Finance and Contracts Assistant

European Partnership; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

European Commission – Employment DG (EMPL) invites applications for a Finance and Contracts Assistant role in Unit EMPL.G.4. The position focuses on ex-ante advice and control on grants and procurement, supporting calls for proposals, procurement procedures, and related financial activities.

You will monitor financial implementation, provide technical budget support, and deliver targeted training and reports to DG EMPL’s operational units.

Qualifications

• good knowledge of preparing/assessing proposals for projects, call for proposals and/or call for tenders in public procurement.
• experience in data analysis on financial implementation, working with big data sets and preparing reporting tools of financial data and visualisation will be an asset.
• a pro‑active attitude towards problem resolution; excellent networking and client‑orientation skills.
• eye for detail and analytical capacities.
• a strong sense of responsibility and the capacity to work autonomously whilst at the same time being a good team player.
• very good knowledge of English, written and spoken; knowledge of French will be an asset.
• knowledge about financial rules and procedures.
• experience with the use of IT tools for grants/procurement management in the Commission will be an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial advice and support to the Directorate-General operational units for the preparation of calls for proposals for Grants, invitations for application under indirect management and of calls for tender for Procurement procedures.
• Be in charge of ex-ante control before publication and before award of the different procedures in application of the Financial Regulation and the applicable internal rules.
• Monitor the launch of calls until grant agreements or procurement procedures till contract signature and provide technical support on budget implementation.
• Assist with the monitoring of data on financial implementation via SUMMA dashboards and other reporting tools and deliver reports on financial implementation.
• Provide practical training in the field of grants, procurement or contribution agreements tailored to the needs of DG EMPL.

Skills

Budget management

Finance and contracts

Data analysis

Proactive problem solving

Attention to detail

Autonomous work style

English proficiency

French language (asset)

Tools

SUMMA dashboards

Reporting tools

Big data visualization

Job description

Directorate-General or Department: EMPL - Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

About us

The mission of Directorate EMPL.G is to coordinate the use of the Funds managed by the DG as effective instruments to deliver a critical mass of investment to support the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, especially with a view to a green, digital, resilient and inclusive recovery from the socio-economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To this end, the Directorate coordinates the implementation of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) for the 2021-27 programming period, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fundfor displaced workers (EGF) as well as the Social Climate Fund (SCF) and supports the use of financial instruments in the areas covered by DG EMPL.

The Directorate also promotes the social economy to foster the EU's job creation, social inclusion and sustainable development goals through the development of both policy and funding support. It coordinates and supports the evaluation and impact assessment activities of the DG with a view to implementing the Commission's Better Regulation Guidelines in the DG. The Directorate also ensures a consistent implementation of financial procedures, in line with Commission rules.

The mission of Unit EMPL.G.4 “Financial Implementation and Procurement Centre” is to contribute to the sound and efficient management of the financial resources of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion in direct and indirect management. The unit is composed of 47 staff members in charge of financial activities, from the approved Financing Decision to the final payment, for both, procurement, grants shared and indirect management.

About the role

We propose a dynamic position of Finance and Contracts Assistant - Ex-ante advice and control on Grants and Procurement in a team dealing with several Funding programmes under the responsibility of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

The colleague will provide financial advice and support to the Directorate-General operational units for the preparation of calls for proposals for Grants, invitations for application under indirect management and of calls for tender for Procurement procedures.

He/she will be in charge of ex-ante control before publication and before award of the different procedures in application of the Financial Regulation and the applicable internal rules and of monitoring the launch of calls until grant agreements or of procurement procedures till contract signature. In addition, the colleague will provide technical support to the operational units by answering specific questions related to budget implementation in the field of grants, contribution agreements and procurement.

The colleague will assist with the monitoring of data on financial implementation via SUMMA dashboards and other reporting tools and deliver reports on financial implementation as well as provide practical training in the field of grants, procurement or contribution agreements tailored to the specific needs of the various actors in DG EMPL.

Qualifications, experience and skills

We are looking for a colleague with some experience in budget, finance, contracts and accounting demonstrating:

• a good knowledge of preparing/assessing proposals for projects, call for proposals and/or call for tenders in public procurement;
• experience in data analysis on financial implementation, working with big data sets and preparing reporting tools of financial data and visualisation will be an asset;
• a pro‑active attitude towards problem resolution; excellent networking and client‑orientation skills;
• eye for detail and analytical capacities;
• a strong sense of responsibility and the capacity to work autonomously whilst at the same time being a good team player;
• very good knowledge of English, written and spoken; knowledge of French will be an asset;
• knowledge about financial rules and procedures;
• experience with the use of IT tools for grants/procurement management in the Commission will be an asset.