1. SUMMARY

The NATO Office of Resources (NOR) provides independent and integrated expert advice to the Secretary General, NATO Resource Committees, Allies, and other stakeholders on the planning, allocation and utilisation of military common funding made available to achieve NATO’s goals and objectives.

The NOR advice is based on sound judgement underpinned by facts, figures expertise and knowledge. It follows NATO policies, procedures and standards, and is independent of external stakeholder’s viewpoints. It supports efficient and effective use of public funds by assessing the policy compliance, eligibility, affordability, technical viability, and lifecycle implications of military requirements and proposed solutions. Furthermore, the NOR facilitates resource-informed political decision-making.

The Resource Management (RM) Branch provides quality, timely and relevant advice and support to NATO Resource Committee deliberations.  It does so in the planning, management and oversight of NATO common-funded resources and in the central coordination and development of NATO-wide accounting and financial guidance, fully taking into account current best practices in the field of public finance.  The Branch promotes further integration of the NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) and the Military Budget processes, to ensure that inputs for annual and medium-term resource planning are provided in a consistent and timely manner relying on the information management system in-use.  The Branch is also responsible for baselining, measuring and assessing good practice in financial management. Moreover, the Branch provides central coordination and guidance to the Financial Controller community, on behalf of the Resource Committees, with respect to NATO accounting and financial policy in order to facilitate improvements in the quality, consistency, and comparability of financial statements. It also includes supporting the Resource Committees with their advice to the North Atlantic Council on audits of the NATO entities’ financial statements and IBAN Reports.

The incumbent ensures that support provided by the Branch to the nations is coordinated and delivered in a timely fashion and is of high quality. In addition, they  are charged with overseeing the financial management of NATO’s military common funding, to ensure that inputs for annual and medium-term resource planning are provided in a consistent and timely manner, and to ensure the roles’ responsibilities of the RM Branch Staff (as they relate to the information management system in-use) are met.

Finally, the incumbent supports the NOR Director in their capacity as NATO’s Head of Financial Reporting Policy (HFRP).  This function focuses on the provision of central coordination and guidance to the Financial Controller community, on behalf of the Resource Committees, with respect to NATO accounting and financial policy in order to facilitate improvements in the quality, consistency, and comparability of financial statements. This includes the preparation of financial policy guidance and monitoring and following-up on the implementation on such guidance. It also includes supporting the Resource Committees with their advice to the North Atlantic Council on audits of the NATO entities’ financial statements.

Key challenges facing the successful candidate for the Head, Resource Management Branch during the next 2-3 years will include:

1. Promoting the principles of transparency and accountability in an environment of growing demands for more accountability, transparency and financial oversight but constrained staff resources.
2. Adapting and modernising NATO’s financial management and accounting policies and practices, addressing potential process deficiencies associated with common-funded financial resources, and streamlining working processes – while at the same time ensuring continued delivery of the quality, timely and independent outputs expected of the NOR.
3. Improving, streamlining and aligning NOR internal processes related to the recording, monitoring, tracking of and reporting on the financial implementation data of common-funded investment and budget decisions that are executed by third party, external stakeholders.

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

The incumbent must:

• possess a master’s degree in economics, accounting, business administration, or finance from an institute of recognised standing;
• possess a valid, internationally recognised, finance/accounting designation (i.e. Certified Public Accountant (CPA));
• have at least ten years of experience in public or business management, including administrative, financial, and human resource management aspects, with at least five years spent in a supervisory capacity;
• possess experience working in and/or leading teams in a multinational environment;
• be familiar with modern budgeting, financial management, accounting, and financial reporting concepts and tools;
• possess experience in drafting finance and accounting policies;
• be able to draft and edit complex documents;
• possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; I (“Beginner”) in the other.

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage:

• several years of executive experience in national government and/or International Organisations;
• experience in resource management and performance measurement in the public sector;
• experience in the financial management of complex projects or programs;
• knowledge of NATO military common funding;
• knowledge of NATO committee working methods.

