RESEARCH EXECUTIVE AGENCY Inter-Agency Mobility Call for Applications for a post of Accounting Assistant – Temporary Agents 2(f) – AST1/AST9 - in the Research Executive Agency (REA) REFERENCE: REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST Publication: Inter-Agency Mobility Job-title: Accountant Assistant Function group and grade: AST1/AST9 Place: Brussels Job available from: 1 May 2016 The registration period will begin on 4 July 2016 and end on 31 August 2016 -12:00 (Midday) Brussels time. 1 The Research Executive Agency (REA) The Research Executive Agency (REA), a multicultural and dynamic body set up by the Commission Decision 2008/46/EC1 of 14 December 2007 and amended by the Commission Implementing Decision 2013/778/EU 2 of 13 December 2013, is entrusted with the management of the following parts of the Specific Programme Implementing “Horizon 2020 – The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)”3 (“H2020”): “Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions” and the “FET-Open” activity under Part I – ‘Excellent Science’; the “Space” activity of Part II – ‘Industrial Leadership’; the objectives “Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy”, “Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies” and “Secure society” of part III – ‘Societal challenges’; the specific objectives “Spreading excellence and widening participation” (part IV) and “Science with and for society” (part V) of the H2020 Specific Programme. The Agency manages also the legacy of selected parts of the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) (“FP7”). The Agency is responsible for the management of the Research Enquiry Service and administrative and logistical support services for call planning, call publication, logistical support for evaluations including the management of the common evaluation platform, contracting and payment of independent expert evaluators, validation of legal entities and preparation of legal entities’ financial viability assessment. The operational budget managed by the REA will increase from € 1.75 billion per year in 2014 to €2.4 billion in 2020. The Agency, created in 2007 for implementing parts of the FP7, received a renewed mandate until 2024, with a possible extension in time. It is supervised by a Steering Committee composed by representatives of the parent DGs in charge of research. REA has 3 Departments and 14 Units and will grow further from 650 staff in 2016 to 750 staff in 2020. Staff consists of 25% Temporary Agents and 75% Contractual Agents, all recruited on a broad geographical basis. Further information on the REA may be obtained at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/rea/index.cfm 1 OJ L 11, 15.1.2008, p. 9 OJ L 346, 20.12.2013, p. 54 3 OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 104 2 REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST Accounting Assistant (AST1/AST9) Page 1 of 8 2 We are: The Finance Unit (C2) coordinates the preparation of the "operational budget", related to the implementation of both the H2020 and the FP7 activities, and of the "operating" or "administrative" budget, related to the functioning of the Agency. The Unit safeguards the Agency's financial interests, making sure that the Agency's financial operations are made in compliance with procedures, legality/regularity requirements and sound financial management, as well as recorded in accordance with the accounting rules and standards. Different teams deal with Financial Verification, Budget, Accounting and Ex-post Audits including Antifraud. 3 We propose: The successful candidate will work as an Accounting Assistant in the Accounting Sector. He/She will assist the Accountant of the REA. He/She may be required to act as Accounting Officer of the REA. This includes the accounting of the Agency's administrative budget as well as support to the monitoring, control and proper accounting handling of the execution of the operational budget delegated by the Commission to the Agency (for which the Agency is accountable towards the Commission's Accounting Officer). He/She will: - keep, maintain and prepare the Accounts for the administrative as well as for the operational budgets of the REA, - make the annual closure of the accounts and prepare the Annual Accounts for the administrative and the operational budgets of the REA, - actively assist and prepare the administrative as well as the operational cut-offs of the Agency, - prepare the administrative and the operational budgets’ Accounting Qualities and make the necessary follow-up actions, - actively participate in the implementation of the accounting processes and perform the necessary daily and periodic accounting actions foreseen in the financial regulations and the accounting procedures, - actively participate in year change activities as well as to the end-of-year exercises, - organise and perform periodic control procedures, - report on budgetary and general accounts, - actively contribute to the collection of the necessary information for audit and control by both the Commission’s services and the Court of Auditors, - maintain contacts with key persons in the concerned areas. He/She will work in close collaboration with the Administrative and the Operational Units of the REA as well as with the relevant services of the European Commission. The tasks include also organisation and participation to meetings, and other relevant tasks in relation to the achievement of the REA/Unit mission and objectives. REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST Accounting Assistant (AST1/AST9) Page 2 of 8 4 We look for: We look for a temporary agent AST (2(f)) – function group AST. We are looking for a motivated and friendly colleague with good communication and drafting skills who should be able to work in a proactive, organised manner and prioritise activities. He/She should have the ability to work in a team, having eye for detail, accuracy and numeracy together with the ability to analyse and structure information, to conceptualise problems and to identify and implement solutions especially taking into account operational aspects. The main working language of the unit is English as well as French. Knowledge of other EU languages would be an asset. Experience with standard Commission IT tools and knowledge of Commission procedures would be an asset. 