Senior Financial Policy & IPSAS Lead

Description

This position is contingent upon successful contract submission and award. 

As the Senior Financial Policy & International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Lead you will serve as a subject matter expert responsible for development, implementation, and oversight of complex financial policies supporting the Section Head (Treasury & Accounting), Office of Budget and Finance (BUDFIN), Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT). This role focuses heavily on ensuring full compliance with IPSAS and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) financial regulations and managing end-to-end financial statement consolidation processes, providing strategic audit support, and modernizing accounting operations to ensure mission readiness and fiscal transparency, including coordination across Allied Command Transformation (ACT) entities as required to execute ACT-wide accounting and reporting responsibilities.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Policy & IPSAS Compliance

• Lead development, implementation, and compliance with accounting policies and directives aligned with IPSAS and international standards.
• Design and deliver comprehensive IPSAS training programs across various organizational entities to ensure standardized      financial reporting.
• Contribute to ACT-wide IPSAS accounting policy/directives; participate in ACT IPSAS implementation activities. 
• Draft/update accounting-related guidance, briefing notes, and reports, ensuring alignment with NATO financial      rules/regulations and ACT implementing directives.

Financial Operations & Reporting

• Provide timely and accurate oversight of general ledger activities, cash management, bank reconciliations, and the proper accounting of funds from NATO Member Nations.
• Conduct monthly and quarterly financial closures, ensuring all supporting documentation is ready for audits.
• Execute periodic cash verifications and manage the accounting treatment for fixed asset acquisitions and retirements.
• Provide hands-on support, and continual improvement of daily accounting operations and systems, including accounting, audit support, budgeting support, and reporting.
• Prepare and coordinate the consolidated annual financial statement process, including consolidation of working papers and coordination with subordinate HQs/reporting entities. 
• Contribute to ACT End-of-Year Guidance for ACT Commands and Major Weapon Activities (MWA).

Audit, Risk & Quality Assurance

• Act as a primary liaison for financial and performance audits, providing evidence and drafting formal responses to audit inquiries.
• Track the progress of audit recommendations and report closure status to the Office of Budget and Finance leadership.
• Analyze travel database reports to identify high-risk destinations and critical travel locations for personnel.
• Define accounting requirements for external service providers regarding reimbursable services and asset management.
• Ensure calls of funds from NATO Member Nations (including, as applicable, NATO Control Points (NCSEPs) and NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) are properly accounted for and reconciled. 
• Execute/assist periodic cash verifications, document results and corrective actions. 
• Support fixed asset inventory accounting; recording oversight, records maintenance, and proper accounting treatment for acquisitions/retirements within means and capabilities.
• Provide recommendations related to reimbursable services and SLAs; define requirements for external service providers regarding accounting and asset management performed by ACT.

Requirements

Education: University Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Audit.

• Note: Professional accreditation from an International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) body (e.g., Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institutes of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and national government credentials with 6 years of post-qualification experience are required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• University Degree in finance/accounting/audit (or professional qualification/ accreditation from an IFAC member body such as CPA/ACCA/CIPFA or national equivalent), or national government equivalent certification or credentials with six years post related experience.
•  17 years’ demonstrated experience in developing plans, policies and processes for the finance and/or accounting field. 
• 17 years’ demonstrated experience in developing and presenting analys