The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), based in Brussels, Belgium 
is looking for one

Financial Officer
(Contract Agent, Grade FGIV) 

Please send us your application no later than 10/04/2025 at 23:59 (Central European Time/ Brussels time), following the instructions in the ANNEX.

1. About CBE

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), a €2 billion partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), funds projects advancing competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe. The partnership is building on the success of its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), while addressing the current challenges facing the industry.

Shifting from non-renewable fossil raw materials and minerals to circular bio-based production processes is essential to reach the EU’s climate targets as set out in the European Green Deal. Strong, resource-efficient and competitive bio-based industries are important drivers of this change. By producing renewable bio-based products and materials from waste and biomass in an innovative, sustainable and circular way, they can contribute significantly to the EU’s climate neutrality target by 2050 while creating jobs and economic growth in regions across Europe.

The role of the CBE JU is to bring together various actors from bio-based industries, ranging from farmers to scientists, to solve the technological, regulatory and market challenges of the sector. Its public-private funding scheme boosts innovation and market deployment and paves the way for future investments.

The CBE JU Programme Office is implementing the CBE JU’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) under the leadership of its Executive Director and following the rules of Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme. Tasks of the Programme Office range from the management of calls for project proposals and programme monitoring, to administration, financial management, legal control, human resources, and communication.

CBE JU has been established for the 2021-2031 period. The CBE JU’s working language is English. For further information, please consult the CBE JU website: www.cbe.europa.eu

2. Job Description

The Financial Officer will provide support and assistance to the CBE JU in the execution and verification of financial transactions on both the administrative and operational side, reporting directly to the Head of Finance and Administration. He/she will be actively involved in the accounting processes and the preparation and follow-up of the budget as well as contributing to the execution of administrative tasks.

The Financial Officer’s duties will include the following: 

Finance and budget

• Provide contractual and financial analysis, advice and assistance related to the full expenditure lifecycle of managed actions under the different programmes implemented by the Joint Undertaking;
• Act as Financial Verifying Agent for commitments, payments, forecasts of revenue and recovery orders on the JU's administrative and operational budget lines, ensuring that transactions are financially and procedurally correct;
• Support the Financial and Accounting Correspondent in all his/her tasks, in particular operational and administrative budget forecasting and implementation, liaising with budget planners;
• Support the Financial and Accounting Correspondent in the annual accounting closure, including the preparation of “cutoff” bookings;
• Support the Financial and Accounting Correspondent with the annual financial reporting and cashflow forecasting and monitoring;
• Support the contractual and financial preparation and follow-up of grant agreements, procurement contracts and other managed actions;
• Provide support to audit file preparation and assist the Authorising Officer in implementing ex-post controls;
• Draft contract and financial support documents such as payment letters, pre-information letters, confirmation letters and liaise with internal and external stakeholders.

Support to the financial coordination

• Draft and contribute to the development, implementation and improvement of procedures, guidelines, and checklists;
• Contribute to the development of the CBE JU’s financial circuits;
• Provide advice and support on financial practices in line with EU and CBE JU budgetary, financial and contractual rules;
• Act as coordinator in the transition from ABAC to SUMMA. 

Central Financial Management 

• Contribute to the set-up and management of the central financial management, including monitoring, reporting and the launching of recovery orders as well as follow-up of the CBE JU debts;
• Monitor the cashing of contributions, liaising with the operational team, and where necessary, provide follow-up support on other activities;
• Undertake additional tasks as required in the interest of the service.

3. Eligibility criteria

Candidates will be considered for the selection phase on the basis of the following criteria to be fulfilled by the closing date for applications.

3.1. General conditions

• Be a national of a Member State of the European Union;
• Be entitled to his or her full rights as a citizen (1);
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws concerning military service;
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the official EU languages and a satisfactory knowledge (at least B2 level) of another of these languages to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties (candidates are invited to specify in their CV any language certificates they have obtained which can demonstrate their language skills);
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post (2).

