Head (Budget & Finance)

The Head (Budget and Finance) is responsible for all budgetary and financial management operations of the JATEC, ensuring adherence to NATO Financial Regulations, providing advice and guidance on financial matters, managing financial internal control systems, and overseeing financial risk management. The role includes managing personnel, financial planning, budgeting, accounting, procurement, and compliance with tax and customs regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial support within the limit of the financial authority entrusted by the ACT Financial Controller and liaise directly with the Director and ACT Financial Controller on all finance matters.
• Serve as financial management advisor to the Director JATEC, providing advice on eligibility, prioritization and allocation of resources.
• Manage personnel and activities of the Office of Budget and Finance.
• Oversee all financial management operations including budgeting, purchasing, contracting, accounting, cash management, treasury, travel and auditing.
• Validate and authorize financial transactions within delegated authority.
• Maintain proper fiscal and procurement accounting records as per NATO Financial Regulations and IPSAS principles.
• Monitor and control fund execution, coordinate financial requirements with JATEC Expanded Command Group.
• Conduct period-end closure and reconciliation of accounts, coordinate year-end procedures and preparation of Trial Balance.
• Identify and manage financial risks.
• Prepare JATEC inputs to Common Funded Resource Plan, budget estimates and execution reports.
• Prepare budgets for HQ SACT review and present to Budget Committee and Working Groups.
• Provide budgetary forecasts, monitor and account for appropriated budgets including international funds.
• Provide budgetary and managerial accounting reports.
• Oversee all procurement activities and chair the Contract Awards Committee.
• Provide travel office service for JATEC duty travellers.
• Ensure internal review activities to monitor compliance to NFRs and support ACT Auditor activities.
• Ensure financial control of activities supported by non-appropriated funds.
• Ensure correct application of tax exemption and customs clearance rules for local acquisition and import/export of official goods and services.
• Be legally accountable for obligations from contracts, banking, cash management and other financial arrangements within delegated authority.
• Serve as head of financial management organization, responsible for correct application of international and multinational appropriated funds.
• Participate in NATO Committees including Budget Committee and senior management meetings.
• Provide direction and guidance to contractors, interns and other personnel in financial administration.
• Monitor contracting function and chair Contract Awards Committee.
• Supervise accounting and reporting of financial holdings and expenditures.
• Supervise internal training programme for financial administration staff.
• Oversee estimation, screening, approval and execution of budgets including Military Budget, NATO Security Investment Programme, and non-appropriated funds.
• Maintain professional contacts inside and outside the organization, negotiate and approve financial actions.
• Represent the Centre to professional organizations and other nations as finance professional.
• Act as financial authority in all JATEC meetings and working groups.
• Support delivery of JATEC mission through management and effective use of NATO common funded resources.

Requirements

• University Degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics, public administration or related discipline and 2 years function related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.
• Four years’ experience exercising supervision, direction, and control over and organization of staff engaged in financial administration functions.
• Four years’ experience in financial management function to include planning, programming, budgeting and executing resource allocations.
• Four years’ experience in working with international accounting and auditing standards and knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
• Two years’ experience in public accounting, banking or funds management.
• Two years’ experience in using a computerized financial ERP system (e.g. SAP, Oracle EBS) and MS Office package.
• Proven experience and ability to make oral presentation to an international audience, formally or informally.
• Working knowledge of at least one risk management framework.
• Experience in international organization financial operations (desirable).
• Practical knowledge of multinational organization missions, functions, and operations (desirable).
• Experience with ORACLE Financials or other ERP system (desirable).
• Working knowledge of the Balanced Scorecard management system (desirable).
• Experience in purchasing and contracting (desirable).
• Working Knowledge of the PRINCE 2 Project Management System (desirable).
• Formal training in International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) (desirable).
• Formal Project Management certification (desirable).
• Formal Risk Management certification (desirable).
• Master of Science in Business Administration, or similar (desirable).

Skills

• Finance Management
• Budgeting
• Resource Allocation
• Finance Administration
• Supervision of Financial Staff
• International Accounting Standards
• International Public Sector Accounting Standards
• Public Accounting
• Banking
• Funding Management
• ERP Systems
• SAP
• Oracle EBS
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Oral Presentation
• Risk Management Framework
• Financial Internal Control
• Procurement
• Contracting
• PRINCE 2 Project Management
• Balanced Scorecard

Languages

English