EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE (EEAS) - Vacancy notice – Finance and Contracts Assistant - Verification - HQ Contract Agent FG.III - RM.SCS.2

WE ARE

The European External Action Service (EEAS) supports the High Representative in the exercise of her mandate to conduct and implement an effective and coherent Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), to represent the EU and to chair the Foreign Affairs Council.

It also supports the High Representative in her capacity as Vice-President of the Commission with regard to her responsibilities within the Commission in the external relations field, including the coordination of other aspects of the EU's external action. The EEAS works in close cooperation with the EU Member States, the General Secretariat of the Council, the services of the Commission and the Secretariat General of the European Parliament.

The recruiting Division RM.SCS.2 - Public Procurement, Contracts and Finance is to be responsible for procurement and contracts for Headquarters and Delegations and for ex ante financial verification of transactions stemming from public contracts. It supports and advises the authorising officers by sub- delegation in the management of their public contracts including their risk management. Contracts covered by the Division are those subject to the Public Procurement Directive (services, supplies and works) and exclude all kind of employment contracts or building contracts.

Within the recruiting Division, the Finance Sector establishes the policies, processes and procedures on financial matters in cooperation with the Budget Division. For Headquarters, the sector ensures the legality and regularity of financial transactions through ex ante financial verification of commitments, payments and recovery orders stemming from public procurement. In addition, the sector acts as a single entry and registration point for all invoices and credit notes received by operational Divisions. For Delegations and at the request of the responsible AOSD, the sector can provide ex ante verification, advise and support AOSD on the rules, standards and codes of good conduct in financial matters. Finally, the sector is also in charge of the Registry of Exceptions and Non-Compliance events.

WE PROPOSE

The position of Finance and Contracts Assistant - Verification, contract agent FG.III as per article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (hereafter, the “CEOS”).

PLACE and DATE OF EMPLOYMENT

‎EEAS Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Post available: 1 July 2026

LEGAL BASIS

The vacancy is to be filled in accordance with the conditions stipulated under the CEOS, in particular Article 82 thereof. In case of recruitment, the successful candidate will be offered a contract agent position (Function group III), on the basis of a contract with an initial duration of one year that may be successively renewed up to a maximum duration of six years, subject to the maximum duration of engagement by the EEAS allowed under successive limited duration contracts of different types. 

WE LOOK FOR

A dynamic, proactive and highly motivated contract agent responsible for financial verification. S/he will be part of a team reporting to the Deputy Head of Division and Head of the Finance Sector. S/he will have as main responsibilities:

• Act as financial verifying agent (FVA) and proceed with ex ante verification of financial transactions for administrative expenditure (commitments and payments) in headquarters, including checking the procedural, legal and financial aspects of the transactions;

• Act as the first data entry agent for the central registration of invoices and credit notes at Headquarters in SUMMA and in ARES;

• Provide the necessary support to or advice in the area of Finance and Contracts to the different stakeholders within the EEAS (mainly HQ Operational divisions and sometimes EU Delegations);

• Be the focal point for some of the horizontal tasks for the Finance sector such as the preparation/update of documents and guidelines relating to Finance and Contracts, data quality in SUMMA, ABAC LCK, recovery orders, guarantees, VAT matters, etc.;

• Participate actively in the ‘Procurement, Finance and Contracts Network’ at Headquarters;

• Be proactively involved in all the horizontal activities of the Division, actively cooperating with the two other Sectors in the Division (Contracts’ management and Public procurement).

Eligibility criteria

Further to the conditions set out in Article 82 of the CEOS, candidates must:

• have passed a valid EPSO CAST in a valid function group for this post, or be registered in the EPSO Permanent CAST in a valid function group for this post (https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/contract-staff-selection-procedures-always-open-registration). In the latter case, while the registration will make the candidate eligible for the selection procedure, the recruitment of a candidate on this vacant post will be subject to his/her successfully passing the CAST exam;

• have a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma or a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education and appropriate professional experience of three year;

• have the capacity to work in the languages of the CFSP and external relations (English and French) necessary for the performance of their duties; 

• be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and enjoy full rights as a citizen.

Selection criteria

Candidates should:

• have minimum two (2) years of professional experience in EU Finance and financial verification;

• have sound knowledge of the EU Financial Regulation;

• have strong drafting and analytical skills combined with sound judgement and attention to detail for financial verification;

• have excellent drafting and communication skills both in English and French;

• be service-oriented and have strong prioritising skills;

• be a flexible team player, willing to integrate a relatively small team and to ensure business continuity;

• have a client-oriented approach and strong organisational and prioritising skills.

Furthermore:

• experience of working in a team in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;

• experience in working with or within other EU institutions, especially knowledge of IT tools such as ABAC LCK, SUMMA and ARES

will be considered as strong assets.

CONDITIONS OF RECRUITMENT AND EMPLOYMENT

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND SECURITY RISKS

As a matter of policy, applications by individuals who have dual nationality of which one of a non-EU country, will be considered on a case-by-case basis taking account in particular of the functions attributed to the vacant post. The EEAS also examines if there could be a conflict of interest or security risks.

