FIXED-TERM CONTRACT

Job mission

Ensure accurate and reliable programme and budget and/or accounting records, statements and reports in compliance with the Organisation’s financial regulations and deadlines and provide advice in the financial management field (programme and budget for profile A, accounting for profile B).

* External recruitment procedure organised in accordance with Article 15B of the Regulations on Appointments

The incumbent performs the following key duties:

• provides information for financial reporting and participates in the drafting of documents;
• implements and follows up efficient working methods and procedures necessary to ensure the reliability of budgetary, programmatic and accounting data;
• works in close collaboration with others to ensure the co-ordination of the activities; may cooperate with control organs (internal and external auditors, Budget Committee, Oversight Advisory Committee);
• participates in the implementation and development of new financial information systems;
• supervises a team.

More specifically, by profile:

Profile A

• contributes to the preparation of the biennial Programme and Budget of the Organisation;
• reviews the programmatic contributions of the entities of the Council of Europe; monitors Programme and Budget implementation and prepares reporting;
• follows the implementation of budgets and updates budget forecasts;
• analyses cost estimates and budget proposals of the Council of Europe’s entities;
• contributes to the review of the draft terms of reference of the intergovernmental committees;
• assists and advises managers and colleagues on budgetary and financial policies and procedures, including results-based budgeting;

Profile B

• participates in the preparation of the annual Financial Statements of the Organisation in compliance with the Financial Regulations and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS);
• supervises the treasury situation, treasury reporting analysis and daily cash-flow follow up;
• supervises the receipts of the Organisation, interacting with customers or representatives of member States to resolve outstanding issues;
• reconciles the General Ledger accounts and the subsidiary ledgers to the General Ledger;
• supervises the accounting for fixed assets in accordance with the adopted accounting policies and the reconciliation to physical inventories;
• supervises the regularity of the payment orders submitted to the Treasurer and the supporting documentation in compliance with the Financial Regulations.

Please note that the incumbent may be required to perform other duties not listed in the vacancy notice.

Only applicants who best meet the following criteria will be considered for shortlisting.

Profile A :

Qualifications:

• Higher education degree or qualification in one of the following fields: finance, accounting, economics, business or public administration or equivalent.

Experience:

• At least five years of professional experience in the fields of budgeting and programming, financial management or related area.

Profile B :

Qualifications:

• Higher education degree or qualification in one of the following fields: finance, accounting, economics, business or public administration or equivalent.

Experience

• At least five years of professional experience in the fields of financial management, accounting or related area.

For both profiles:

Language requirements:

• Very good knowledge of one of the official language (English and French) and good knowledge of the other.

Nationality:

• Nationality of one of the 47 Council of Europe member states.

Age:

• Under 65 years of age at the closing date of the vacancy notice.

Council of Europe staff members adhere to the values Professionalism, Integrity and Respect.

Essential:

Profile A:

• Professional and technical expertise:

• good knowledge of programming and budgeting, and ability to apply financial rules, procedures and regulations; understands budgetary and financial administration;
• very good knowledge of ICT facilities and office systems.

Profile B:

• Professional and technical expertise:

• good knowledge in accounting and financial management, and ability to apply financial rules, procedures and regulations; understands budgetary and financial administration;
• very good knowledge of ICT tools and office systems.

For both profiles:

• Drafting skills
• Analysis and problem solving
• Concern for quality
• Service orientation
• Teamwork and co-operation

Desirable:

• Professional and technical expertise:

• Profile A : Experience in results-based budgeting
• Profile B : Experience in IFRS and/or IPSAS accounting

• Communication
• Resilience

For more information, please refer to the Competency Framework of the Council of Europe.

Applications

Applications must be made in English or French using the Council of Europe on-line application system.  By connecting to our website www.coe.int/jobs you can create and submit your on-line application.  Applications must be submitted at the latest 9 November 2016 (midnight French time).

The selection procedure consists of shortlisting, assessment(s), and a panel interview. Assessments may include one or more of the following: ability tests, behavioural questionnaires, job-related examinations, situational exercises, language tests, interviews and full assessment centres. At least one assessment will be eliminatory.

Depending on the number of applicants, the length of the required professional experience may be increased.

Candidates with the best results in the previous stages of the procedure (tests, exams, etc.) will, as a last stage of the procedure, be invited for an interview with a panel.

Following this competition, a reserve list of successful candidates, in order of merit, may be established. This list will be valid for two years with the possibility of extending it to a maximum of four years. It should be noted that placement on a reserve list does not give candidates the right to an appointment within the Council of Europe. The choice of candidates from a reserve list is not made solely according to the order of merit but also takes into account the requirements of the position to be filled and the qualifications of the candidates.

During the period of validity of the reserve list, candidates on the list may be offered employment on a fixed-term contract, which may be renewed one or several times. There is a statutory probationary period of two years.

The compulsory retirement age is 65.

Details on conditions of employment including salaries, allowances, pension scheme and social insurance can be consulted on our recruitment website.

Under its equal opportunities policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve parity in the number of women and men employed in each category and grade. In the event of equal merit, preference will therefore be given to the applicant belonging to the under-represented sex.

The Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief or sexual orientation.

During the different stages of the recruitment procedure, specific measures may be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities.

The Organisation

The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading organisation in the protection of human rights, democracy and rule of law. It was founded in 1949 in order to promote greater unity between its members  and  now includes 47 member states, all having signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights.

By Statute, the Council of Europe has two constituent organs: the Committee of Ministers, composed of the member states’ Ministers for Foreign Affairs, and the Parliamentary Assembly, comprising delegations from the national parliaments. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe represents the entities of local and regional self-government within the member states. The Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent and impartial institution within the Council of Europe mandated to promote the awareness of and respect for human rights in member states.

The European Court of Human Rights is the judicial body which oversees the implementation of the Convention in the member states. Individuals can bring complaints of human rights violations to the Strasbourg Court once all possibilities of appeal have been exhausted in the member state concerned.

The Council of Europe has its permanent headquarters in Strasbourg (France) and in addition it maintains external presence in more than twenty countries. More information about the Council of Europe external presence.