Head (Budget and Finance)

Post Context

The Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC) is NATOs Centre dedicated to support Alliance-wide implementation and sustainment of NATOs lesson learned (LL) policy and to improve NATOs ability to operate and adapt through LL analysis training advising and assessment activities enabling the establishment of effective lessons learned capabilities across NATO.

The Office of Chief of Staff is responsible for managing all the activities of the staff.

The BUDFIN Office is responsible for the overall financial management operations of the JALLC financial risk management. Subject to separate agreements authorized by HQ SACT and within existing means and capabilities the JALLC may be tasked by HQ SACT to provide or assist with of financial-related services to other NATO entities on Portuguese soil.

The ACT Financial Controller is dual hatted as the JALLC Financial Controller. However in practice this function is discharged locally by the the Head (Budget and Finance) who represents and derives their authority under formal delegation from the ACT Financial Controller. The post holder is responsible for all budgetary and financial management operations of the JALLC ensures adherence to the principles of sound financial management as laid down in the NATO Financial Regulations (NFRs) provides advice and guidance to the Commander Command Group and staff on all financial matters holds responsibility in the name of the Commander for administering the budgetary and financial internal control systems of the JALLC and for financial risk management in accordance with the applicable policies ensures to liaise with HQ SACT Office of the Legal Advisor for the application of rules and regulations governing tax exemption and custom clearance for the Command interfacing with the Host Nation authority as necessary.

Principal Duties:

• Provides financial support within the limit of the financial authority entrusted to him by the ACT Financial Controller and has direct recourse to the Commander and ACT Financial Controller in all matters of finance;
• Is a member of the JALLC Command Group and serves as financial management advisor to the Commander JALLC providing advice on eligibility prioritization and effective and efficient allocation of resources;
• Responsible for managing the personnel and activities of the Office of Budget and Finance;
• Provides day to day oversight for all financial management operations of the JALLC to include all matters relating to budgeting purchasing and contracting accounting cash management and treasury travel and auditing;
• Validates and authorizes financial transactions such as commitments and payments within the level of financial authority delegated to him/her by the ACT Financial Controller
• Responsible for keeping and maintaining proper fiscal and procurement accounting records as required under the NATO Financial Regulations and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) principles;
• Monitors and controls the execution of funds providing guidance to the JALLC Expanded Command Group and coordinates with them on their financial requirements as the HQ Resource Manager;
• Conducts the period-end closure and reconciliation of the JALLC accounts and coordinates with the ACT Chief Accountant on year-end procedures and preparation of the JALLC Trial Balance for input to the ACT annual consolidated financial statements;
• Responsible for the identification and management of financial risks in the JALLC;
• Responsible to Commander JALLC for the integrated financial management process of the JALLC to include preparation of JALLC inputs to Common Funded Resource Plan (CFRP) preparation of JALLC budget estimates and periodic execution report documents;
• Prepares the JALLC budgets for HQ SACT review and presents them to the Budget Committee (BC) and its supporting Working Groups;
• Prepares budgetary forecasts monitors executes and accounts for appropriated budgets to include the receipt disbursement and reporting of all international funds per the NATO Financial Regulations published directives and other instructions provided by ACT;
• Provides budgetary and managerial accounting reports;
• Provides day to day oversight of all JALLC procurement activities on behalf of the ACT Head of P&C and exercises Chairpersonship of the JALLC Contract Awards Committee (CAC);
• Provides a travel office service for JALLC duty travelers;
• Ensures that internal review activities are conducted to monitor compliance to NFRs and ACT Directive 60-1 and supports the ACT Auditor activities;
• Ensures financial control and viability of all activities supported by non-appropriated funds (Morale & Welfare Activities);
• Ensures the correct application of rules and regulations governing tax exemptions and customs clearance for local acquisition importation and exportation of official JALLC goods and services;
• Legally accountable for obligations resulting from contracts banking arrangements with financial institutions cash management arrangements negotiated with external NATO bodies and other financial arrangements signed in the name of the JALLC HQ within the level of financial authority delegated by the ACT Financial Controller.
• Committee Participation: Budget Committee - Contributor

