Finance Officer

Mission of the Department:

To ensure a high performing WWF EPO with efficient operating systems, professional and skilled staff, and strong financial resources, delivering conservation impact on policies and in places that are key for WWF’s goals.

Major Functions:

The Finance Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day accounting, the implementation of the compliance processes, and the financial operations for the WWF EPO office. The Finance Officer will be part of the Operations Team and will report directly to the Finance Manager.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Accounting

• Ensure that all day-to-day financial transactions are accurately and timely recorded in the accounting system according to WWF EPO policies and in adherence to Belgian legal and accounting requirements (payroll, invoices, expense claims, petty cash);
• Support the grants management (call of funds, income recognition, analytical allocation to projects);
• Prepare and submit monthly VAT declarations and ensure tax obligations are being taken care of through the year;
• Support yearly, interim and project audits with the production of accounting statements, supporting documents, and answer to questions from auditors;
• In charge of the monthly and yearly closure of the books in the accounting system and coordinate the closure with the fiscal advisor;
• Prepare and record outgoing invoices;
• Maintain the chart of accounts and general ledger.

Payments

• Prepare timely payment of salaries, taxes, invoices and call of funds from subgrantees, ensuring compliance with contractual payment terms;
• Ensure liaison with the banks and keep bank mandates up-to-date;
• Collect bank statements and prepare monthly bank accounts reconciliations.

Contracts

• Provide support in the elaboration of contracts with donors (notably with WWF Network);
• Contract management in collaboration with the Finance Manager.

Operations

• Guarantee the correct implementation and follow-up of the administrative and procurement procedures;
• Handle requests from the staff about internal processes;
• Support Finance Manager on ad hoc basis;
• Collaborate on the update of the administrative and financial procedures.

Reporting

• Prepare & submit financial reports for the donors, ensuring reporting in the donors’ due format, accuracy of information, compliance and timely submission;
• Support the Finance Manager in collecting and challenging figures for budget exercise.

Profile:

Required Qualifications

• A degree in accounting or business administration, or equivalent business experience, as well as knowledge of bookkeeping and generally accepted accounting principles. Preference will be given to candidates with a working knowledge of the Winbooks accounting software package.

Required Skills and Competencies

• 3 years of experience in working in a similar position in Belgium;
• Strong organisational and time management skills, high attention to detail, and good analytical skills;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong computer skills (notably Excel);
• Fluency in English with French or Dutch (bilingual an asset);
• Previous experience of working with NGOs/AISBL or other grant receiving entities is an asset;
• Strong team player able to work effectively in a global network setting;
• A firm commitment to WWF’s mission (“to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature”) and its values (“courage, integrity, respect, collaboration”).

Working Relationships:

• Internal - The post is located in Brussels. The employee reports to the Finance Manager and works in close collaboration with the Operations Team and HR Manager. The post holder interacts with all staff in the organisation;
• External - The employee interacts directly with outside suppliers, grantees and external consultants.

Remuneration package:

WWF European Policy Office offers an indefinite contract with a competitive package of pay and other benefits. The indicative base salary range for this role would be around 3.000 - 3.200 € gross per month, with the final figure depending on the skills and experience of the successful candidate. WWF European Policy Office also offers a range of additional benefits, including allowances for lunch, public transport and home working, health insurance, pension plan, paid holiday and additional month of pay in accordance with Belgian law.

Further details:

Please consult the attached job description for more information on the position.

How to apply?

Please send your application to recruitments@wwf.eu and write “Application Finance Officer” in the subject line, and include:

• A single PDF document with your up to date CV and cover letter, outlining why you would be a good candidate for the role (letter of maximum 400 words setting out why you would be a good candidate for the role);
• Please also confirm that you have the legal right to work full time in Belgium and tell us when, if selected, you would be able to start;
• Deadline for applications: midnight Brussels time on 25 June 2023.

The WWF European Policy Office is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.