Head, Strategic Analysis and Reporting Unit
Brussels, Belgium
JOB DETAIL
1. SUMMARY
The Office of Financial Control (OFC) is responsible for the management of financial and budgetary control systems for several NATO entities, primarily the NATO International Staff (IS) civil budget. As the custodian of member Nations’ funds, the OFC provides reliable and value adding financial and procurement services in support of front-line Divisions, enabling them to achieve their objectives.
The OFC is responsible for procurement, financial operations, budgeting and reporting for: the NATO IS civil and reimbursable budgets (including satellite offices); all NATO-wide pensions and related funds; bodies and projects located at NATO HQ for which OFC is responsible for providing procurement, budgetary, financial and accounting services. OFC is also responsible for providing procurement, cash management, finance and accounting support to a number of extra budgetary funds (including trust funds) and bilateral arrangements, including the Tax Reimbursement Agreement with the United States (U.S.).
Standards applicable to NATO in the finance area are the NFRs, the NATO’s Financial Rules and Procedures, the NATO Accounting Framework, the IPSAS, the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations (CPRs), and the NATO Code of Conduct. NATO IS uses COSO as the reference framework for internal control systems.
NATO (HQ) uses an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution to support the management of resources and daily staff operational activities. The scope of the solution includes financial management (budget and accounting functions), human resources management, procurement, cash management, facilities management and general support functions (e.g. asset management). Procurement Service uses also e-Procurement solution and the Budget Planning and Analysis Section uses Oracle Hyperion.
The Office of Financial Control is organised around five functions, (1) Budget Planning and Analysis and Procurement; (2) Control, Accounting and Finance, (3) Treasury, (4) ERP Competency Centre, and (5) Missions, with a Front Office overseeing these functions.
The Strategic Analysis and Reporting Unit (SAR) is responsible for most financial analysis and reporting prepared by the OFC for the Allies and for internal IS purposes. It ensures that all OFC operation and reporting is based on precise, reliable and coherent data, uniformly developed and applied across the OFC. Towards this end, it works in close cooperation with the OFC Budget Planning and Analysis and Procurement Branch (BPAP) and the Control, Finance and Accounting Branch (CAF).
The Head SAR leads and manages the Strategic Analysis and Reporting Unit. The incumbent monitors and analyses financial developments across the scope of OFC responsibilities, advises the OFC leadership on arising challenges, offers related forecasts and makes recommendations. S/he advises and supports other IS divisions and OFC clients in their financial reporting functions. S/he reports systematically on the execution of budgets, pension, extra-budgetary, and other relevant funds.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL
The incumbent must:
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have a university degree, from an institute of recognized standing, in economics, business administration, public administration, finance, management, information systems or related discipline;
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have at least 3 years of professional experience in financial analysis and reporting;
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have strong analytical and drafting skills; have experience with the implementation or use of information systems to support knowledge management, collaboration, and data analysis;
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have advanced knowledge of MS Excel or equivalent;
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have proven team leadership and managerial skills;
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possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; II (“Elementary”) in the other.
DESIRABLE
The following would be considered an advantage:
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an advanced university degree (MS, MA, MBA, MPA or equivalent) or a post graduate diploma in a field relevant for this position;
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professional experience in accounting, budget planning, procurement;
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working knowledge of commercial and/or government accounting standards, principles and procedures (e.g., IPSAS, IFRS);
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experience as project manager for the implementation of information systems;
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working knowledge of Oracle E-Business Suite of Oracle Hyperion applications;
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working experience in both official languages of NATO;
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professional certification in a field relevant for this position from a recognized institution, such as accounting or audit certification, project management certification (Prince2), Project Management Institute (PMI), Project Management Professional (PMP), Oracle -Business Suite, Financial Management Certification);
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familiarity with and/or understanding of the organisation and operation of NATO, or another sizable international organisation, or with a budget driven entity.
3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES
Planning and Execution
Arrange and assign work to use resources efficiently and effectively. Develop processes and procedures to fulfil organizational goals.
Policy Development
Help formulate data analysis and reporting strategies and policies and design innovative solutions. Contribute to setting guidelines and procedures for improved work processes and procedures. Help the development of OFC and IS-wide policies and procedures for financial reporting and data production and analysis.
Expertise Development
Develop and manage optimised processes and procedures to ensure that precise, reliable, and coherent financial data is used across OFC operations in accordance with the relevant standards. Use such data for financial analysis and reporting with a view to increasing efficiency, transparency and accountability across the Organisation. Propose practical solutions for ensuring the most reliable and useful reporting.
