• Function title: Head of Internal Audit
• Reference: NOC-DG-2023-AD/718
• Location: Brussels
• The selected candidate must reside either at this location or within a reasonable proximity that allows for the satisfactory execution of their duties – Information about living in Brussels
• Nature of competition: Internal and external competition
• Applicable regulations: Staff regulations governing officials of the EUROCONTROL Agency
• Type of post: Head of Unit or equivalent
• Job level: AD11-AD12 – Check salary simulations for the basic grade
• Generic job title: Principal Adviser
• Number of posts: 1
• Duration of appointment: 5 Year(s) – extension or conversion of the contract is possible – see “Useful information” section
• Security clearance: EUROCONTROL, NATO or EU Secret
• Directorate/Service: DG/IA – Internal Audit
• Working arrangement: Hybrid work (remote and onsite)
• Competition publication date: 30/11/2023
• Competition closing date: 11/01/2024 (23:59 Brussels time)
• Reserve list: Applicable – See details in the “Useful information” section

Your team

Within the Office of the Director General, the Internal Audit provides an impartial and independent appraisal and consultancy function for the Agency. It leads internal controls to help meet the Agency’s objectives, while also enhancing risk management effectiveness and evaluating the level of risk associated with the Agency’s governance, operations, and information systems.

Your role

Your role will be to:

• Develop and ensure achievement of the Internal Audit Service’s objectives and effectively manage its activities, resources (budget & personnel), including resource allocation, staff development, and succession planning to ensure the availability of the necessary competencies and ensure business continuity
• Establish and implement the annual work plan, approved by the Director General, to guide the Internal Audit Service’s activities and ensure alignment with the Organisation’s goals and priorities.
• Provide an objective and independent appraisal and consultancy function for the Agency, offering valuable insights and recommendations to enhance operational efficiency, risk management, and internal controls.
  • Analyse, assess and recommend to the Agency management improvements to the internal controls system established to support the achievement of the Agency’s objectives.
  • Collaborate with the Agency to enhance the effectiveness of risk management practices, including identifying and evaluating risks, developing risk mitigation strategies, and promoting a risk-aware culture throughout the organisation.
  • Conduct comprehensive evaluations of the Agency’s risk exposure across various areas, including governance, operations and information systems. This includes assessing the reliability and integrity of financial and operational information, evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of business operations, ensuring the safeguarding of assets, and verifying compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and contracts.
• Approve and issue reports and recommendations based on investigations and studies conducted by the Internal Audit team. Provide advice and guidance to Agency Directors based on the findings to support informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Conduct special studies and reports at the request of the Director General or the Provisional Council.
• Carry out any other task in line with the main purpose of the job.

Required qualification, experience & competencies

• Completed university studies of 4 years in a relevant field (e.g. Finance, Accountancy).
• Internal candidates can check on the intranet to see what level of in-house experience is considered equivalent to educational qualifications where appropriate.
• Either one of the professional certifications hereunder is required:
  • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
  • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Minimum 15 years’ relevant professional experience including 5 years in management of strategic activities.
• Experience in International Internal Auditing Standards.
• Experience in the use of audit tools and management and control systems.
• Experience in applying professional accounting regulations/standards such as International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to complex audit and accounting issues.
• Experience in people management, ideally in an international environment.
• Experience of the financial and contractual aspects applicable to European (ATM) programmes and projects would be an asset.
• Understanding of the development and implementation of cost determination methodologies.
• Knowledge of ATM would be an asset (e.g. air traffic services, airspace management, air traffic flow management, etc.).
• Problem solving: You know how to solve complex problems and provide effective solutions.
• Communication: You adapt your communication to different situations and audiences.
• Influencing: You know how to sell the benefits of ideas.
• Managing People: You encouraging development in support of business objectives.
• Organisational awareness: You understand influences and operate effectively in the broader context.
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment.
• Professional conduct in line with the corporate behaviours of the Agency, i.e. result-driven, readiness to change, customer focus, integrity and team-player approach.
• The working languages of the Agency are English and French. For this particular job, candidates must be proficient users of English at level C1 and acquire, at least, a basic knowledge of French (level A1) by the end of the probation period.
  The levels relate to the European-framework-reference Common European Framework of References for languages (CEFR).

Useful information

• Applications will be accepted from nationals of EUROCONTROL Member States only.
• This post is governed by the terms of the Financial Regulations of the Agency according to which the appointment is subject to the prior approval of the Provisional Council and the enlarged Committee. Following such approval, the Head of Internal Audit shall be appointed by the Director General in accordance with the Staff Regulations of the Agency.
• The appointment will be for an initial period of 5 years. The appointment may be renewed once.
• Before being established in the post, the selected candidate will be requested to provide certified copies of their degrees and successfully serve a probationary period of 9 months.
• Internal candidates
  • An official already in post appointed for an undetermined period or to a permanent post before May 2002 who is successful in the present competition and is appointed to the post of Head of Internal Audit, shall at the end of his period of appointment, which may have been renewed once, be assigned to a type of post at the grade which he held in the month prior to appointment for a limited period (Article 3.1 Annex Xb to the Staff Regulations).
• The successful candidate shall be appointed at the grade set out in this vacancy notice, or if a group of grades has been published for a job level, in principle at the basic grade of the published job level.
• This post entails management activities. Established staff members will therefore have to serve a confirmation period of 9 months. This period may be shortened to 6 months if the successful candidate is appointed following a competition preceded by a previous temporary assignment to the post for which s/he was selected. The Director General may also decide not to make subject to this provision if that official has previously been assigned, for a period of 2 years or more, to a post similar to that for which he has been selected and which entailed the same level of management responsibilities.
• Candidates declared suitable who are not selected for the post will be placed on a reserve list for similar roles. The reserve list will be valid for one year from the closing date of applications.
• Information on salary and benefits can be found on our Careers site
• EUROCONTROL is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality and diversity. In the event of equal merit, preference may be given to the applicant from the under-represented diversity characteristics in order to complement diversity of teams and rebalance the workforce.
• Candidates should go to our Careers site and read the tips on how to apply.