Deadline: 31 October, 2024
Based in: Friends of the Earth Europe, Brussels
Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) campaigns at the heart of Europe for sustainable and just societies and for the protection of the environment. We are the largest grassroots environmental network in Europe, uniting 32 national organisations with thousands of local groups as part of Friends of the Earth International. Our vision is of a peaceful and sustainable world, founded on social, economic, racial, gender and environmental justice and free from all forms of domination and exploitation.
We are looking for a Finance Officer to oversee the implementation of the financial procedures, ensure the implementation of the transactions and recording process, to ensure accurate and timely bookkeeping, provide financial information for monitoring, reporting and forecasting, support fundraising applications, support the audits.
The postholder is part of the operations team, together with the finance manager, grants manager and fundraising coordinator. The Coordinator of Resources and Finances manages the team.
This is an excellent opportunity to be part of an environmental justice NGO working at the European level and a vibrant European network.
Key responsibilities:
- Transaction management and recording
- Monitoring and forecasting
- Fundraising Support
- Audit support
Expected outcomes include:
- Accurate and timely procurement processes and contract management
- Sound transaction and recording processes
- Up-to date and reliable accounts
- Timely and accurate financial information available
- Clean audit reports
Financial procedures and systems
- Support staff in procurement processes
- Check and prepare contracts for signature and ensure filing
- Contracts management of supplier contracts together with the office manager
- Ensure travel and events database forms are completed
- Provide support to staff with information e.g. budget codes, VAT, invoicing of partners
Transactions management and recording
- Ensure expenditure is eligible, supported by relevant documentation, has required budget code, is authorised for payment
- Prepare purchase overviews for the petty cash, the credit cards and others for booking by the Finance Manager
- Manage FoEE internal systems for cost authorisation and control (e.g. travel and events forms)
- Create, issue and code outgoing invoices
- Ensure correct filling of financial documentation and all relevant paperwork
- Liaise with the Finance Manager
- Ensure that all financial transactions are carried out and recorded in accordance with FoEE financial procedures and policies
- Prepare payments for review by the finance manager with correct coding and supporting documentation
Financial monitoring and forecasting
- Assist the grant manager in preparing financial reports for funders
- Provide guidance and feedback on required data and documentation for financial records and, sharing the lessons learned with all budget holders through appropriate communication tools e.g., FAQs, advice notes, verbal communication, info sessions for staff, etc.
Fundraising support
- Support the Fundraising Coordinator
Audits
- Support the audit process as required
- Support the grant manager in project audits
- Make sure that timesheets are filled correctly and filed for audits and future reference purposes
Team Membership
- Member of the Operations Team
- Actively participate in all Operations Team and staff meetings and events
- Actively engage in all Operations Team and staff processes such as planning and/or budgeting
- Give and receive constructive feedback and support to/from colleagues
- Contribute to projects of work that advance FoEE’s organisational development
- Undertake training and self-development as required
Requirements for the role-holder:
Essential
- Experience in accounting and budget management
- Understanding of Belgian legal and accounting requirements
- Analytical and problem solving skills
- Oral and written communication skills in English and French
- Organisational skills to set up and manage processes, work to deadlines and prioritise workload
- Advanced excel skills
- Negotiation and inter-personal communication skills
- High attention to detail
- Committed to FoEE’s vision, mission and values
- Experience in managing projects funded from European programme
Desirable
- Oral and written communication skills in another European language
- Previous experience of working with an environmental or civil society NGO
- Experience as a financial officer within an organisation of relevant scale and complexity
We offer:
This position is offered as a full-time position in Brussels, Belgium for a period of six months. It can be made permanent, subject to satisfactory performance and available funding.
We offer a monthly salary between 3071.34 and € 3598.85, gross, depending on a competency assessment.
FoEE offers an attractive benefits package, including a 13th month salary, lunch vouchers, an additional 5 days of holidays per year, pension scheme, hospitalisation and comprehensive travel insurance. We also offer full coverage of train travel in case of commuting within Belgium. FoEE offers a motivating working environment in an international office located in an environmentally-friendly NGO building.
To carry out the job, the team member must be based in Belgium. The job is subject to FoEE’s teleworking policy, which allows for hybrid working.
FoEE actively welcomes candidates of all descriptions, regardless of age, sexual orientation, marital status, wealth, religious, philosophical or political beliefs, language, present or future state of health, disability, physical or genetic characteristics, gender, pregnancy, parental status, change of sex, nationality, race, skin colour, ancestry, nationality, descent, national or ethnic or social origin. FoE Europe strives to make our office as diverse as possible.
To apply:
Send your cv and a motivation letter describing how you meet the above-mentioned requirements by 31st October 2024 by 23.59h CET to: operations-recruitment@foeeurope.org.
The ideal starting date of the post is as soon as possible.
Due to the volume of applications, we will contact only short-listed candidates – thank you for your understanding.
