European Free Trade Association is looking for a Finance and Control Officer

Are you a dynamic and highly motivated professional looking to make a positive impact in Europe? Join our team as the new Finance and Control Officer at the Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) in Brussels.

About us:

The Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) - affiliated with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - carries out the day-to-day management of the EEA and Norway Grants. The Grants are Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein’s contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area (EEA) and strengthen bilateral relations and partnerships between the Donor States and the 15 Beneficiary States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia). EEA Grants are financed by the 3 donor countries whereas Norway Grants are financed solely by Norway.

We are now entering a new funding period with a budget of 3.2 billion euros. At the same time, we are closing the current funding period with a budget of 2.8 billion euros.

The programmes in the new funding period will focus on these overall priorities:

• European green transition

• Democracy, rule of law and human rights

• Social inclusion and resilience

Why join the FMO?

At the FMO, we offer more than just a job - we offer a stimulating and diverse international workplace with a trust-based culture. Our team of more than 50 employees coming from the EEA region, bring a rich blend of experiences and knowledge to our daily operations. We work closely with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), the 15 Beneficiary States and various international partners. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful environment where you can advance your career and contribute to meaningful results that make a difference.

Learn more:

If you're ready to take on a rewarding challenge and be part of a dedicated team working towards improving economic and social progress and strengthening cooperation and partnerships in Europe, we encourage you to apply. For more details about our work and the opportunities we offer, please visit our website at www.eeagrants.org.

The position is open to nationals of the EEA EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and nationals of the member states of the European Union.

Division: Financial Mechanism Office

Location: Brussels

Category/Level: A4

Duration of Appointment: Fixed term three years (renewable once if in the interest of the FMO)

Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 26-01-2025

Job Reference: VA 37/2024

Scope

The Finance and Control Officer is part of the Finance and Control unit with 6-7 staff members.

The unit is responsible for the overall financial and control activities of the FMO. This includes budget management, financial reporting and forecasting, payments, accounting, grant management, audit coordination and risk assessment, and support to all aspects of programme management cycle of the EEA and Norway Grants. It supports the whole FMO and works closely with the Beneficiary States on the development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and closure of the programmes.

As the Finance and Control Officer you will be reporting directly to the Head of Finance and Control and engage in occasional travel to fulfil your duties. The Unit is responsible for a large number of tasks, as listed below, and you will be assigned some or several areas of responsibilities depending on your experience and profile and considering the evolving needs of the FMO and its operations.

Responsibilities and tasks of the Finance and Control unit

• Liaison with Beneficiary State authorities and provision of financial and control expertise in grant management and programmes design, contracting, implementation, monitoring and reporting;

• Oversight of the overall financial management and control of the Grants in the Beneficiary States;

• Maintenance of the sound financial management and control framework and culture within the FMO and with external stakeholders;

• Preparation of financial reports for internal stakeholders and revision of financial reports of external stakeholders;

• Monitoring and supporting implementation of the internal control framework and anti-fraud strategy;

• Oversight of the development and implementation of the FMO budget and accounting activities;

• Cash management, incl. forecasting of disbursements;

• Coordination of audit activities;

• Drafting of relevant policies, procedural documents and manuals;

• Oversight of the financial management and control of framework agreements with Donor Programme Partners in Donor States;

• Facilitation of meetings and workshops on financial management and control in the FMO and in Beneficiary States;

• Contribution to the development and maintenance of the grant and financial management IT systems in the FMO;

• Contribution to the implementation of the FMO’s risk strategy, including the assessment of programme and institutional risks in Beneficiary States.

Qualifications

• A Master’s-level university degree in a relevant field;

• Relevant certifications in the field of accounting are considered an advantage.

Experience

Required experience

• At least 6 years of relevant work experience in programmes design, contracting, implementation, monitoring and reporting;

• At least 3 years of experience working with financial frameworks, such as those of the European institutions or other international funding schemes;

• Experience in providing technical assistance and/or capacity building to external stakeholders.

Desired experience

• Experience with closure of programmes and/or financing periods;

• Experience in grant management;

• Experience in working for or with EU institutions, international organisations or national-level bodies (e.g. ministries, agencies, etc.) of at least one of the Beneficiary States;

• Experience in working with and applying International Financial Reporting Standards;

• Experience in working with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations module;

• Experience in developing and monitoring organisation’s budget.

Skills

• Knowledge of legal and financial requirements of publicly funded programmes / projects is essential;

• Ability to communicate in writing and verbally on financial and control related issues in a clear and concise manner; strong presentation skills and ability to draft documents, policies and procedures in clear and concise language;

• Excellent organisational skills with ability to set, follow and timely deliver on priorities;

• Ability to extract and analyse data from grant management and accounting systems;

• Excellent command of MS Excel, and good knowledge of other Microsoft Office software (SharePoint, Outlook, Word and PowerPoint);

• Self-reliance and autonomy, with an excellent facility for efficient and constructive teamwork; dynamic and flexible attitude, and cultural sensitivity;

• Ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure and focus on achieving results;

• Ability to steer discussions and maintain effective working relationships.

Languages

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English (the working language of the FMO). Further language knowledge, relevant for use in the Beneficiary States, is an asset.

Employment Terms

Grade: A4

Annual starting salary: EUR 106,704

Appointments are normally made at step 1 of the grade. The Managing Director of the FMO reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level different from that advertised.

The FMO is an employer dedicated to the principles of diversity and equality. We are committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, with a healthy work-life balance.

We offer very interesting and challenging positions in a dynamic and diverse environment and the opportunity to work in a team of highly qualified people. Salaries and related payments are exempt from taxation by the EFTA Member States and in the EFTA host states. Depending on the candidate’s family status, benefits and allowances may apply.

For questions related to the recruitment process or information about this position please contact us by email: fmorecruitment@efta.int.

Deadline for submission of applications: 26 January 2025.