Financial Accountant/ IPSAS Subject Matter Expert

Location: Norfolk, VA (On-site at NATO HQ SACT)
Organization: Ironclad Defense Works 
Employment Type: Firm-Fixed Price / Level-of-Effort Contract Support
Security Clearance: Active NATO or National SECRET security clearance required

Role Overview

Ironclad Defense Works is seeking a highly qualified Financial Accountant / International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Subject Matter Expert to provide on-site contractor support to NATO Allied Command Transformation’s Office of Budget and Finance.

The selected candidate will support the Treasury & Accounting function within BUDFIN, contributing to accounting operations, IPSAS implementation, financial statement preparation, audit support, accounting policy development, and ACT-wide financial reporting activities.

This role requires a senior accounting professional with deep experience in public-sector or international organization accounting, financial controls, IPSAS, reconciliations, audit liaison, and consolidated financial statement preparation

Key Responsibilities

The Financial Accountant / IPSAS SME will support BUDFIN Treasury & Accounting by performing duties including:

• Supporting the development, implementation, and compliance of accounting policies, directives, and international accounting standards.
• Contributing to ACT-wide IPSAS accounting policy and implementation activities.
• Drafting and updating accounting guidance, briefing materials, reports, and related documentation.
• Supporting the development and delivery of accounting and IPSAS-related training across ACT entities.
• Providing hands-on support to daily accounting operations, including general ledger activities, cash management, reporting, budgeting support, audit support, and bank reconciliations.
• Conducting and coordinating monthly and quarterly reconciliations, closure activities, and supporting documentation.
• Preparing and coordinating ACT’s consolidated annual financial statement process.
• Supporting end-of-year financial guidance and activities for ACT commands and related entities.
• Ensuring proper accounting and reconciliation of calls of funds from NATO member nations.
• Supporting periodic cash verifications and documenting corrective actions.
• Supporting fixed asset inventory accounting, including records maintenance and accounting treatment for acquisitions and retirements.
• Supporting audit evidence provision, audit responses, and tracking closure of audit recommendations.
• Providing recommendations related to reimbursable services, service-level agreements, accounting requirements, and asset management.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• University degree in finance, accounting, or audit; or professional qualification/accreditation from an IFAC member body such as CPA, ACCA, CIPFA, or national equivalent; or national government equivalent certification with at least six years of related post-certification experience.
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrated experience developing plans, policies, and processes in finance and/or accounting.
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrated experience developing and presenting analysis and controls related to mission information, functions, processes, and objectives.
• Minimum 5 years of experience analyzing and preparing financial statements in the private or public sector.
• Minimum 5 years of demonstrated knowledge and expertise in accounting principles, procedures, and standards related to IPSAS.
• Demonstrated ability to support IPSAS implementation.
• Demonstrated experience implementing intangible accounting policies, procedures, and registers.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and collaborative software.
• English proficiency equivalent to STANAG 6001 SLP 3333 or equivalent professional fluency.
• Active NATO or National SECRET security clearance.
• Citizenship of a NATO member nation.
• Valid NATO-nation passport with no travel restrictions to NATO nations.

Preferred Qualifications

Highly competitive candidates will have:

• 10+ years of IPSAS experience.
• 10+ years of financial statement preparation experience.
• Experience supporting NATO, international organizations, government agencies, or public-sector finance environments.
• Experience with consolidated financial statements across multiple entities.
• Experience supporting financial audits and responding to audit findings.
• Experience delivering accounting or IPSAS training to finance te