Finnancial Assistant

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU, and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting 

The NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) is responsible for providing secure and effective communications and information technology (IT) services to NATO's member countries and its partners. The agency was established in 2012 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

The NCIA provides a wide range of services, including:

• Cyber Security: The NCIA provides advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect NATO's communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: The NCIA develops and maintains the systems used by NATO's military commanders to plan and execute operations.
• Satellite Communications: The NCIA provides satellite communications services to enable secure and reliable communications between NATO forces.
• Electronic Warfare: The NCIA provides electronic warfare services to support NATO's mission to detect, deny, and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: The NCIA manages NATO's information technology infrastructure, including its databases, applications, and servers.

Overall, the NCIA plays a critical role in ensuring the security and effectiveness of NATO's communication and information technology capabilities.

The program

Assistance and Advisory Service (AAS)

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is NATO’s principal C3 capability deliverer and CIS service provider. It provides, maintains and defends the NATO enterprise-wide information technology infrastructure to enable Allies to consult together under Article IV, and, when required, stand together in the face of attack under Article V.

To provide these critical services, in the modern evolving dynamic environment the NCI Agency needs to build and maintain high performance-engaged workforce. The NCI Agency workforce strategically consists of three major categorise's: NATO International Civilians (NIC)'s, Military (Mil), and Interim Workforce Consultants (IWC)'s. The IWCs are a critical part of the overall NCI Agency workforce and make up approximately 15 percent of the total workforce.

Role Background

The Chief Assistant reports to the Chief of Operating Costs and Transversal Controls who reports directly to the Business Management Chief. The Business Management (BM) Division, built around four branches, has the key task and responsibility to contribute to the implementation of an Agency-wide harmonizedcustomer funding model which balances the interests of stakeholders, customers and the Agency. The BM Division is responsible for financial planning, revenue and cost management, as well as the timely capture, processing and presentation of accurate and relevant financial information, tailored to user requirements, and decisively contributing to an effective planning, monitoring and decision making process that facilitates sound operational stewardship of the Agency, including programmes.

The Operating Costs and Transversal Controls (OCTC) team is a corporate level team within the BM Division whose key tasks are:

• Overall financial management of all the Agency's Operating Costs including scrutinising and approving requests for funding against the Corporate Plan and monthly reporting;
• Monitoring Agency Operating Costs, data quality and performance metrics as developed;
• Oversight of the separate operating budget for the NCI Organisation (NCIO) Independent Secretariat;
• Leading the Agency's in-year reforecasting process of Revenue and Costs against the Plan;
• Leading the implementation, monitoring, improvement of internal and transversal controls (1st and 2nd level) for Operating Costs and supporting connected processes;
• Business Controller and Partner for corporate business areas/units.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Branch Chief, and consistent with the foregoing key tasks, they are to use a range of techniques and knowledge, to support and as assigned manage, the delivery of a range of activities.

Financial Management, analysis and controls:

• Utilizes cost monitoring practices, techniques and considerations.
• Works with financial transactions and related documentation to ensure accurate recording.
• Follows regulations for entering and reporting the financial content in the accounting systems.
• Coordinates communication and collection of financial requirements.
• Actively participates in the reforecasting exercises.
• Monitors, traces, and corrects errors in financial records and analyses Operating Costs.
• Follows up, coordinates, raises issues and makes recommendations on improvement of data quality.

Business process improvement:

• Supports the execution of business process improvements and ensures their implications are effectively communicated.
• Participates in the implementation, standardisation and improvement of financial reporting processes and tool development, improvement and use.
• Analyses and designs business processes to identify alternative solutions to improve efficiency, effectiveness and exploit new technologies and automation.
• Contributes to the definition of organisational policies, standards, and guidelines for business process improvement.

Stakeholder relationship management:

• Deals with problems and issues, managing resolutions, corrective actions, lessons learned, and the collection and dissemination of relevant information.
• Helps develop and enhance stakeholder relationships. International Public Sector Financial Frameworks:
• Has basic knowledge of IPSAS and their application in NATO.
• Is aware of the customer funding principles and financial framework within the Agency.
• Identifies dependencies between NATO accounting and financial regulations.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Establishing and managing budgets;
• Analytic skills and problem solving capacity;
• Implementing and monitoring Internal Controls;
• Applying IPSAS or IFRS/IAS;
• Advanced level and proven experience in Microsoft Office including Excel, PowerPoint, and use of an ERP with Business intelligence tools;
• Proven ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing;
• Working effectively in team, and managing team member

Education

• Higher vocational training in a relevant discipline with 4 years post- related experience, or a secondary educational qualification with 6 years post-related experience.

Working Location

• Brussels, Belgium

Working Policy

• On-Site

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance