I. Position information
Job Title : Head of Finance and Budget Unit
Department: Global Operations
Reports to: Assistant Secretary General
Position Status: Professional
Grade Level: P4
Duty Station: Brussels, Belgium
Family Duty Station: Yes
Date of Issuance: 4 July ,2025
Closing Date: 3 August, 2025
Duration: 3 years
Type of assignment: Staff Member
II. Context
Comprised of 79 Member States from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) strives to achieve the sustainable development of its Members and their progressive integration into the world economy. As the largest group of southern countries, the OACPS recognizes its own structure and history as a form of South-South cooperation and aims to strengthen its role in promoting and coordinating South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), a key strategy for development and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
Created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975, the Organization continued to evolve to adequately deliver its mandate. With the recent signing of the Samoa Agreement, the organization is entering into a new relationship with one of its biggest partners, the European Union.
While the OACPS HQ is in Belgium, the organization also relies on two liaison offices, one in Geneva (Switzerland) and a second in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), recognized as the OACPS Information Centre for South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Assistant Secretary-General in charge of the Department of Global Operations, the Head of the Finance & Budget Unit provides oversight of all financial matters and accounting operations, ensuring strict compliance with agreements, rules and regulations.
III. Duties and Responsibilities
Financial Leadership and Strategic Oversight
- Lead and supervise the Finance and Budget Unit, ensuring effective coordination and performance of financial operations.
- Provide strategic advice and accurate financial information to the Assistant Secretary General in charge of the Global Operations Department to support decision-making.
- Ensure the development, implementation, and enforcement of financial policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Support the professional development of finance staff through coaching, supervision, and performance monitoring.
Budget Planning and Management
- Oversee the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of the Secretariat’s annual budget and medium-term financial plans.
- Ensure budget execution aligns with organizational goals and available resources.
- Monitor budget performance and recommend corrective actions when necessary.
- Under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary General in charge of the Global Operations Department, he/she attends as needed management meetings, committees, or others to provide all needed clarifications on procedural, financial, and accounting matters.
Accounting, Reporting, and Compliance
- Ensure the submission of accurate and timely financial reports, including reports to the European Commission in the OACPS – EU Partnership Institutional Framework and other partners in accordance with international accounting standards and internal policies.
- Supervise the maintenance and updating of the accounting plan and ensure proper documentation of all financial transactions.
- Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations, audit requirements, and internal procedures.
- Under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary General in charge of the Global Operations Department, he/she might be called to attend or do specific presentations to Organs of the OACPS.
Treasury and Cash Management
- He/She will have co-signature on OACPS bank accounts
- Oversee day-to-day cash management, including bank reconciliations, petty cash, and control of liquid assets.
- Responsible for expenditure and cash payments for costs related to organization of meetings ( Eg JPA), missions and attendance at international forums etc.
- Management of Member State contribution accounts.
- Ensure proper execution of all payments, management of pay cycles, and secure handling of financial resources.
Internal Controls and Risk Management
- Continuous improvement and strengthening of the internal expenditure control system, ensuring payment orders are prepared, matched and processed correctly, allowing efficient validation.
- Address and resolve cases of identified unposted transactions, exceptions and check budget reallocations in a timely manner.
- Ensure payment orders are properly authorized and executed according to laid-down procedures.
- In collaboration with the Financial Controller and under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary General in charge of the Global Operations Department, review and implement recommendations and improvements suggested by internal and external control bodies.
Asset and Inventory Management
- Ensure accurate inventory management and safeguarding of Secretariat assets.
- Oversee periodic asset verification and compliance with asset management policies and procedures.
Analysis, Records and Documentation
- Supervise the maintenance of financial records for statutory meetings, working groups, and contributions.
- Analyze accounting reports and financial data to ensure integrity and transparency.
- Maintain a proper filing and documentation system for all finance-related records to ensure easy retrieval and audit readiness.
- Any other task as required by the ASG in charge or Global operations
IV. Competencies
Corporate Competencies
- Places the good of the organization above personal, national, or any other interest.
- Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting her/his work and status.
- Accepts responsibility and accountability for the quality and correctness of his/her decisions and resulting outcomes
Functional / Technical Competencies
- Strong background in public finance, accounting and budget control.
- Professional competence and excellent knowledge of recognized international standards and practices.
- High degree of independent judgment and initiative and conceptual skills.
Managerial Competencies
- Ability to collaborate and work with colleagues of varying grades and cultural backgrounds.
- Comfortable with change management and capable of monitoring and adjusting plans and actions when necessary.
Behavioural Competencies
- Demonstrates strength of character, as well as the ability to stay calm and show maturity in stressful situations.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with colleagues and external partners.
- Ability to show pride in their work and maintain transparency and accountability in performing duties assigned to them;
V. Recruitment Qualifications
Education :
Master’s degree or equivalent in financial administration, management, economics, accounting or corporate finance.
Experience :
- Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial control, management and accounting at national and international levels.
- Previous work experience in a regional or international organization is a strong advantage.
- Significant exposure to project cycle management of EU funded programs and contracts is desirable.
- Work experience in an EU-funded program or entity or agency will be an added advantage.
Language Requirement:
Good command of English or French. Working knowledge of other languages, including Portuguese or Spanish will be considered as an added advantage.
Special Notice
Candidates for the post must be nationals of Member States from the African, Caribbean and Pacific Regions and must therefore attach a copy of their valid passport for proof of nationality. Applications from non-OACPS nationals will not be considered.
Staff Members of the OACPS are subject to the authority of and duties assigned by the Secretary General and will discharge their functions under conditions established by the Secretary General.
All employment decisions are made on the suitability of the candidate and the needs of the OACPS. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
The appointment to this position is for an initial period of 3 years and renewal thereof is subject to the needs of the OACPS and availability of the post or funds.
Applications for this post must reach the Secretariat by midnight on the 03 August 2025
Applications must be accompanied by an updated curriculum vitae completed in the following format: https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/editors/en/cv/compose.
Applicants must provide copies of degrees, diplomas, certificates, and any other documents attesting to their competence and professional experience.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and those under serious consideration will be subject to reference checks.
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