ACT Financial Controller

The ACT Financial Controller serves as the principal financial advisor to the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) and is responsible for ensuring adherence to sound financial management principles, managing all internationally appropriated funds, and overseeing the financial internal control system in accordance with NATO financial regulations. The role includes leadership of the Budget & Finance Office and representation in various NATO financial committees.

Responsibilities

• Act as SACT’s, and the Commanders of JALLC, JFTC and JATEC principal financial advisor, personally responsible to them for ensuring the proper use of all internationally appropriated funds made available to the Command in accordance with NATO Financial Regulations.
• Provide representation and support to the Budget Committee (BC), Investment Committee (IC), Resource Policy and Planning Board (RPPB) on behalf of SACT on all matters with financial implications.
• Senior responsible executive for all financial management operations of the entirety of ACT (HQ SACT, Representative offices in Mons and Brussels and four sub-ordinate HQs), exercising technical supervision and control over the activities of subordinate Financial Controllers and Heads of Budget and Finance.
• Directs the activities of the ACT Office of BUDFIN which delivers the following functions: maintaining effective oversight and resource prioritization throughout the financial planning, programming, budgeting and evaluation cycle.
• Development of financial, budgetary, accounting, treasury, and procurement policies and procedures (including Bi-SC policies).
• Administration of the automated financial and budgetary control and accounting system for ACT.
• Development and promulgation of ACT budgetary guidance and Implementation Directives.
• Screening, coordinating, processing, and presenting of all ACT budget estimates, budget submissions and other requests for funds. Lead the justification and defense of ACT budgets before the Budget Committee and other NATO Committees.
• Oversight of all ACT procurement activities, and provision of procurement support to ACT HQs and programmes (i.e. NSIP and Trust Funds).
• Ensure that comprehensive and interoperable accounting systems are established and maintained for all international funds and property.
• Represent SACT in MOU negotiation delegations.
• Supervise the execution of approved budgets and assigned infrastructure projects to include the receipt, disbursement and reporting of all international funds per the NATO Financial Regulations, Financial Rules and Procedures, and the ACT Financial Manual.
• Maintain accounting data in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards.
• Provides information and directly supports ACT in all issues presented to the RPPB with focus on Military Budget eligibility and policy issues.
• Budget Authority - The Financial Controller has full authority to enter into contracts, commit ACT resources and negotiate agreements on behalf of ACT, in accordance with the NATO Financial Regulations and BC Implementing Procedures.
• The incumbent is the senior financial management executive in ACT, and is personally responsible for the forecasting of financial requirements and the correct execution of and accountability for all international funds allocated to ACT.
• Responsible to ACT and the NATO nations for correct accountability of all funding in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards.
• Authorized to commit the organization to funding obligations and specific courses of action.
• Provides binding advice on matters of financial policy and interpretation of regulations.
• Is the senior authority in ACT empowered to waive bidding requirements elements of acquisition regulations, and approve write-offs of international property and funds.
• The ACT Financial Controller is the only ACT authority authorized to approve transfers of funding between organizational budgets.
• The post holder delegates authority to designated ACT BUDFIN staff to approve commitments of funds, and authorize expenditures.

Requirements

• University Degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics, public administration or related discipline and 10 years related experience.
• At least 15 years experience in Budgeting, Accounting or Financial Management with a minimum of 5 years in higher managerial positions commensurate with the responsibilities of this position.
• Knowledge and/or experience working with international accounting and auditing standards.
• Knowledge and/or experience in public accounting, banking or funds management.
• Knowledge and/or experience in purchasing and contracting.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively represent and defend budget submissions.
• Excellent presentational skills.
• English - SLP 4343 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).
• Experience in IPSAS (desirable).
• Experience in international business operations (desirable).
• Practical knowledge of military organizations (desirable).
• Business experience outside the continental United States (desirable).
• Professional accreditation as certified public accountant, certified government financial manager or equivalent (desirable).
• French - SLP 2222 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing) (desirable).
• Capable of working harmoniously in a multi-national environment.
• Capable of representing the Command in a professional manner.
• Able to travel extensively to support the Command’s transformational mission.
• Must be able to work effectively with senior military and civilian personnel.
• Must be able to effectively represent the Command at a multinational level.
• The successful applicant will be required to apply for and receive a NATO SECRET Security Clearance prior to final confirmation of contract and commencement of employment.

Skills

• Budgeting
• Accounting
• Finance Management
• International Accounting Standards
• Auditing Standards
• Public Accounting
• Banking
• Funding Management
• Purchasing
• Contracting
• Budget Submission Defense
• Presentational Skills
• IPSAS
• International Business Operations
• Military Organizations Knowledge
• Certified Public Accountant
• Certified Government Financial Manager
• Security clearance compliance
• Financial Internal Control
• NATO Financial Procedures

Languages

English, French