Budget / Accounting Assistant

Main functions and duties:

• Ensure compliance of the financial transactions with the regulatory environment (e.g. basic acts, Financial Regulation, implementing rules, internal rules, financing decisions, instructions,…).
• Ensure the legality, regularity and correctness of agreements, procurement contracts and grant agreements, invoices and recovery orders by performing a standard set of checks and control procedures.
• Implement and monitor internal control principles with respect to financial procedures.
• Assess and ensure the successful completion of the financial circuit for payments/recovery orders in the accounting system. Assess and ensure the validity of bank guarantees.
• Ensure compliance with every step of the governing procedures.
• Participate in evaluation committees.
• Assist in the preparation and control of the financial aspects in the calls for tenders and calls for proposals.
• Assist with the reporting, planning, budgeting and audit actors as regards required information.
• Manage Functional Mail Boxes as assigned.
• Backstop for other staff (initiators), particularly during absences.
• Provide support on finance and contracts issues to EU Delegations by replying to questions/ issues raised.
• Occasionally provide back up for financial initiation tasks to EU Delegations in the region in order to ensure business continuity.
• Manage correspondence on financial issues with external and internal actors within the tasks and topics assigned.
• Check and ensure the correctness and authenticity of the originals of signed contracts and other original financial documents
• Ensure the quality and consistency of financial data in the different databases and systems.
• Participate in the risk assessment of contracts with the aim to identify cases that require an additional ex-ante control (e.g. supporting documents, on-the-spot control, external audit, …)
• Cooperate with the operational and audit actors to provide additional information needed in the scope of the performed audits. Provide comments on draft audit and expenditure verification reports. Carry out on-the-spot checks.
• High level of responsibility and ability to analyse and structure information;
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure;
• Excellent team spirit;

• IT tools: Good computer skills on MS Word, Excel, e-mail applications and other relevant programmes;

• Knowledge of EEAS applications is an asset.

• Knowledge of Arabic C1, English C1 both written and oral, French  is an asset;

• A sense of discretion, confidentiality and responsibility are important prerequisites for this post;
• Enjoys civil rights and permits for employment under local law;
• Medically fit to perform the required duties.