5 Eligibility criteria: Candidates will be considered eligible for this inter-agency selection temporary agent 2(f) grade AST on the basis of the following formal criteria to be fulfilled by the deadline for applications: 1. Be a temporary agent 2(f) who, on the closing date for applications and on the day of filling the vacant post, is employed within his/her current agency in a grade and function group corresponding to the published function group and grade (AST1/AST9). This implies that the candidate possesses the minimum qualifications required by Article 5(3) of the Staff Regulations, applicable by analogy to the temporary staff pursuant to Article 10(1) of the CEOS (see point 5 in the annexed eligibility and selection criteria grid) and the candidate is in compliance with the conditions referred to in Article 12(2): • he/she is a national of one of the Member States of the Union and enjoys his full rights as a citizen; • he/she has fulfilled any obligations imposed on him by the laws concerning military service; • he/she produces the appropriate character references as to his suitability for the performance of his duties; • he/she is physically fit to perform his duties; • he/she produces evidence of a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the Union and of a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the Union to the extent necessary for the performance of his duties; 2. Have at least 2 years’ service within his/her current agency before moving; 3. Have successfully completed the probationary period provided for in Article 14 of the CEOS, in the relevant function group. 6 Selection criteria: All eligible applications will be assessed on the basis of their motivation letter & CV against the requirements listed below. REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST Accounting Assistant (AST1/AST9) Page 3 of 8 1) Essential qualifications and experience - Sound experience in public administration, preferably in an international/EU environment - Financial or legal background or familiarity with financial or legal matters; - Sound experience of budgets’ Accounting; - Very good knowledge of the Standard Financial Regulation for the Executive Agency; - Very good knowledge of the Financial Regulation and the Rules of Applications applicable to the General Budget of the European Union; - Good knowledge of written and spoken English and/or French. 2) Advantageous qualifications and experience - Experience in H2020 or similar research funding or other multiannual financing programmes; 3) Inter personal competences - Motivation – open and positive attitude; - Self-control under pressure in demanding situations and ability to handle many simultaneous tasks; - Excellent communication and negotiation skills; - High sense of discretion and confidentiality. 7 Selection procedure A Selection Committee will be constituted. The names of the members of the Selection Committee will be communicated to all candidates. The Selection Committee assisted by REA HR, will assess the received applications in order to make an initial selection of those candidates meeting all eligibility criteria and matching best the selection criteria set out in the vacancy notice. Following that assessment, the best suitable candidates, will be invited for an interview (a written test may be requested by the Selection Committee). The selected candidates will receive by email all general rules, the practical modalities and the instructions concerning the organisation of the interview detailing the date, the place, the schedule (duration), the rules of reimbursement of travel expenses, and all necessary information. Applicants invited to the interview will be required to provide on the day of the interview a document proving citizenship (e.g. passport). Following the result of the tests, the Selection Committee will propose the best eligible candidates with the highest outcome of the interview (and/or written tests) to the Director of the Executive Agency, who will make the final selection decision. Candidates are strictly forbidden to make any contact with the members of the Selection Committee, either directly or indirectly at any stage of the selection procedure. The Selection Committee will decide whether candidates infringing this rule are to be disqualified. REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST Accounting Assistant (AST1/AST9) Page 4 of 8 All applications are treated fairly. Applicants will be judged on the basis of their qualifications and in strict compliance with the principle of equal opportunities in order to have the best possible match between the profile of the candidate and the requirements of the job in question. Application procedure 8 Applications should be submitted only by email to [email protected] at the latest by 31 August 2016, 12:00 (midday), Brussels time (please check the time zones). Candidates are invited to apply in English or French. Only complete applications will be accepted and considered. Candidates must send a complete application including documents A, B & C, quoting the reference of the call for applications, as detailed below: A. MOTIVATION LETTER (maximum one page); B. CURRICULUM VITAE in the Europass format ONLY: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae ; ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA GRID completed (dated, signed and scanned) – attached at the end of this vacancy notice. C. Candidates will receive an acknowledgment of receipt of their application. For all communication, please use the email address [email protected] Candidates will not be considered if they: do not complete the registration by the deadline; do not meet all the eligibility criteria; do not provide all the required supporting documents. If, at any stage of the procedure, it is established that any of the information provided in the application has been knowingly falsified, the candidate will be disqualified from the selection process. 9 Recruitment conditions – Career 1. REA and the selected temporary agent 2(f) shall conclude a contract of employment which ensures continuation of the person’s employment and career in the category of temporary staff 2(f). That contract shall be concluded without interruption of the contract concluded with the agency of origin (‘the preceding contract’) and shall fulfil the following requirements, in particular: a) the same grade and the same seniority in the grade as the preceding contract; b) the same step and the same seniority in the step as the preceding contract. 