In this context, candidates shall fill in with their application a declaration of potential conflict of interest 

MEDICAL CLEARANCE

The signature of the contract will be subject to prior favourable opinion of the Medical Service.

PERSONNEL SECURITY CLEARANCE (PSC)

This post is currently not identified as a post which requires Personnel Security Clearance (hereafter, the “PSC”) to access EU classified information (EUCI) in accordance with point 7 of Annex A I of the Decision ADMIN(2023) 18 on the security rules of the EEAS and as implemented by Decision ADMIN(2019) 7 on Security Clearance Requirements and Procedures for the EEAS of 08 March 2019 and its implementing decisions.

Nonetheless, candidates are informed that the list of posts requiring a PSC in the EEAS Headquarters is subject to regular review and that the current post might be identified in the future as a post which requires PSC.

If required after the taking of duty, the selected candidate will need to be in a position to obtain a valid PSC issued by the competent authority of their Member State in accordance with national laws and regulations. 

In case of failure to obtain or renew the required PSC, the AACC may take the appropriate measures in accordance with Article 3(3) of the Decision ADMIN(2019) 7 on Security Clearance Requirements and Procedures for the EEAS of 08 March 2019.

Description of the EU classified information levels is available under Article 2 of Annex A of the Decision ADMIN(2023) 18 on the security rules of the EEAS.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The EEAS strives to be a dynamic, respectful and inclusive Service. We value the talent and professional excellence of our staff, and are committed to building an organisation where gender equality and the respect of diversity are core values, as set out in the EEAS Mission Statement and the EEAS Agenda for Diversity and Inclusion. The EEAS is committed to achieving gender balance within its workforce and strives to avoid any form of discrimination during this selection procedure, as per Article 1(d) of the SR. We actively welcome applications from all qualified candidates without any discrimination based on any ground. We commit to recruit candidates with the highest standard of ability, efficiency and integrity, carrying out a selection based on merits required for the post and from the broadest possible geographical basis among the EU Member States.

The EEAS is committed to working with people with disabilities in the terms of the SR. If, by virtue of your medical condition or special needs, you require reasonable accommodation for a part or the entirety of this selection process, please send us an email to CONTRACTAGENTS-HQ@eeas.europa.eu. Your request will be treated in strict confidence and no record will be kept. If a candidate with a disability is selected for a vacant post, the EEAS is committed to providing reasonable accommodation in accordance with Article 1(d)(4) of the SR. 

All selected candidates are expected to adhere to the Principles of Professional Behaviour of the EEAS, which outline the need for integrity, transparency, respect, professionalism and accountability, and a zero tolerance approach to any form of harassment

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE

Please send your CV and cover letter (with your EPSO CAST number), in English or French, and the declaration of potential conflict of interest via email, with reference to the Vacancy Number in the Subject field, to:

RM-SCS-2@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending application: 02/04/2026 at 12.00 noon (CET).

Candidates shall draft their CV using the Europass CV, which can be found at the following internet address:

http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae.

Late applications will not be accepted.

The selection panel will make a pre-selection on the basis of the qualifications and professional experience described in the CV and motivational letter and will produce a shortlist of eligible candidates who best meet the selection criteria for the post. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be informed about the outcome of the pre-selection phase.

The candidates who have been preselected will be invited for an interview by a selection panel.

The selection panel may decide, subsequent to the interview, to organise written tests, either for all pre-selected candidates or to the best ranked ones. The content of such written tests will be defined by the selection panel and may include, but not be limited to, multiple choice questions, open questions and/or topics for a short essay. 

Pre-selected candidates without a valid CAST shall be invited to sit the CAST exam before or after the interview stage (in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out above).

The panel will then recommend a shortlist of candidates for a final decision by the Authority Authorised to Conclude Contracts of Employment (hereafter, the “AACC”). The AACC may decide to interview the candidates on the final shortlist before taking this decision.

It is recalled that the selection procedure may be terminated at any stage in the interest of the service.

In the interest of the service, after identifying the candidate that best fits the requirements of the post as set out in the vacancy notice, the AACC may also establish a reserve list of candidates. These candidates shall be informed that the reserve list shall remain valid for a period of one year from when it is established and that it may be used to fill the same post or an equivalent post in the EEAS with the same job profile.

1. ^

    Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union (SR) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS).

2. ^

    Article 8 of the Commission Decision C(2017) 6760 of 16.10.2017 on the general provisions for implementing Article 79(2) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, governing the conditions of employment of contract staff employed by the Commission under the terms of Articles 3a and 3b thereof.

3. ^

    Decision ADMIN(2023) 24 on the maximum duration of engagement by the European External Action Service of non-permanent staff under successive limited duration contracts of different types, and on the minimum lapse of time between successive contracts under Article 2(e) of the CEOS.

4. ^

    All the eligibility criteria must be met on the closing date for applications to this post.

5. ^

    OJ C 263, 26 July 2023, p.16. 

6. ^

    Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, as implemented by ADMIN(2019)8 Decision of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The privacy statement is available on the Europa website: (https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eeas-privacy-statement-data-protection-notice-purpose-processing-personal-data-related-public_en) and on the EEAS Intranet:(https://intranet.eeas.europa.eu/page/eeas-work/data-protection/privacy-statements-dp-notices).