Branch Head (Treasury, Finance & Accounting)

Post Context

ACT contributes to preserving the peace, security and territorial integrity of Alliance member states by leading, at Strategic Command level, Warfare Development required to enhance NATO’s posture, military structures, forces, capabilities and doctrines.

The Finance and Acquisition Directorate is the executive agent for HQ SACT, JALLC, JWC, JATEC, JFTC and subordinate SACT elements (STRE and SEE) in all matters of budget, finance and acquisition policy and execution.

The Head (Treasury, Finance and Accounting) is responsible for managing and maintaining correct accounting records of the execution of approved budgets and assigned infrastructure projects to include receipts, disbursements, and reporting on all international funds in accordance with the NATO Financial Regulations and Rules and Procedures Manual

The postholder leads the ACT Treasury, Finance and Accounting Branch and provides functional oversight and professional leadership of wider Treasury, Finance and Accounting teams in subordinate Commands.

Principal Duties:

• Supervise and provide guidance, direction and oversight of the Treasury, Finance and Accounting Branch which encompasses financial accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable and travel).  Includes direct supervision to the HQ SACT Section Head, Treasury & Accounting Operations and Disbursing Officer.  Also provides guidance to the contracted travel agent on SACT travel policies.
• Develop, monitor and maintain, as appropriate, ACT, and NATO wide policies on Treasury & Accounting matters representing ACT at NATO and Strategic Committees and Working Groups dealing with Centralized NATO Financial Systems (FinS) and accounting policy as required, coordinating where necessary with the development of the ACT Budgetary Policy.
• Act as principal advisor to the ACT Financial Controller on Treasury, Finance and Accounting matters.  Provides recommendations on standard operating procedures.
• Develop plans and oversee the day-to-day accounting execution function of the ACT HQ assigned budgets.  In particular:
  • Assess, receive and account for contributions and advances of contributions from member governments in accordance with NFR Articles 12 through 16.
  • Provide funds to the Disbursing Officer in accordance with FRP XVIII b.
  • Ensure that requested commitments are within the credits and contract authorities available in the approved budget, or, if the case arises, the approved budgets as amended by budget transfers, and that they are in accordance with all relevant policies and regulations.
  • Authorize all payments to be made in the execution of each commitment and approval under 1.3.3.
• Develop and maintain ACT HQ financial accounts in accordance with NFR Article 26 to include the development of an appropriate Chart of Accounts.
• Manage financial accounting of budgets delegated from non-ACT activities.
• Oversee execution of all other ACT budgets in order to:
  • Ensure adherence to International Public Sector Accounting Standards, NATO and ACT wide accounting policies and procedures.
  • Prepare and review the consolidated annual ACT Financial Statements in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards and the NATO Financial Regulations.
• Provide on-line and other reports to senior management on the financial position, budget execution, and cost accounting.
• Provide input to the Systems Administrator and the proper flow of documents / procedures through the financial accounting systems.
• Manage financial accounting of budgets delegated from non-ACT activities.
• Provide direction, advice and support to ACT subordinate commands on Treasury, Finance and Accounting & matters.
• Review ACT business practices for cost effectiveness.

Essential Qualifications / Experience:

• Master’s degree in accounting or finance, management, business administration, public administration or related discipline and 8-10 years post related experience
• A Certified Professional Accountancy qualification or international equivalent.
• At least ten years’ experience in Accounting or Financial Management with demonstrated experience in the preparation of consolidated financial statements.
• Hands-on experience and a thorough understanding of Oracle financial software.
• Knowledge of and experience with automated banking and cash management functions.
• At least five years’ experience with International Accounting Standards (IAS) or International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) or public accounting experience.
• A minimum of 8 years managerial and supervisory experience
• Highly developed analytical skills coupled with the ability to apply flexibility to problem solving.

Language:

English - SLP 3333 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Desirable Qualifications / Experience:

• Understanding of organization, composition and operation of NATO military staff coupled with knowledge of the NATO Budgetary and Control process.
• Ability to perform in multinational conference settings.
• Polished communicator, orally and in writing with good interpersonal skills.
• Skilled with tact and diplomacy, enabling effective and courteous interaction with international and culturally diverse personnel.
• French SLP 2222 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).

Attributes/Competencies:

Personal Attributes:

• Must be able to liaise effectively, both internally and externally, with senior military and civilian personnel.
• Capable of working harmoniously in a multi-national environment, while representing and projecting the needs of ACT in a tactful and firm manner.
• Must be prepared to travel or deploy as required in support of the listed duties.

Professional Contacts:

• Involved in significant discussion and interaction with peers and senior representatives of other NATO commands that have significant financial interest to HQ SACT. Interacts internally and externally with senior military and civilian personnel.  Interacts internally and externally with military and civilian personnel up to the rank/position equivalent of Rear Admiral/Major General.

Managerial Responsibilities:

• You will be required to supervise, direct and coordinate work priorities of the branch, providing professional guidance and instruction to assigned staff. Duties include leading and coaching; explaining or demonstrating work functions; counselling and motivating, assigning and reviewing work; ensuring health and environmental safety; maintaining and adjusting work schedules; assessing performance and initiating disciplinary action, and/or implementing new or changed work procedures

Contribution To Objectives:

• Through knowledge of the financial rules and regulations in NATO helps ensure that necessary funds are made available for the Command to perform its mission.

Security Clearance

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.

Contract

Serving NATO International Civilian staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.

Newly recruited staff will be offered a three year definite duration contract.

Notes for Candidates

The HQ SACT web site gives full details on the eligibility criteria and application processes to be adopted by all candidates.  However, candidates should particularly note:

Please answer each of the pre-screening questions completely in English. Expressions such as: “please see attached CV, please see annex, please see enclosed document, etc” are not acceptable; this is a cause of immediate rejection of the application.

Particular attention should be given to Education and Experience section of your application form, which should be populated with details of your career to date and educational achievements and certifications as they relate to your application.

The candidature of NATO redundant staff at grade G20 will be considered with priority.

NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATO’s sole discretion, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women to apply.

This vacancy will close on 13 September 2025 @ 17:59hrs (EDT)/11:59hrs (CEST).