Ref.: EUISS (2025) PERM 02
Status: Contract staff member
Grade: B2/B3
Place of employment: Paris
Indicative starting date: as soon as possible
Salary:
Depending on the level of experience, the salary of the successful candidate will be based on grade B2/B3 of the Coordinated Organisations of which the EUISS is part.
Duration:
The successful candidate will be offered a renewable contract of 3 years, subject to the availability of funds.
Job description
The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) is the EU Agency that analyses foreign, security and defence policy issues. With its Headquarters in Paris and a Liaison Office in Brussels the Institute acts as a trusted interface between EU officials and member state diplomats and Europe’s wider think tank and scholarly community.
Through its publications and events, it works to enhance policymakers’ understanding of the underlying trends and complexity of a fast-changing world. In addition to its core work, the EUISS also expands in implementing various EU-funded projects. These projects enable the Institute to draw on its intellectual and networking strengths while expanding its operational support to EU policymakers in areas of strategic relevance.
To ensure that the increasing volume of EU-funded projects is managed in an efficient, effective and compliant manner, the EUISS seeks to hire a pro-active and hands-on Finance Assistant with experience in accounting, budgeting, audit and analysis. In this role, the incumbent will report to the Finance Officer based in Paris and will work closely with finance and project teams at the EUISS as well at the partner institutions.
Main responsibilities
- Support and advise inhouse project teams with the financial management of EU-funded projects and related service contracts (e.g. processing of invoices; initiation of payments; management of customer and supplier accounts);
- Manage the budgets of ongoing EU-funded projects, including the monitoring of budget execution and follow‐up of staff and other direct costs;
- Liaise regularly with contracting authorities and project partners on financial aspects related to the projects, including the submission of costs statements;
- Prepare (annual/interim) financial reports and supporting documents for project expenditure verification, internal and external audits, ensuring that expenses are properly accounted (incurred) and are fully eligible under the rules of the funding bodies;
- Actively participate in the preparation and execution of expenditure verifications;
- Review the projects administrative and financial documentation (consortium agreements, amendments to grant agreements/service contracts, financial documentation submitted by partners and external experts and subcontractors);
- Contribute to the financial and administrative preparations of project proposals and tenders;
- Participate in the automation of accounting processes and improvement projects of the financial systems;
- Provide back-up support for team-members as needed.
Eligibility criteria
- On the closing date for applications, candidates must fulfil all the following conditions:
- Be a national of a member state of the European Union who enjoys full rights as a citizen attested by a recent extract from judicial records and/or certificate of good conduct;
- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by national law on military service;
- Be physically fit to perform the required duties;
- Hold, or be in the position to obtain, a valid security clearance certificate.
- At least a post-secondary education attested by a diploma in the field of finance, accounting, business administration or closely related field(s);
- A professional financial certification (ACCA, CIMA or similar) will be considered as an asset.
Education
Professional experience
- Minimum three years of relevant professional experience, preferably acquired at the international level or in similar positions in European institutions and/or agencies;
- Minimum two years of professional experience in financial management of EU-funded projects, including budgeting and financial reporting;
- Very good IT skills and demonstrated knowledge of financial management tools (e.g. D365);
- Demonstrated excellent client orientation paired with the ability to deal with people tactfully and confidentially;
- Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, including the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment;
- High professional values and standards characterised by objectivity, analytical rigour, integrity, and confidentiality.
Languages
Very good English writing and speaking skills are essential. Satisfactory knowledge of at least one other EU language is required. A good command of French will be considered as an asset.
Procedure
All interested candidates must complete the online application form and attach:
- A detailed CV in English (with a clear indication of educational attainment and professional experience);
- A cover letter in English addressed to the EUISS Director.
Applications received by email, or post will not be considered. Only correctly and fully completed applications will be accepted.
The deadline for submitting applications is Thursday 3 July 2025, 12:00 CEST.
The Selection Board will screen the applications and establish a shortlist of candidates to be interviewed. The interview will be completed through a written test, the exact nature of which will be communicated to the candidates concerned in advance.
Following the interviews and written test, the successful candidate will be offered a renewable contract of three years with a nine-month probationary period.
All applicants will be informed of the results of their application by the end of the procedure.
The EUISS is an equal opportunities employer and accepts applications without distinction on the grounds of age, race, political or religious conviction, sex or sexual orientation and regardless of disabilities, marital status or family situation.
Any questions related to this selection procedure have to be submitted to EUISS Human Resources via the online contact form and indicating the reference of the vacancy notice.
The processing of personal data by the EUISS is governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) N° 45/2001 and Decision N° 1247/2002/EC. By submitting an application, the applicant consents to the processing of the personal data contained in the application form and the supporting documents enclosed therewith, in the sense of Article 5.1 (a) of the Regulation. The personal data in question is collected by the EUISS for the sole purpose of this selection process.