Internal Auditor

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY; Noordwijk; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY is seeking an experienced Internal Auditor in the Head of Internal Audit, Evaluation, Investigations and Ethics Compliance Office, Director General's Services. The role is based at ESRIN in Frascati or ESTEC in Noordwijk, performing audit and advisory engagements to strengthen governance, risk management and internal controls across the Agency.

Reporting to the Senior Internal Audit Lead, you will plan, execute and report audits in accordance with international standards,

Qualifications

• Master's degree in internal audit, finance, accounting, business administration or another relevant discipline with 15 years' experience.
• At least 10 years in internal audit, including 2+ years in international organisations.
• CIA certification and strong report writing/presentation skills are required.
• CISA/ACCA/ACA/CPA qualifications are highly advantageous.
• Ability to work independently and in teams under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Audit or advisory engagement planning, execution and reporting per international professional standards.
• Assess governance, risk management and internal control effectiveness within the Agency.
• Evaluate efficiency, economy and financial management of Agency resources.
• Develop annual audit plans, quality reviews and related activities for Internal Audit.
• Follow up on implementation of audit recommendations.

Skills

Internal audit concepts

ESA business & risks

Risk management

Analytical skills

Information systems

Data analytics

Delivery orientation

Collaboration

Continuous improvement

Forward thinking

Education

Master's degree in internal audit/finance/accounting/business administration

Job description

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Closing Date: 6 November 2026 23:59 CET/CEST

Publication Method: Internal & External

Type of Appointment ( learn more) : 4 years, extendable to indefinite

Directorate: Director General's Services

Location
ESRIN, Frascati, Italy or or ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Description

Internal Auditor in the Head of Internal Audit, Evaluation, Investigations and Ethics Compliance Office, Director General's Services.

Duties

Reporting functionally to the Senior Internal Audit Lead under the general hierarchical supervision of the Head of Internal Audit, Evaluation, Investigations and Ethics Compliance Office, your tasks and responsibilities will cover audit or advisory engagement planning, execution and reporting, in accordance with international professional standards, including:

• assessing the adequacy of the Agency’s governance processes and effectiveness of the internal control practices with regard to:
  • ensuring Agency policies, procedures, implementation, systems and data regarding management control and risk management are suited to their intended purpose;
  • ensuring significant risks are assessed and appropriate risk mitigation measures identified and implemented;
  • ensuring effective organisational performance management and accountability;
  • compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and contracts;
• evaluating the economic effectiveness of the Agency’s internal operational policies and initiatives, the application of the principles of efficiency, economy, sound financial management and the optimum use of the Agency’s resources;
• assessing potential weaknesses and identifying improvement opportunities in the Agency’s governance, risk management and control processes, formulating recommendations to the relevant organisational units and following-up on their implementation;

Your tasks will also include activities related to annual audit planning, quality reviews, administrative and management activities and other initiatives or projects related to the Internal Audit function.

Sound understanding of the concepts of internal audit

Knowledge and understanding of the ESA business and its associated risks

Demonstrable experience in risk management

Analytical, information systems and data skills

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

A master's degree in internal audit, finance, accounting, business administration or another relevant discipline, with a minimum of fifteen years of experience, of which at least ten in internal audit, ideally including at least two years in internal audit within an international organisation.

Additional requirements

Candidates should be IIA - Certified Internal Auditors (CIA) and possess strong report writing and presentation skills.
A certified competence in auditing information systems (CISA) and/or performance auditing and/or accounting (ACCA, ACA, CPA etc.) would be highly advantageous.
Applicants must demonstrate excellent analytical, communication and coordination skills and the ability to provide high quality, strategic output, often involving analysis of high volumes of information against tight deadlines.
Candidates should be able to work independently on audit or advisory projects and/or as part of a team, with a strong focus on effectiveness and efficiency of their work.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at [e-mail] .
Important Information and Disclaimer
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality and Languages
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.