The European Defence Agency 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).
DUTIES
EDA is looking for an Accounting Officer with strong experience in accounting – preferably in an EU or international public sector setting – who will ensure, among other tasks, the swift, accurate and timely delivery against specific deadlines of all tasks falling under the responsibility of the EDA Accounting function in accordance with EDA’s Financial Rules.
While being administratively assigned to the Finance Unit, he/she will be appointed by the Steering Board of the Agency, be totally independent in the performance of his or her Accounting Officer duties and responsible to the Steering Board. The successful candidate will need to be highly skilled, rigorous, autonomous and proactive.
The Accounting Officer shall be responsible for:
- properly implementing payments, collecting revenue and recovering amounts established as being receivable;
- keeping, preparing and presenting the accounts in accordance with EDA Financial Rules;
- implementing the accounting rules and the chart of accounts;
- validating the systems laid down by the Authorising Officer to supply or justify accounting information;
- treasury management.
Other tasks will include:
- drafting and maintaining accounting policies and procedures;
- contributing to the definition of financial management processes;
- responding to accounting related queries both internally and externally;
- providing recommendations and ensuring adherence to best practices on accounting;
- maintaining a detailed and complete audit trail for all financial operations of the Agency;
- supervising and reconciling asset management records with the financial records;
- organising the closure of the accounts involving all in-house financial actors;
- collecting from the authorising officer all the information necessary for the production of accounts to provide a true and fair view of the Agency’s financial situation and of budgetary implementation;
- preparing and facilitating audits on annual accounts;
- take on additional tasks assigned by the Head of Finance as required in the interest of the service and in compliance with the principles of independence and segregation of duties.
Duties may evolve according to development of the EDA’s structure and activities, and the decisions of EDA management.
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 of at least three years attested by a diploma; 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.
BENEFITS
The Accounting 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 AD6.
The pay for this position consists of a basic salary of 5805.35€ 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.
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