2. The end dates of the contract concluded with REA and of the preceding contract shall be the same. If the contract with the agency of origin was for an indefinite period, the member of temporary staff 2(f) shall also be engaged by REA for an indefinite period. REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST Accounting Assistant (AST1/AST9) Page 5 of 8 In the event that the preceding contract comes to its natural end on the day of the move, the duration of the contract concluded in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be the same as that REA would have set in case of a renewal of contract of one of its own temporary agents 2(f). 3. The temporary agent 2(f) shall not serve a probationary period in REA, without prejudice to Article 9(2)(b) of REA decision REA/SC(2015) WP.1 on the use and engagement of temporary staff under Article 2(f). 4. The selected temporary agent 2(f) shall take up duty in REA in principle three months after the job offer, unless it is otherwise agreed between the two agencies and the staff member concerned. 5. The agency of origin will transfer the personal file to the new agency no later than 3 months after the date of the move. Please also note that temporary agents shall be required to demonstrate before their first promotion the ability to work in a third official language of the EU. 10 Legal basis and remuneration The pay of staff members consists of a basic salary supplemented with specific allowances, including expatriation or family allowances. The provisions guiding the calculation of these allowances can be consulted in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants available at the following address: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1962R0031:20140101:EN:PDF 11 General information Questions related to this [email protected]. call for applications may be sent an to REA-INTER- All candidates will be notified about the outcome of their application via e-mail. Candidates are responsible for notifying any change in their e-mail address and contact details by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Candidates could be contacted by email and asked to provide further details on the information declared in their application at any moment of the procedure. In order to facilitate the selection process, all communications to candidates concerning this vacancy will be in English. 11.1 Equal opportunities The REA applies a policy of equal opportunities and accepts applications without discrimination on any grounds such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation. 11.2 Independence and declaration of interests The Accountant Assistant will be required to make a declaration of commitment to act independently in the public interest and to make a declaration in relation to interests which might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST Accounting Assistant (AST1/AST9) Page 6 of 8 11.3 Data Protection The REA ensures that candidates’ personal data are processed as required by Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (Official Journal of the European Communities, L 8 of 12 January 2001). This applies in particular to the confidentiality and security of such data. Appeals 12 If the candidate considers that his/her interests have been prejudiced by the Director's decision, he/she can lodge an administrative complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities. This can be done at the following address: REA Research Executive Agency For the attention of the Director REF: REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST COV2 18/132 B-1049 Brussels Belgium 13 REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST Accounting Assistant (AST1/AST9) Page 7 of 8 14 ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA GRID ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA GRID REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST – Accounting Assistant (AST1/AST9) Surname/Name at birth: First name: Gender: Date of birth: ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 1: Be a Temporary agent 2(f) who, on the closing date for applications and on the day of filling the vacant post, is employed within his/her current agency in a grade and function group corresponding to the published function group and grade (AST1/AST9) Please specify YES NO 2. Have at least 2 years’ service within his/her current agency before moving; 3. Have successfully completed the probationary period provided for in Article 14 of the CEOS, in the relevant function group; 4. Be in compliance with the general conditions and qualifications required for the post (including those referred to in Article 12(2) of the CEOS); Be a national of a Member State of the European Union Enjoy my full rights as a citizen: Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by nationals law concerning military service or civilian service: Have the appropriate character references as to the suitability for the performance of the duties; I am physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post: Have evidence of a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the Union and of a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the Union to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties. 5. Candidates possesses the minimum qualifications required by Article 5(3) of the Staff Regulations, applicable by analogy to the temporary staff pursuant to Article 10(1) of the CEOS: • a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma or vocational training of an equivalent level or • a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education or vocational training of an equivalent level, and appropriate professional experience of at least three (3) years. The minimum of three year's professional experience required counts as an integral part of the diploma and cannot be counted towards the professional experience required. Declaration: I declare in my word of honor, that the information provided above is true and complete. Date:…………………….. Signature:……………………………………………… REA/2016/INTER-TA/ACC/AST Accounting Assistant (AST1/AST9) Page 8 of 8