3.2. Education

• Have a level of education(3) which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma;

In case you do not fulfil all the eligibility criteria, your application will not be taken into consideration. Eligibility criteria must be fulfilled by the deadline for applications and maintained throughout the selection procedure and appointment.

4. Selection criteria

Candidates selected based on the above eligibility criteria will then be evaluated according to the following selection criteria:

4.1. Essential qualifications and experience

• Professional experience (4) of at least five years in tasks closely related to the those listed in section 2 of this vacancy notice;
• Very good knowledge of the EU Financial Regulation and its rules of application;
• Proven experience in the budgetary aspects of the financial management of EU grants;
• Proven experience in the financial management of large scale administrative budget (5);  
• Very good knowledge of MS Excel;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (native English speakers will be required to demonstrate the ability to work in a second language at the interview stage);

4.2. Advantageous qualifications and experience

•  A degree in a field relevant to the position (e.g. Economics, Accounting, Business Administration);
• Practical experience of ABAC/SUMMA (financial and accounting systems of the European Commission);

4.3. Behavioural competences

• High motivation – open and positive attitude;
• Ability to establish and develop good inter-personal relations with a broad range of stakeholders in cross-cultural environments;
• Excellent analytical, planning and organisational skills;
• Ability to work under pressure, deliver results, and respect deadlines;
• Sense of initiative, responsibility, commitment and team spirit.

In order to be evaluated in the best possible way, candidates are invited to be as detailed and as clear as possible when describing their professional experience, specific skills and competences in their application form.

5. Appointment and reserve list

The Executive Director of the Joint Undertaking will select the successful candidate and offer the post. A binding commitment can only be made after the verification of all conditions and will take the form of a contract signed by the Executive Director.

The reserve list will be used in order to fill vacant positions within the CBE JU.

Candidates should note that inclusion on the reserve list does not guarantee recruitment. Recruitment will be based on availability of posts and budget.

The reserve list for this post will be valid until 31 December 2026 and may be extended at the discretion of the Appointing Authority of the CBE JU.

6. Deadline for applications

Candidates need to submit their application using the CBE JU online application tool no later than 10/04/2025 at 23:59 (Central European Time/ Brussels time), following the instructions in the ANNEX.

7. Conditions of employment

The place of employment will be Brussels, where the Joint Undertaking premises are located.

The successful candidate will be recruited as a Contract Agent FGIV, pursuant to Article 3(a) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities, for a period of three years. After an evaluation of the job holder's performance, and subject to budget availability, the term of office may be extended. The period of engagement will not in any case exceed the lifetime of the CBE JU.

Candidates should note the requirement under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants for all new staff to complete successfully a probationary period. The pay of staff members consists of a basic salary supplemented with specific allowances, including expatriation or family allowances. The provisions guiding the calculation of these allowances can be consulted in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants available at the following address: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1962R0031:20140101:EN:PDF

Important Note

Candidates are kindly advised to read the ANNEX that represents an integral part of this vacancy and provides information on how to complete the application, the steps of the selection process and appeal procedures.

1. Prior to the appointment, the successful candidate will be asked to provide a certificate of good conduct, confirming the absence of any criminal record.
2. Prior to the appointment, the successful candidate shall be medically examined by one of the European Institutions' medical officers in order that CBE JU may be satisfied that he/she fulfils the requirement of article 28 (e) of the Staff Regulations of the Officials of the European Communities.
3. Only qualifications issued by EU Member State authorities and qualifications recognised as equivalent by the relevant EU Member State authorities will be accepted. Any academic qualification mentioned in the application form shall be duly supported by evidence (original or certified copies of e.g. diplomas, certification, etc.). In instances where diplomas are obtained from a non-EU Member State, CBE JU may request the candidate to provide a relevant document of comparability issued by a recognised authority.
4. Professional experience is counted only from the date the candidate obtained the diploma required for being eligible.
5. In your application form, please indicate the size of budgets managed and your role.