Programme Accountant

Position description

Job reference: VN25-052
Salary and Grade: Grade A2 EUR 89,169 (Bonn/Germany) NET annual basic salary + other benefits
Deadline for applications: 11/12/2025
Department: Administration
Contract type: STF-PL
Contract Duration: 2.5 years up to 30 September 2028, with possibility of extensions

Your role

We are looking for a Programme Accountant (A2) to join our Finance Section in our office in Bonn, Germany. You will be responsible for managing the finances and reporting of these externally funded programmes which ECMWF participates with, with an emphasis and responsibility for the Destination Earth Initiative funded by the European Commission (EC) ensuring compliance with the respective delegation agreement and the ECMWF financial regulations.

The role will report directly to the Senior Programme Accountant and be part of a highly- motivated and competent team managing the EC funded programmes of ECMWF.

About ECMWF

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is a world leader in Numerical Weather Predictions providing high-quality data for weather forecasts and environmental monitoring. As an intergovernmental organisation, we collaborate internationally to serve our members and the wider community with global weather predictions, data and training activities that are critical to contribute to safe and thriving societies.

The success of our activities depends on the funding and partnerships of the 35 Member and Co-operating States who provide the support and direction of our work. Our talented staff together with the international scientific community, and our powerful supercomputing capabilities, are the core of a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions. We also hold one of the largest meteorological data archives in the world.

ECMWF has also developed a strong partnership with the European Union and has been entrusted with the implementation and operation of the Destination Earth Initiative and the Climate Change and Atmosphere Monitoring Services of the Copernicus Programme. Other areas of work include High Performance Computing and the development of digital tools that enable ECMWF to extend provision of data and products covering weather, climate, air quality, fire and flood prediction and monitoring.

Our vision: The strength of a common goal
Our mission: Deliver global numerical weather predictions focusing on the medium-range and monitoring of the Earth system to and with our Member States

ECMWF is a multi-site organisation, with its headquarters in Reading, UK, a data centre in Bologna, Italy, and a large presence in Bonn, Germany, as a central location for our EU-related activities. ECMWF is internationally recognised as the voice of expertise in numerical weather predictions for forecasts and climate science - www.ecmwf.int.

Your responsibilities

• Lead on the development and production of semestral, annual and ad-hoc reporting as required under the Destination Earth Contribution. Agreement and collaborating with external and internal stakeholders, dealing with queries from the European Commission and having expert knowledge in all accounting transactions relating to the programme services;
• Responsible for the forecasting and budgeting process of the Destination Earth Initiative, covering both in-house cost and third-party activities to provide variance analyses which can be shared across the organisation as well as liaising with budget holders;
• Ensuring compliance with external and internal rules and regulations, with a willingness to explain and educate others as required;
• Liaising with internal and external auditors and other external bodies in relation to the specific financial area of responsibility;
• Managing the cash-flow forecast, including the production of regular cash flow projections for the programme and ensuring the integrity and efficiency of cash management;
• Providing financial evaluations of procurement bids for carrying out operational services for EC funded programmes, including the ongoing monitoring of the financial performance of existing contractors;
• Specific areas of responsibility of the Financial Statement of Accounts prepared under International Public-Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS);
• Providing general support to the Finance Section.

Qualifications

• Solution-oriented with a strong understanding of how to evaluate the financial, commercial, and strategic implications of ECMWF’s activities;
• Ability to communicate complex financial concepts with scientific and technical staff that do not have a financial background and to develop a common understanding of the issues and potential resolutions;
• Excellent writing and presentation skills with an ability to explain financial issues in terms which are accessible and understandable to all;
• Capacity to manage a range of conflicting, and urgent issues to tight deadlines;
• Embrace change and continuously look to improve financial controls and processes;
• Excellent communication skills, together with demonstrated experience of team working within projects;
• Strong analytical and excellent organizational skills are essential.

Education

• Relevant university degree (EQF Level 7) and an internationally recognized professional accountancy qualification is required.

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Strong/Hands-on accounting experience ideally in the public sector and preferably in an international organisation;
• Strong understanding on the interplay between financial budgeting and accounting, reporting and overall financial management of a large externally funded programme in a modern ERP environment;
• Strong experience in financial aspects of contract management and in the financial evaluation of projects and programmes;
• Experience of providing statistical analysis, for reporting for key decision-making, including the use of core accounting systems combined with report writers;
• Demonstrated experience in developing and improving financial control processes;
• Experience working in an international, multidisciplinary and multi-lingual environment;
• Experience of working with the European Commission, its Agencies and intergovernmental organisations would be a strong advantage;
• A good working knowledge and experience of using Business World (previously known as Agresso) would be an advantage;
• Knowledge and experience of accounting using the IPSAS framework would be an advantage;
• Excellent working knowledge at advanced level of MS-Office (Word and Excel);
• Fluency in English is essential. Ideally candidates will also be fluent in German with working knowledge of French being an advantage.

If you feel that you have the relevant profile and motivation to join us but don't meet precisely all of the desired skills or those that are 'an advantage' we encourage you to apply!

Other information

Grade remuneration: The successful candidates will be recruited according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. Full details of salary scales and allowances available on the ECMWF website at www.ecmwf.int/en/about/jobs.

Starting date: as soon as possible.

Candidates are expected to relocate to the duty station. As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid organisation model which allows flexibility to staff to mix office working and teleworking, including away from the duty station (within the area of our member states and co-operating states).

Interviews by videoconference (MS Team) are expected to take place during the week of 15-19 December.

Successful applicants and members of their family forming part of their households will be exempt from immigration restrictions.

Application instructions

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