements of local HQ or ACO directives relating to international accounting standards.
- Ensures that the NSIP call of funds from NATO Member Nations are properly accounted and reconciled.
- Maintains the fixed asset inventory system by supervising the recording of all items in the inventory, maintaining pertinent records and ensuring adequate treatment of fixed asset acquisitions and retirements, within means and capabilities.
- Maintains the ACO General ledger providing support to the section for the recurring accounting requirements, analysis, monthly reconciliation, quarterly reconciliation, iterative process and preparation of the annual closure in line with the adopted accounting principles and standards.
- Liaises with the internal and external auditors for reports of financial and performance audit of ACO HQ and programs. Contributes to the follow-up of the internal/external audit recommendations.
- Makes recommendations in relation to reimbursable services for external NATO HQs, Agencies, and other organisations on the basis of service level agreements (SLAs).
- Is responsible for developing the requirements external service providers have to meet for the accounting and asset management performed by ACO.
- Contributes to the risk management and ensures appropriate internal controls are in place in the finance and accounting activities through