Financial Analysis and Lifecycle Officer

1. SUMMARY

The NATO Office of Resources (NOR) provides independent and integrated expert advice to the Secretary General, NATO Resource Committees, Allies, and other stakeholders on the planning, allocation and utilisation of military common funding made available to achieve NATO’s goals and objectives.
The NOR advice is based on sound judgement underpinned by facts, figures expertise and knowledge. It follows NATO policies, procedures and standards, and is independent of external stakeholder’s viewpoints. It supports efficient and effective use of public funds by assessing the policy compliance, eligibility, affordability, technical viability, and lifecycle implications of military requirements and proposed solutions. Furthermore, the NOR facilitates resource-informed political decision-making.
The Resource Management (RM) Branch provides quality, timely and relevant advice and support to NATO resource committee deliberations; in the planning, management and oversight of NATO common-funded resources; and in the central coordination and development of NATO-wide accounting and financial guidance fully taking into account current best practices in the field of public finance. The Branch promotes further integration of the NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) and the Military Budget processes, to ensure that lifecycle costs are considered, planned and budgeted.
Finally, the Branch provides central coordination and guidance to the Financial Controller community, on behalf of the Resource Committees, with respect to NATO accounting and financial policy in order to facilitate improvements in the quality, consistency, and comparability of financial statements. It also includes supporting the Resource Committees with their advice to the North Atlantic Council on audits of the NATO entites’ financial statements and IBAN Reports.
The incumbent, working under the direction of the Head of Financial Policy, Budget and Analysis section, is responsible for providing accounting, financial and reporting support to NOR management and the Resource Committees. S/he will be involved with the development, update, and analysis of NATO accounting policies and practices such as the NATO Accounting Framework. The officer will engage closely with finance and accounting staff in the NATO entities and review issues of accounting and financial concerns including processing external audit reports through governance. The officer will also need to monitor and provide input on the implementation of the agreed budget guidance and financial procedures, as required. S/he will develop financial forecasting and financial analysis models to provide integrated resource and lifecycle advice for political decision making specifically for the Military Budget.

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

The incumbent must:

• possess a university degree or equivalent qualification in a field relevant for the position;
• have minimum 5 years’ relevant experience in accounting/finance or related fields;
• possess experience in the development of accounting policies of public and/or international organisations (e.g. based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS));
• have experience analysing financial information and financial statements including associated audit reports;
• have excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to translate technical data to information for senior decision makers;
• possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; III (“Intermediate”) in the other.
  

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Policy Development
Support the development and update as necessary of harmonised accounting policies and guidance to the Financial Controller community in order to assist in the preparation of financial statements of NATO entities. Monitor and track implementation, changes, decisions and/or the introduction of new standards and recommend policy changes to the committees as applicable.

Expertise Development
Identify relevant issues of strategic nature for consideration by the resource committees, including corporate financial governance and reporting policy issues, coordinate, and prepare appropriate advice, materials and proposals. Assess and consolidate complex technical financial information, and communicate key messages effectively at all levels to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Support the build and maintenance of information databases underpinning the Military Budget.

Knowledge Management
Provide a strategic assessment of the effectiveness in implementing Alliance priorities and reform initiatives and in implementing common accounting policies across NATO entities. Research best practices (i.e. financial reporting and accounting policy, financial forecasting and analysis) and explore their relevance to financial governance systems in place NATO-wide. Support and lead the review of the IPSAS adapted NATO Accounting Framework. Monitor the implementation of financial guidance and the implementation of the NATO Accounting Framework and prepare reports/updates for the resource committees as to progress made. Assess and evaluate risks and understand the implication of new concepts, policies, technologies and trends. Processing IBAN Financial Statements audit reports and other audit reports as required through governance and to Council. Ensure that the observations and recommendations from the International Board of Auditors for NATO (IBAN) pertaining to financial reporting are accurately addressed in the financial regulations.

Stakeholder Management
Build, liaise and maintain efficient working relationships with the delegations of the Allies in NATO, Financial Controllers, the IBAN and NOR Staff in order to seek advice on the application of the accounting and governance frameworks and in the development of accounting and financial reporting policies. Be the point of contact for accounting policies and financial statement audits. Maintain customer confidence by respecting deadlines and attention to detail. Support organisation, preparation and if applicable chair meetings of working groups held to support policies activities mandated to the HFRP in support of the resource committees and the NATO Financial Controller community.

Financial Management
Participate in the provision of integrated analysis of both investment and lifecycle costs to make recommendations to resource committees on resource issues. Assist the section head in tracking and ensuring that military budgets remain in line within the ceilings and budget authorisations, or provide early warning on deviations. Consolidate financial data, produce analysis and recommendations and identify areas where policy clarification may be required.
Perform any other related duty as assigned.

4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The incumbent reports to the Head, Financial Policy, Budget and Analysis Section and will liaise with other NOR branches and national committee representatives. S/he will work with IBAN, national delegations, the resource committees, Financial Controllers and their staff in NATO bodies and the NATO Military Authorities and NATO Agencies.
Direct reports: n/a
Indirect reports: n/a

5. COMPETENCIES