Programme Accountant – EC-Funded Projects & Reporting

Introduction

Your role

We are looking for a Programme Accountant (A2) to join our Finance Section in Bonn, Germany. This is a fixed-term contract until 30 September 2028, with the possibility for further extensions. You will be responsible for managing the finances and reporting of externally funded programmes with which ECMWF participates, with an emphasis on the Destination Earth Initiative funded by the European Commission (EC), ensuring compliance with the delegation agreement and ECMWF financial regulations.

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

Tasks

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.

Profile

What we are looking for

• 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.

We offer

Grade remuneration: The successful candidates will be recruited according to the scales of the Coordinated Organisations. Full details of salary scales and allowances available on the ECMWF website at

Additional Information

This is a fixed‑term contract to start as soon as possible, until 30 September 2028, with the possibility for further extensions.

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).

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

Who can apply

Applicants apply through the online application form on the ECMWF jobs website.

At ECMWF, we consider an inclusive environment as key for our success. We are dedicated to ensuring a workplace that embraces diversity and provides equal opportunities for all, without distinction as to race, gender, age, marital status, social status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, personality, ethnicity and culture. We value the benefits derived from a diverse workforce and are committed to having staff that reflect the diversity of the countries that are part of our community, in an environment that nurtures equality and inclusion.

Applications are invited from nationals from ECMWF Member States and Co‑operating States. In these exceptional times, we also welcome applications from Ukrainian nationals for this vacancy. Applications from nationals from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases.

ECMWF Member States and Co‑operating States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.