Assistant Programme Accountant

Your role

ECMWF is looking to recruit an Assistant Programme Accountant (B5). This position is an integral part of the Finance Section in the Administration Department at ECMWF. It reports directly to the Senior Programme Accountant and be part of a highly-motivated and competent team.

The Assistant Management Accountant will play a key part in the financial processes of ECMWF by taking responsibility for the analysis and reconciliation of many financial transactions to ensure they are completed accurately, on time and in line with the appropriate financial controls.

Regular financial reporting will also be part of this role and therefore the position would suit an individual who can work to tight deadlines, embraces change, is flexible and continuously looks to improve financial controls and processes. Strong communication skills are also required as this role will involve much interaction with other stakeholders across the organisation. It is both an exciting and challenging time to join the ECMWF finance team as we continue to enhance the finance service at ECMWF to support new initiatives.

About ECMWF

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is a world-leader in weather and environmental forecasting. As an international organisation we serve our members and the wider community with global weather predictions and data that is critical for understanding and solving the climate crisis. We function as a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions, holding one of the largest meteorological data archives in the world. The success of our activities builds on the talent of our scientists and experts, strong partnerships with 35 Member and Co-operating States and the international community, some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, and the use of innovative technologies and machine learning across our operations.

ECMWF has also developed a strong partnership with the European Union and has been entrusted with the implementation and operation of the Destination Earth Initiative and the Climate Change and Atmosphere Monitoring Services of the Copernicus Programme. Other areas of work include High Performance Computing and the development of digital tools that enable ECMWF to extend provision of data and products covering weather, climate, air quality, fire and flood prediction and monitoring.

ECMWF is a multi-site organisation, with a main office in Reading, UK, a data centre/ supercomputer in Bologna, Italy, and a large presence in Bonn, Germany. We appreciate the need for flexibility in the way our staff work and allow flexibility to staff to mix office working and teleworking for up to 10 days/month.

See www.ecmwf.int for more info about what we do.

About Destination Earth (DestinE)

ECMWF is one of the three entities entrusted to implement the DestinE initiative of the European Commission, alongside with ESA and EUMETSAT as partners. DestinE aims to deploy several highly accurate thematic digital replicas of the Earth, called Digital Twins. The Digital Twins will help monitor and predict environmental change and human impact, in order to develop and test scenarios that would support sustainable development and corresponding European policies for the Green Deal.  ECMWF is responsible for the delivery of these digital twins and of the Digital Twin engine, the software infrastructure needed to power them of some of Europe’s largest supercomputers, those of the European HPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC).  

The second phase of DestinE covers the period June 2024 – May 2026, and future phases are foreseen (subject to funding). Phase 2 will focus on early operations with consolidation, maintenance, and continuous evolution of the DestinE system components developed in the first phase. There will also be an enhanced focus on ML activities, including the deployment of workflows of components of a ML model for the Earth system, optimisation of the Digital Twin Engine to enable efficient model training and simulations, and other activities.

For more information on DestinE, see https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/destination-earth-destine and https://www.ecmwf.int/en/about/what-we-do/environmental-services/destination-earth

About Copernicus

Copernicus is the flagship Earth-observation component of EU’s space programme, which through operational monitoring of the atmosphere, oceans, and continental surfaces, provides validated environmental data, products, documentation and tools for anyone to use on a full, free and open basis. Exploiting space-based and in-situ observations and models, Copernicus consists of six information services, covering: land, marine, atmospheric and climate monitoring, as well as emergency management and security. ECMWF has been entrusted to operate two of these Services - the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) - on behalf of the European Commission for a second term, until the end of 2027. For details see https://www.copernicus.eu/en

Main duties and key responsibilities

• Key role in assisting with programme financial reporting to the European Commission
• Preparing budget inputs, maintaining accurate financial forecasts and ensuring compliance with cost eligibility rules
• Reconciling programme costs and providing meaningful analysis for all relevant stakeholders
• Assisting with the input of general Support to the Finance Sectionincome and costs to the monthly Management Accounts and year-end Financial Statements
• Producing programme related balance sheet accounts reconciliation statements as required
• Supporting internal and external auditors
• Ensuring adherence to the Centres Financial Regulations and procedures
• Providing general support to the Finance Section

What we're looking for

• Solution-oriented with a strong understanding of how to evaluate the financial, commercial, and strategic implications of ECMWF’s activities
• Ability to communicate complex financial concepts with scientific and technical staff that do not have a financial background and to develop a common understanding of the issues and potential resolutions 
• Ability to challenge financial processes and make recommendations to improve efficiency and quality of reporting
• Excellent writing and presentation skills with an ability to explain financial issues in terms which are accessible and understandable to all 
• Capacity to manage a range of conflicting, and urgent issues to tight deadlines
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong analytical and excellent organisational skills are essential
• Good relationship management skills with a focus on client service

Education

Candidates should have a higher standard of education (EQF Level 4) and preferably a professional qualification equivalent to Accounting Technician

Experience, Knowledge, Skills

• Demonstrated experience in a finance role.
• Good experience of providing analysis and reports for decision-making, including the use of core accounting systems combined with report writers.
• Strong proven experience with an accountancy package and in particular experience in using Unit4 Business World (previously known as Agresso) would be an advantage.
• Excellent working knowledge at advanced level of MS-Office (Word and Excel).
• Fluency in English is essential as candidates will be required to work effectively in English and interviews will be conducted in English.
• Fluency in German is not essential but would be an advantage.

Other information

Grade remuneration    The successful candidate will be recruited according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. ECMWF offers a generous benefits package. Full details of salary scales and allowances available on the ECMWF website at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs, including the ECMWF Staff Regulations and the terms and conditions of employment.

Starting date:               From 1 March 2025

Location:                       Bonn, Germany

Candidates are expected to relocate to the duty station. As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid working model that allows flexibility to staff to mix office working and teleworking. We allow for remote work 10 days/month away from the office, including up to 80 days/year away from the duty station country (within the area of our member states and co-operating states).

Successful applicants and members of their family forming part of their households will be exempt from immigration restrictions.

Interviews will take place via videoconference (MS Team).  If you require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment process, please contact us via email:  jobs@ecmwf.int

Who can apply 

Applicants are invited to complete the online application form by clicking on the apply button below. 

At ECMWF, we consider an inclusive environment as key for our success. We are dedicated to ensuring a workplace that embraces diversity and provides equal opportunities for all, without distinction as to race, gender, age, marital status, social status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, personality, ethnicity and culture. We value the benefits derived from a diverse workforce and are committed to having staff that reflect the diversity of the countries that are part of our community, in an environment that nurtures equality and inclusion. 

Applications are invited from nationals from ECMWF Member States and Cooperating States, listed below, as well as from all EU Member States:

ECMWF Member and Co-operating States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

In these exceptional times, we also welcome applications from Ukrainian nationals for this vacancy.  

Applications from nationals from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases.