EEAS Call for Expression of Interest for the recruitment of one Temporary Agent under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS)
WE ARE
The European External Action Service (EEAS), which supports the work of the High Representative in defining and implementing an effective and coherent foreign policy of the European Union. The EEAS supports his tasks of conducting the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and chairing the Foreign Affairs Council. It also supports the High Representative in his capacity of Vice President of the Commission. The EEAS works in close cooperation with Member States, the Council and relevant services of the European Commission.
The budget division EEAS BA.BS.1 is responsible for the establishment and follow-up of the administrative budget of the organisation, covering both the Headquarters and the delegation network as well as all issues relating to accounting quality and management of the delegations imprest accounts. The total amount managed is approximatively 970 M€ and includes the EEAS budget (750 M€) and the contribution of the European Commission to the functioning of the EU delegations.
WE PROPOSE
The position of Budget Officer in the EEAS BA.BS.1 – Budget Division.
WE LOOK FOR
The successful candidate will be part of a small team in charge of the overall management of the budget of the Institution, from conception to implementation and follow-up and all intermediary stages. The work touches potentially all areas of the institution that require money, and is therefore extremely varied but sometimes also involves significant stress and pressure.
The candidate will in particular assist the Deputy Head of Division, notably with the preparation of the initial draft budget, guiding it through the internal and external approval procedures, and the subsequent follow-up of the execution in the subsequent year. You will also be called upon to establish budget estimates for various files and provide advice to colleagues on budget-related matters and procedures, including the correct usage of the budget; this latter task requiring both tact and diplomacy.
The work can for example(1) involve:
- Definition of budgetary needs based on the requests from the services;
- follow-up of budget execution and preparation of execution reports;
- independently planning and piloting of budget transfer proposals;
- preparation of briefings for the senior hierarchy of the EEAS;
- follow-up of the actions related to audit, reporting, discharge, etc.., for the budget of the EEAS;
- follow-up of the budgetary needs of the EEAS in the framework of the SUMMA project;
- representing the service in the Council & Parliaments Budget Committees;
- inter-service relations on budgetary matters; and/or
- general reporting and management of specific files.
The successful candidate will also be expected to participate in the development of the budgetary and financial resource management policies of the Department within the overall EEAS policy framework, ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and contribute to annual activity reports, provide information for internal audits and the Court of Auditors and participate in the divisions financial circuits at the level of sub-delegated authorising officer.
The position’s workload is varied and demanding. The core personal requirements are a strong desire to make oneself useful, curiosity, enthusiasm and a friendly and non-confrontational personality.
LEGAL BASIS
The vacancy is to be filled in accordance with the conditions stipulated under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS)(2), in accordance with EEAS Decision ADMIN(2015) 20 on the engagement and use of temporary agents
The successful candidate will be offered a contract as Temporary Agent under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS) at the grade of AD6 for a 4 year duration, renewable for another 2 years.
ELEGIBILITY CRITERIA
Candidates must meet ALL of the following general and specific conditions on the closing date for online applications:
- Be a national of one of the EU Member States and enjoy full rights as a citizen;
- Meet any obligations imposed on him or her by the laws concerning military service;
- Provide the appropriate character references as to his suitability for the performance of his duties;
- Have the capacity to work in languages of the CFSP (English and French, in writing and orally). Both languages are required in the performance of the duties. The command of one language must be at minimum C1 level (Language 1 — thorough knowledge) and the command of the other one must be at minimum B2 level (Language 2 — satisfactory knowledge).
- Secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, followed by at least 7 years’ professional experience directly related to the nature of the duties; OR Relevant professional training followed by at least 7 years’ professional experience directly related to the nature of the duties.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates should:
- have an excellent ability to maintain diplomatic relations and to ensure representation, communication in a complex, multicultural environment;
- have an excellent capacity to create constructive working relations with national authorities, international organisations and EU Member States;
- have strong drafting, communication and analytical skills combined with sound judgement;
- have knowledge of external relations, internal policies and functioning of the Union;
- have significant and pertinent experience in the key areas of EU budget preparation/management/follow-up or finance/accounting;
- have significant and pertinent knowledge of the Union’s budgetary procedures and the Financial Regulation, in particular those pertaining to an administrative budget;
- be frequent and enthusiastic Excel users;
Furthermore:
- experience of working in an Embassy, a Delegation (or equivalent in an international organisation);
- experience of working in a team in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;
- experience of negotiations;
- a good understanding of the budgetary framework in which the EEAS and its delegations operate;
- a good understanding of the budgetary and accounting rules in application for the Union Budget;
- experience with data-processing and reporting software like Business Objects and budget-related software like SAP and ABAC;
would be considered assets.
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE(3):
The selection procedure will take place in three different and successive steps:
1. Expression of Interest
Expressions of interest should be sent by e-mail to the following functional mailbox:
For the purposes of the e-mail application, this post will appear under the subject of the email:
“Application: Budget Officer in the BA.BS.1.Budget division/ 2021-EoI-HQ (AD)-TA2b-AD6-338043”
Such an expression of interest must be accompanied by:
- An updated Curriculum vitae. Candidates are invited to use the “Europass” CV format (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/curriculum-vitae) for their applications.
- A letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages) in either English or in French;
- To assess the candidate’s drafting and Excel skills: one Word document and one Excel workbook, which have been drafted/established by the candidate. It can for example concern a note to the file, a report, a budget estimate or an expense follow-up. We will in particular look for the ability to present complex information in a clear and structured manner.
Applications may be submitted during the period from 19/04/2021 to 10/05/2021 at 12:00 midday (Brussels time). Please note that the only way to submit an application is using the on-line system.
For correspondence concerning the selection procedure, please use the following email address (the e-mail must have in the subject the following title: “2021-EoI-HQ (AD)-TA2b-AD6-338043”
To : EEAS-HQ-APPLICATIONS-AD@eeas.europa.eu
Copy : BA-BS-1@eeas.europa.eu
2. Pre-selection
The selection panel will make a pre-selection on the basis of the qualifications and the professional experience described in the CV and motivation letter, and the competences demonstrated in the submitted files.
3. Selection
The candidates who have passed the pre-selection step will be invited for an interview so that the selection panel can evaluate these candidates objectively and without prejudice based on their qualifications, professional experience and linguistic skills. Additional specific written or oral tests might be organised by the panel.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
The EEAS is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EEAS is committed to promoting gender equality and to preventing discrimination on any grounds. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and from the broadest possible geographical basis amongst the EU Member States. We aim at a service, which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.
If pre-selected, candidates with disabilities are invited to contact us at EEAS-HQ-APPLICATIONS-AD@eeas.europa.eu in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure the possibility to pass the selection procedure in equality of opportunities with other candidates.
If a candidate with a disability is selected and recruited, the EEAS is committed to appropriate measures in order to accommodate his or her special needs to the working place or working conditions in accordance with Art 1d(4) of the Staff Regulations.
APPOINTMENT:
The selected candidate will be recruited as temporary agents under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS), in accordance with EEAS Decision ADMIN(2015) 20 on the engagement and use of temporary agents
The selected candidate will be required to undergo a medical fitness examination in accordance with Article 13 of the CEOS.
Candidates shall have a valid Personnel Security Clearance (PSC) allowing them to access information classified at the level “SECRET UE/EU SECRET” or will be required to undergo the corresponding security vetting in accordance with the EEAS security rules4. In case the successful candidate does not obtain his or her PSC, his or her engagement will be terminated.
In case of positive results on the medical fitness examination and after assessment of the PSC conditions, the candidate will be offered a contract as Temporary Agent, Grade AD-65 for a duration 4 years renewable only once for another 2 years.
All member of the temporary staff shall serve initially a nine-month probationary period in accordance with Article 14 CEOS.
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Brussels, Belgium
POST AVAILABLE: immediately
CONTACT: Pasqualino Battista, Head of Budget Division, EEAS BA.BS.1
Tel +32 (0) 2 584 3053
pasqualino.battista@eeas.europa.eu
David Hallonsten, Deputy Head of Budget Division, EEAS BA.BS.1
Tel +32 (0) 2 584 34 83
david.hallonsten@eeas.europa.eu
The closing date for submissions is 10/05/2021 at 12:00 hours (Brussels time).
(1) The successful candidate will hence not necessarily have to perform all nor not only these tasks
(2) Staff Regulations of Officials (SR) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS). For reference, see
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1570023902133&uri=CE…
3 Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) 2018/1725. The privacy statement is available on EEAS webpage: http://eeas.europa.eu/data_protection/rights/index_en.htm
4 In accordance with the Decision of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 19 September 2017 on the security rules for the European External Action Service, ADMIN(2017) 10, OJ C 126, 10.4.2018, p. 1, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2018.1…
5 The basic salaries offered by the EU institutions are set out in Article 66 of the Staff Regulations. The current level, can be accessed via the link: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C:2020:428:FU…