Expert Position – Financial Controlling and Accounting / Legal Services and Procurement

 

The (EEA) European Environment Agency is establishing a reserve list for financial controlling and accounting experts as well as for legal & procurement experts in a single selection procedure, and the job descriptions for each expert are as follows:

A. Expert – Financial Controlling and Accounting

The Financial Controlling and Accounting Expert role is to coordinate and deliver budgeting, accounting, analysis and controls to support the Agency in effectively managing its budgetary and financial performance. The jobholder will be a member of the Finance Group, which is responsible for providing a variety of finance services to the Agency.

The Financial Controlling and Accounting Expert’s responsibilities include:

• Budgeting: Work with managers and finance colleagues to develop and drive the Agency’s annual and multi-annual budgets, and develop and negotiate budgets for a variety of projects. Take a leading role in regularly reviewing and managing budget performance;
• Analysis & Reporting: Deliver a wide variety of financial analysis and reporting to support financial management, assessments & audits of the Agency, projects and other initiatives. Develop standard costing and other financial models;
• Accounting: Deliver a variety of accounting responsibilities under the guidance of the Agency’s Accountant, which include processing accounting transactions, delivering year-end closure and reporting, and implementing accounting controls;
• Standards & Controls: Develop and implement financial standards and controls to ensure that the Agency’s financial administration is delivered in a standardised, efficient and well controlled manner. Engage with auditors and coordinate work to deliver audits of the Agency;
• Coordination & Development: Play both a leading and supporting role in coordinating finance activities across the Agency. Take responsibility for the coordination of work across the finance team. Support the team of finance officers to develop finance expertise and implement and improve new tools.

B. Expert – Legal Services and Procurement

The Legal & Procurement Expert will support the Agency by ensuring timely, effective and efficient delivery of legal advice as well as procurement services with a customer oriented approach. The jobholder will be a member of the Legal Services, Procurement and Logistics Group, which is responsible for the planning, coordination and implementation of the Agency’s annual procurement and logistic plans, as well as for the provision of advice and services on legal and data protection matters.

The Legal Services and Procurement Expert’s responsibilities include:

• Acting as a legal and procurement business partner by providing legal advice in administrative, strategic as well as operational matters with a high level of customer and solution orientation (notably in the areas of ethics, conflict of interest, data protection, intellectual property, procurement, contracts and grants management, EU law relevant to the mission of the Agency).
• Manage, monitor and provide proactive support and guidance on all aspects of existing and emerging legal and procurement issues and risks.
• Provide legal advice, assistance in litigation cases at both administrative and judicial levels and provide advice on issues which potentially give rise to litigation (including management of outsourcing legal advice to external legal service providers where applicable)
• Provide analysis, advice and support across the Agency on procurement related matters, with a practical, problem-solving approach, including the development and implementation of internal guidelines, rules and procedures as appropriate.
• Provide analysis, advice and support across the Agency on requests for public access to Agency’s documents, and data protection related matters after joint processing with the business owner.
• Supporting compliant and effective procurement plan execution by monitoring framework contracts validity, providing information for planning, delivering progress reporting and supporting resource hearings.
• Performing control activities ensuring the procurement operations comply with financial regulations and applicable guidelines and controls and supporting audits.
• Ensuring processes are standardised and well documented, and collaborating with colleagues to ensure consistency, continuity and back-up of legal and procurement tasks.

The Financial Controlling and Accounting Expert will report to the Head of Group, Finance; and the Legal Services and Procurement Expert will report to the Head of Group, Legal Services, Procurement and Logistics, both of whom report to the Head of Programme ‘Administrative Services’ (see organisational chart).

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Candidates applying must satisfy the following eligibility criteria on the closing date for the submission of applications:

a) Successful completion of university studies attested by a degree relevant in the field concerned of at least 3 years OR where justified in the interests of the service, professional training of an equivalent level;

b) A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience after achieving the qualification set out above.

In addition, in order to be eligible a candidate must:

• Be a national of one of the member countries of the EEA (Member States of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey);
• Enjoy full rights as a citizen;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by law concerning military service;
• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the EEA member countries and a satisfactory knowledge of another of these languages(corresponding to level B.2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages CEFR);
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.

Candidates should assess carefully and check before submitting their application whether they fulfil all the conditions for admission laid down in the vacancy notice, particularly in terms of qualifications and relevant professional experience.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Essential:

(In your application, please provide examples from current or past work experience where these competencies have been applied)

• Proven and relevant professional skills, experience and performance related to the above-mentioned duties and responsibilities in one or more of the areas of the job description;
• Proven skills and experience in finance, legal and procurement systems and processes, and delivering legal and financial analysis, advice, guidelines, policies, and reports, respectively for each position;
• A specific degree or certification in the field of Law, Procurement, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related area;
• Excellent command of written and spoken English language, at least at level C1 in all categories according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language.

More information

EPSO