People Management
Provide advice and guidance to the SAR team. Manage the SAR team and monitor their work. Encourage initiative, support creativity and the development of staff. Provide in-depth mentoring, coaching and training opportunities and be available to offer guidance at critical moments. Ensure that all staff under her/his responsibility are clear on Organisational, Divisional, Directorate and Section objectives. Communicate on best practices, improvements, and efficiencies, ensure that the team follows appropriate training. Provide regular and fair feedback on performance, informally as appropriate and via the HQ Performance Review and Development (PRD) system. Identify possible development and mobility opportunities for team members. Promote integrity, professionalism and accountability through a sound and inclusive leadership culture.
Stakeholder Management
Work in close cooperation with BPAP and CFA. Support heads of BPAP and CAF in preparing Budget Execution Reports Financial Statements and procurement reports. Interact with, and advise all other OFC elements, the IS client base, and other relevant IS units. Work closely with the Executive Management Division. Communicate with, and advise IS officers responsible for budget and programme execution and reporting. Support the Senior Policy Advisor in her/his duties. Represent OFC senior management, as required, in fora dealing with financial analysis and reporting.
Knowledge Management
Monitor the OFC’s operation and relevant developments at and outside of NATO. Stay up to date with NATO Financial Regulations, IPSAS, risk management and financial statement evolutions in order to provide the best support possible to the OFC. Gather and organise relevant data, propose practical solutions for coherent and uniform data production, analysis, and organisation across the OFC;
Information Management
Oversee and contribute to the efficient flow of information within the Section. Coordinate timely responses and actions. Maintain an effective follow-up and/or reminder system for pending actions within the Section. Provide constructive suggestions to improve office procedures, including information flow between the different parts of the OFC. Find ways to be faster, better and more effective in managing information and using office tools.
Organisational Efficiencies
Keep abreast of, evaluate and propose innovative working tools as well as efficiencies in systems and working practices. Help develop organizational standards and best practices for professional relationships with internal and external customers.
Perform any other related duty as assigned.
4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS
The incumbent reports to the Senior Policy Advisor and supervises work of two members of her/his staff. S/he works closely with Heads of BPAP and CAF, interacts with other elements of the OFC and other IS units as relevant.
Direct reports: 2
Indirect reports: N/a.
5. COMPETENCIES
The incumbent must demonstrate:
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Achievement: Creates own measures of excellence and improves performance.;
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Analytical Thinking: Sees multiple relationships;
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Clarity and Accuracy: Monitors others’ work for clarity;
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Conceptual Thinking: Applies learned concepts;
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Customer Service Orientation: Makes things better for the customer, addressing underlying customer needs;
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Impact and Influence: Uses indirect influence;
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Initiative: Is decisive in a time-sensitive situation;
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Teamwork: Solicits inputs and encourages others.
6. CONTRACT
Contract to be offered to the successful applicant (if non-seconded): Definite duration contract of three years; possibility of renewal for up to three years, during which the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite duration contract.
Contract clause applicable:
In accordance with the contract policy, this is a post in which turnover is desirable for political reasons in order to be able to accommodate the Organisation’s need to carry out its tasks as mandated by the Nations in a changing environment, for example by maintaining the flexibility necessary to shape the Organisation’s skills profile, and to ensure appropriate international diversity.
The maximum period of service foreseen in this post is 6 years. The successful applicant will be offered a 3-year definite duration contract, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years. However, according to the procedure described in the contract policy the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite contract during the period of renewal and no later than one year before the end of contract.
If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO’s member States, a 3-year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years subject also to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.
Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Régulations.
NOTE: Irrespective of previous qualifications and experience, candidates for twin-graded posts will be appointed at the lower grade. Advancement to the higher grade is not automatic, and will not normally take place during the first three years of service in the post.
Under specific circumstances, serving staff members may be appointed directly to the higher grade, and a period of three years might be reduced by up to twenty four months for external candidates. These circumstances are described in the IS directive on twin-graded posts.
7. RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member countries.
Applications must be submitted using e-recruitment system, as applicable:
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For NATO civilian staff members only: please apply via the internal recruitment portal (link);
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For all other applications: www.nato.int/recruitment
Please note that at the time of the interviews, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of their education and professional experience as relevant for this vacancy.
Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate) and approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser.
More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/recruit-hq-e.htm).
8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women to apply.
Building Integrity is a key element of NATO’s core tasks. As an employer, NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity, and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.
Due to the broad interest in NATO and the large number of potential candidates, telephone or e-mail enquiries cannot be dealt with.
Applicants who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment to another post of a similar nature, albeit at the same or a lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.
The nature of this position may require the staff member at times to be called upon to travel for work and/or to work outside normal office hours.
The organization offers several work-life policies including Teleworking and Flexible Working arrangements (Flexitime) subject to business requirements.
Please note that the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium is a non-smoking environment.
For information about the NATO Single Salary Scale (Grading, Allowances, etc.) please visit our website. Detailed data is available under the Salary and Benefits tab.
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