Finance and Control Officer

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Position description

Are you a dynamic and highly motivated professional looking to make a positive impact in Europe? Join our team at the Financial Mechanism Office (FMO), the international secretariat managing the EEA and Norway Grants, as a new Finance and Control Officer in Brussels.

About us:

The FMO is affiliated with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The EEA and Norway Grants are Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway’s contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area (EEA) and strengthen bilateral relations and partnerships between the Donor States and the 15 Beneficiary States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia). The EEA Grants are financed by the 3 donor countries whereas Norway Grants are financed solely by Norway. The current funding period has a total budget of 3.2 billion euros.

The programmes in the funding period will focus on these overall priorities:

• European green transition;
• Democracy, rule of law and human rights;
• Social inclusion and resilience.

Why join the FMO?

We offer more than just a job. We offer a stimulating and diverse international workplace with a trust-based culture. Our team of more than 60 employees from the EEA region brings a rich blend of experiences and knowledge to our daily operations.

We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful environment where you can advance your career. Every day, our work is driven by a shared goal: a green, democratic and resilient Europe where everyone can take meaningful part in shaping their lives.

We work closely with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), the 15 Beneficiary States and various international partners.

Learn more:

If you are ready to take on a rewarding challenge and be part of a dedicated team working towards improving economic and social equality and strengthening cooperation and partnerships in Europe, we encourage you to apply. For more details about our work and the opportunities we offer, please visit our website at www.eeagrants.org.

The position is open to nationals of the EEA EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and nationals of the 15 Beneficiary States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia).

Division: Financial Mechanism Office
Category/Level: A4

This is a fixed-term contract for three years. The contract is renewable once, subject to the renewal being in the interest of the FMO and to a decision on the new funding period following the current Financial Mechanisms.

Start Date: As soon as possible
Closing Date: 15-09-2026
Job Reference: VA 27/2026

Scope:

The Finance and Control Officer is part of the Finance and Control unit with 7-8 staff members.

The Unit is responsible for the overall finance and control framework of the FMO. This covers budget planning and management, financial reporting and forecasting, payments and accounting, grant management, audit coordination, and risk assessment. It also provides support across the full programme lifecycle of the EEA and Norway Grants.

The Unit supports the entire organisation and works closely with Beneficiary States on the design, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and closure of programmes.

As Finance and Control Officer, you will report directly to the Head of Finance and Control and undertake occasional travel as required. Given the breadth of the Unit’s mandate, you will be assigned one or more areas of responsibility based on your experience and profile, as well as evolving operational priorities.

Responsibilities and tasks of the Finance and Control Unit:

In this key role, you will oversee the full financial management and control cycle of the Grants and work closely with programme teams and external stakeholders to support successful programme delivery across Beneficiary States. Your responsibilities span the entire programme lifecycle, from programme design and contracting through implementation, monitoring and reporting, to auditing, financial closure and cash management. You will also contribute to the continuous development of financial management, internal control, risk management and anti-fraud frameworks within the FMO and across the Grants.

• Liaison with Beneficiary State authorities and provision of financial and control expertise in grant management and programmes design, contracting, implementation, monitoring and reporting;
• Oversight of the overall financial management and control of the Grants in the Beneficiary States;
• Maintenance of the sound financial management and control framework and culture within the FMO and with external stakeholders;
• Preparation of financial reports for internal stakeholders and revision of financial reports of external stakeholders;
• Monitoring and supporting implementation of the internal control framework and anti-fraud strategy;
• Oversight of the development and implementation of the FMO budget and accounting activities;
• Cash management, incl. forecasting of disbursements;
• Coordination of audit activities;
• Drafting of relevant policies, procedural documents and manuals;
• Oversight of the financial management and control of framework agreements with Donor Programme Partners in Donor States;
• Facilitation of meetings and workshops on financial management and control in the FMO and in Beneficiary States;
• Contribution to the development and maintenance of the grant and financial management IT systems in the FMO;
• Contribution to the implementation of the FMO’s risk strategy, including the assessment of programme and institutional risks in Beneficiary States.

Qualifications

A Master’s-level university degree in a relevant field.

Experience:

Required experience:

• At least 6 years of relevant work experience in one or more of the following areas: financial management, budgeting, financial analysis, internal control, monitoring, or reporting;
• At least 3 years of experience working with financial frameworks, governance arrangements, funding schemes, or related mechanisms in government, intergovernmental institutions, international organisations, or similar environments, preferably in an international capacity;
• Experience in providing technical assistance and/or capacity building to stakeholders;
• Strong analytical capability, with the ability to interpret financial and operational data to support decision making.

Desired experience:

• Experience in grant management, including financial oversight and compliance;
• Experience with programme or funding cycle closure processes;
• Experience applying recognised financial reporting standards;
• Experience with financial systems, including ERP solutions such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 or similar;
• Experience in budget development, monitoring and forecasting;
• Experience with data analysis or business intelligence tools, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights;
• Experience with AI-assisted processes.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of legal and financial requirements applicable to publicly funded programmes and projects;
• Ability to communicate complex financial and control matters clearly and persuasively, both in writing and verbally, including drafting of policies, procedures and decision materials;
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to extract, interpret and challenge data from grant management and financial systems;
• Ability to prioritise effectively, exercise sound judgement, and deliver high-quality outputs within deadlines;
• Proficiency in MS Excel and good working knowledge of standard office tools;
• Ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively in a collaborative, matrix environment;
• Results oriented, with the ability to perform under pressure and maintain focus on value adding activities;
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to steer discussions, challenge constructively, and build effective working relationships across diverse environments.

A great work environment and strong teamwork define the FMO, and we look for candidates who actively contribute to both.

Languages:

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English (the working language of the FMO). Further language knowledge, relevant for use in the Donor and Beneficiary States, is an asset.

Employment Terms:

Duration of appointment: This is a fixed-term contract for three years. The contract is renewable once, subject to the renewal being in the interest of the FMO and to a decision on the new funding period following the current Financial Mechanisms.
Start date: As soon as possible
Grade: A4
Annual starting salary: EUR 117,072

Appointments are normally made at step 1 of the grade. The Managing Director of the FMO reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level different from that advertised.

The FMO is an employer dedicated to the principles of diversity and equality. We are committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, with a healthy work-life balance. FMO offers hybrid working model for its staff. Subject to the requirements of the role, operational needs, and in agreement with their line manager, staff may work up to 40% of their weekly working hours from a location other than the office according to the current policy. The duty station for all FMO staff is Brussels, Belgium.

We offer stimulating and meaningful work in a diverse international environment, with the opportunity to collaborate with highly skilled professionals from across Europe. Salaries and related emoluments are exempt from taxation in the EFTA Member States and EFTA host states. Depending on family status, and individual circumstances, additional benefits and allowances may apply.

Application instructions

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