Senior Financial Advisor

Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France  

​​ Senior Financial Advisor in the Finance, Planning and Controlling Department, Directorate of Resources and Services.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• ensuring the management of the Pension Buffer Fund, including:
  • providing secretariat services to the Pension Buffer Fund Management Board, in accordance with its governing rules;
  • supervising, monitoring and supporting the management of the assets and expenditure of the Pension Buffer Fund, including proposing investment opportunities;
  • organising the selection of external service providers and monitoring contracts on a range of subjects, including asset management and actuarial projects;
  • ensuring the proper accounting of the fund assets, preparing the annual financial statements of the Fund in accordance with the Financial Regulations and other applicable Agency regulations, and liaising with the External Auditor as needed;
  • conducting appropriate reporting and communicating information to the Management Board and the Administrative and Financial Committee;
  • managing the relationship with the fund asset portfolio managers;
  • monitoring the portfolio management agreements;
  • coordinating the periodic Asset Liability Management studies on the ESA Pension Schemes;
  • maintaining a risk register for Pension Buffer Fund and Management Board operations;
• managing the Agency’s social security and post-employment healthcare system, including
  • organising its separate treasury and investing available resources;
  • monitoring and reporting on its results and overall evolution;
  • coordinating the periodic Asset Liability Management studies on the ESA Medical Plan and Long-Term Care scheme;
• representing the Head of Department in the joint working group consisting of the Central Staff Association Committee and Administration on social security;
• providing financial expertise and supporting the Head of Human Resources on matters related to the Pension Administrative Committee of the Co-ordinated Organisations (CAPOC) for the periodic revision of the ESA pension scheme contribution rates and the revision of the actuarial calculation methods;
• coordinating and developing the Department's risk management process, acting as Departmental contact point for risk management processes at Agency-level;
• coordinating the Department’s activities related to the implementation of the Quality Management System;
• providing advice and ad hoc support to the Head of Department on specific cross-departmental issues or projects (representing the Department in cross-departmental initiatives and working groups, providing technical, financial and accounting advice);
• participating in the Department’s management meetings, and relevant boards and committees as necessary;
  • coordinating the agenda and follow-up of Departmental meetings, events and forums as needed;
  • preparing and coordinating cross-department initiatives and activities.

​Good knowledge and extensive experience in financial management and accounting

Broad knowledge of investment management approaches

Good knowledge of SAP Financial modules and Microsoft Excel

Good written and oral communication skills

A master's in finance or a relevant discipline is required for this post.

You should have a strong expertise of accounting for complex financial instruments, in particular IPSAS 30 and IPSAS 41. 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness 
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. 

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at contact.human.resources@esa.int .
Important Information and Disclaimer
In principle, recruitment will be within the advertised grade band (A2-A4). However, if the selected candidate has less than four years of relevant professional experience following the completion of the master’s degree, the position may be filled at A1 level.

During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Additionally, successful candidates will need to undergo basic screening before appointment, which will be conducted by an external background screening service, in compliance with the European Space Agency's security procedures.

Note that ESA is in the process of transitioning to a Matrix setup, which could lead to organisational changes affecting this position.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. 

Nationality and Languages 
Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. 

According to the ESA Convention, staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, taking into account an adequate distribution of posts among nationals of the Member States.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.