Essential Qualifications / Experience:

• University Degree in finance accounting business administration economics public administration or related discipline and 2 years function related experience or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.
• At least 5 year experience exercising supervision direction and control over and organization of staff engaged in financial administration functions.
• Experience in financial management function to include planning programming budgeting and executing resource allocations.
• Experience in working with international accounting and auditing standards and knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
• Experience in public accounting banking or funds management.
• Hands-on experience of using a computerized financial ERP system (e.g. SAP Oracle EBS) and MS Office package.
• Proven experience and ability to make oral presentation to an international audience formally or informally.
• Working knowledge of at least one risk management framework.

Language:

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

Desirable Qualifications / Experience:

• Experience in international organization financial operations.
• Practical knowledge of military organization missions functions and operations.
• Experience with ORACLE Financials or other ERP system.
• Experience in purchasing and contracting.
• Working Knowledge of Project Management Principles
• Formal training in International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
• Formal Project Management certification.
• Formal Risk Management certification.
• Master of Science in Business Administration or similar.
• Language: English 4343 (Listening Speaking Reading and Writing)
  Portuguese SLP 2222 (Listening Speaking Reading and Writing)

Attributes/Competencies:

Personal Attributes:

The incumbent must exercise the highest standards of integrity acting with persuasion in order to achieve decisions which safeguard NATOs financial interest and particular:

• Must be capable of working harmoniously in a multi-national environment possessing good human skills considerable understanding tact and persuasion in dealing with all level of civilian and military staff;
• Must be an excellent communicator orally and on paper;
• Must be capable of representing NATO in a professional manner before international military and local audiences;
• Must be capable of analytical and strategic thought and use analytical skills and experience to analyze a wide variety of budgetary financial and funding problems recommending optimum solutions. A good deal of thought independent judgment and lateral and analytical thinking is required in the analysis of non-recurring and changing issues and in assessing tasking priorities;
• Must be able to travel extensively in support of duties

Managerial Responsibilities:

• The incumbent has direct managerial responsibilities to the staff assigned to the Office of Budget and Finance (2 NCS PE positions) and oversight of the 2 HN provided military personnel.
• Serves as the head of the financial management organization at the JALLC exercising personal responsibility for the correct application of international and multinational appropriated funds approved for use by the organization.
• He/she has NATO Committee responsibilities participating/contributing to the Budget Committee and in all senior management meeting at JALLC as well as other committees boards working groups etc. as required.
• In addition as head of the financial management organization the incumbent has the following managerial duties:
  • Provides direction and guidance to contractors interns and other categories of personnel working in the functional areas under his/her responsibility;
  • Monitors the JALLC contracting function screening and approving all commitments of funds supporting proposed acquisition actions and chairs the Contract Awards Committee (CAC);
  • Supervises the accounting and reporting of financial holdings and expenditure of Military Budget NATO Security Investment Program and non-appropriated funds at the JALLC;
  • Supervises the internal training program of the staff deployed in the JALLC financial administration area;
  • Personally oversees estimation screening approval and execution of international multinational and non-appropriated budgets.

Professional Contacts:

The incumbent entertains regular professional contacts at higher functional level inside and outside the organization entailing negotiation explanation discussion persuasion and approval of actions:

• Required coordinating effectively and interacting in a professional manner with military and civilian personnel at all levels;
• Must be capable of working harmoniously in a multi-national environment possessing good human skills considerable understanding tact and persuasion in dealing with all level of civilian and military staff;
• As Head (Budget & Finance) represents the Centre to professional organizations and representatives of other nations as a finance professional;
• As Head (Budget and Finance) acts as the financial authority in all JALLC meetings/working groups..

Contribution To Objectives:

• The incumbent is responsible for the efficient and effective execution of the Office of Budget and Finance. Supports the delivery of the JALLC mission and objectives through the management and effective use of NATO common funded resources. Provides financial advice to the JALLC Commander as part of the JALLC Objective setting process.

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 G15 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 NATOs 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 8 December 2025 @ 17:59hrs (EST)/11:59hrs (CET).