Management Accountant

ECMWF is both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing and disseminating numerical weather predictions to its Member States. ECMWF carries out scientific and technical research directed to the improvement of its forecasts, collects and processes large amounts of observations, and manages a long-term archive of meteorological data. Satellite and in situ observations provide the information for up-to-date global analyses and climate reanalyses of the atmosphere, ocean and land surface.

Summary of the role

This is an interim position within the Finance Section of the Administration Department at ECMWF to cover a period of maternity leave. The successful candidate will report to the Head of Finance and will be responsible for the financial reporting requirements of ECMWF. This will include monthly management accounts, quarterly management information reports and annual financial accounts. In addition this role is responsible for the annual budget preparation.

Main duties and key responsibilities

• Producing monthly management accounts on a cash accounting basis
• Developing processes to improve the timeliness of monthly management accounts
• Compiling forecasts for the current year, involving liaising with the various budget holders at the Centre
• Producing the annual budget, to include detailed spend analysis, liaising with budget holders and preparation of various scenarios for consideration by the Finance Committee and Council
• Producing the annual Financial Statement of Accounts prepared under International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), including reconciliation of results under IPSAS compared with those prepared under a cash basis
• Producing cash flow projections
• Providing general support to the Finance Section, including developing ad hoc reports as required

Personal attributes

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Capacity to manage a range of conflicting issues to tight deadlines
• Self-starter with ability to quickly pick up the key elements and responsibilities of the role
• Excellent relationship management skills, including the ability to gain credibility with key stakeholders across the organisation and the user community

Qualifications and experience required

Education

A finance-oriented degree or a professional accountancy qualification with experience in public sector accounting, preferably in an international organisation.

Experience

• Knowledge and experience of accounting using the IPSAS framework would be an advantage.
• Experience of providing analysis and reports for decision-making, including the use of core accounting systems combined with report writers such as jet reports or similar.
• Experience of producing both management accounts and financial statements of account including all the relevant notes and analysis.

Knowledge and skills (including language)

• Expert-level Microsoft Office skills, with a particular emphasis on Excel and Word.
• Candidates must be able to work effectively in English and interviews will be conducted in English.
• A good knowledge of one of the Centre’s other working languages (French or German) would be an advantage but is not essential.

Grade remuneration

The successful candidate will be recruited at the A2 grade, according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations and the annual basic salary will be £55,488 net of tax. This position is assigned to the employment category STF-SP as defined in the Staff Regulations.

Starting date: As soon as possible.

Length of contract: 6 month initial contract with the possibility of extension to 12 months.