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Financial Management

Ensure that financial planning and reporting processes related to the capital investment program are efficient and effective and conducted in a timely and accurate manner to ensure NATO’s ability to project and programme the use of military common funds. Remain aware of all relevant Military Budget issues and provide advice and guidance as required.

Policy Development

Review financial management policy, procedures and processes on a regular basis and compare to standards prevailing in public finance and the needs of the resource committees to ensure they remain relevant and reliable. Recommend financial policy and procedure changes when necessary. On behalf of the resource committees, ensure the development and updating of harmonised accounting policy, rules and procedures for all NATO entities. Provide financial reporting policy advice as required.

Planning and Execution

Remain aware of demands on committees and military common-funded resources, devising, overseeing and coordinating work processes accordingly. Oversee the implementation of committee decisions and execution of policy directives, as well as the measurement and assessment of good practice in financial management.

Stakeholder Management

Ensure that concerned parties are kept up-to-date, by managing key relationships and providing practical advice on administrative aspects of committee and financial work. Maintain close and frequent contact with the chairpersons of the Resource Committees, International Staff (IS)/International Military Staff (IMS) Divisions and other NATO bodies as required, as well as with national delegations to ensure the timely and efficient dissemination of all relevant information to facilitate committee and NOR resource management processes and improvement in the quality, consistency, and usability of NATO financial statements. Act as the main point of contact for the NATO Financial Controller community on financial reporting policies and with the Board of Auditors for NATO on financial statement audit consideration by the Resource Committees.

People Management

Manage and support the work of Branch staff. Motivate and influence staff to produce timely, high quality work. Lead quality control exercises and provide guidance to ensure consistent handling of committee and finance work. Identify and provide opportunities for professional development and career enhancement for personnel. Provide in-depth mentoring, coaching and training opportunities and be available to offer guidance at critical moments. Ensure that all staff under their responsibility are clear on Organisational, Divisional, Directorate and Section objectives.  Provide regular and fair feedback on performance, informally as appropriate and via the HQ Performance Review and Development (PRD) system.  Promote integrity, professionalism and accountability through a sound and inclusive leadership culture

Expertise Development

Identify relevant issues of strategic nature for consideration by Resource Committees. See to the coordination and preparation of appropriate materials and proposals.

Knowledge Management

Review all relevant documents related to Branch work to ensure high quality and consistency.

Organisational Efficiencies

Develop and implement new internal resource management and business processes, where appropriate, that will allow the Branch to operate more effectively. This includes the full use and follow-on development of an information tool as an enabler and a reliable reporting tool for financial management.

Representation of the Organization

Act as NOR representative at meetings with national delegations, National Military Authorities (NMAs), and other NATO Bodies and with the Financial Controllers on any issues related to the Head of Financial Reporting role.

Project Management

Direct and oversee resource input for the multi-annual medium-term resource plans.

Vision and Direction

Direct Branch work to address future resource management and financial issues. Lead Branch efforts to ensure efficient support to committee and development of financial reporting policies and financial procedures/practices for the management of NATO common funding.

Perform any other related duty as assigned.

4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The incumbent reports to the Director, NOR and oversees the work of Head, Performance, Accounting and Audit, Head, Financial Policy, Budgets and Analysis and Head, Investment Planning and Analysis to ensure the provision of secretariat, financial support and financial reporting guidance and monitoring to and on behalf of the resource committees. They work in close cooperation with the other Branches and Sections of the NOR and maintain working contacts with national delegations, other IS/IMS Divisions, Financial Controllers and other NATO bodies.

Direct reports: 3

Indirect reports: 7

5. COMPETENCIES

The incumbent must demonstrate:

• Achievement: Sets and works to meet challenging goals;
• Change Leadership: Personally leads change;
• Conceptual Thinking: Clarifies complex data or situations;
• Developing Others: Provides in-depth mentoring, coaching and training;
• Impact and Influence: Uses indirect influence;
• Initiative: Plans and acts for the long-term;
• Leadership: Positions self as the leader;
• Organisational Awareness: Understands organisational politics;
• Self-Control: Stays composed and positive even under extreme pressure.