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Budget/Accounting Assistant in Cooperation Section
24.06.2026 New opportunity
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We are
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. It plays an
important role in international affairs through diplomacy, trade, development aid and working with global organizations. Abroad, the EU is represented through more than 140 diplomatic missions, known also as EU Delegations, which have similar functions to those of an embassy.
The EU Delegation to Montenegroworks in close coordination with the Embassies and Consulates of all EU Member States. We are a fully-fledged diplomatic mission and represent the European Union in dealings with the Montenegrin government in areas that are part of the EU’s remit.
We offer
The post of Budget/Accounting Assistant, Group II in the Delegation’s Cooperation Section under a fixed-term employment contract of 2 years, with a possibility of renewal under reserve of budgetary availability and operational considerations. The team consists of 32 people and there are occasional atypical working hours.
Under this post, the recruited person will be attributed to functions depending on the needs of the Delegation, and on the changes of these needs. The successful candidate
will serve under the supervision and responsibility of the Head of Cooperation Section, providing support, expertise and assistance in the area of legality and regularity of all transactions in line with the applicable regulations, Commission procedures and prevailing instructions.
Following Main Tasks And Duties Are Currently Required
BUDGET and FINANCE
- Contribute to initiate, prepare and review the financial transactions (budgetary commitments, contracts, agreements, amendments, pre-financing, cost claims, clearing of pre-financing, interim and final payments, recovery of funds, forecast of revenues, guarantees, waivers, bank account fiches, closures, etc.) addressing all legality, regularity, financial, accountancy and budget aspects concerning all contract types under direct and indirect management, financial instruments, blending and guarantees when applicable.
- Prepare financial correspondence and notes.
- Draft financial aspects of contracts, draft documents linked to financial operations.
- Ensure that the adequate financial circuits are in place and followed.
- Ensure the quality (including the accuracy and comprehensiveness) of the data entered in CRIS/OPSYS/SUMMA and other corporate IT tools.
- Assist for data collecting for reports and statistics.
- Assist in the preparation of financial reports and statistics (payments forecasts, EAMR, annual reports, ad hoc reporting).
PROCUREMENT and CONTRACT MANAGEMENT – Direct management
- Ensure conformity of procurement with applicable Regulations, practical guides and instruction notes to guarantee legal, regular and sound financial management in assistance programmes.
- Participate in tender evaluations as Secretary.
- Verify the legal aspects of contracts signed by the Delegation.
- Draft answers to complaints and follow-up complaint cases and requests for conciliation procedures.
PROCUREMENT and CONTRACT MANAGEMENT – Indirect management with beneficiary countries (when applicable)
- Review, advise and comment on requests for funds from national authorities and clearance of accounts where required.
- Ensure conformity of procurement with Regulations, practical guides and instruction notes to guarantee legal, regular and sound financial management in assistance programmes.
- Participate in tender evaluations as an observer.
- Verify the legal aspects of contracts endorsed by the Delegation Contribute to internal and external communication and knowledge on contractual issues.
AUDIT, CONTROL and INSPECTION
- Draft annual audit plans and assurance / control strategies including on-the-spot checks.
- Provide assistance for "on the spot" control and audit missions.
- Assistance in the follow-up on audit reports and other controls.
- Ensure follow up and dissemination of internal control rules in the Delegation.
- Assist to the OLAF correspondent, when required.
INTER-SERVICE COORDINATION and CONSULTATION
- Ensure smooth coordination and exchange of information with other sections of the Delegation and with the concerned services at headquarters, including concerning direct and indirect management, financial instruments, blending and guarantees when applicable.
- Contribute to internal and external communication and knowledge on contractual issues.
- Contribute to the draft of financial reports and statistics (RAC, RAL, payment forecasts, annual reports, ad hoc reporting).
INFORMATION and DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
- Ensure proper archiving and filing of documents.
- Register, file, store documents on any support in the appropriate systems, under supervision of the document management officer (DMO).
- Provide the files and documents needed for current work.
- Apply the rules for document management and archives.
- Arrange files and records.
- Receive, maintain, locate, access documents and records.
- File financial documents, correspondence and returned files and requests for clarification, according to filing rules, both in corporate IT systems and in proper files.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION (general)
- Within the framework of the Staff Regulation, to carry out tasks linked to the job description as instructed by his/her superior(s).
The base salary will depend on relevant and verified employment experience, typically starting from 2,267 EUR. There is a competitive benefits package, subject to certain conditions, including personal leave days and public holidays, health insurances and a retirement savings plan.
The expected start date will be in September 2026.
Minimum requirements / eligibility criteria (necessary for the application to be considered)
Education
□ All areas of education, preferably in economics, accounting, and related fields to the nature of tasks.
□ Minimum level of education - Higher level qualifications and/or higher-level vocational studies or level IV of education followed by five 5 years of proven professional experience in similar functions. University degree or equivalent will be considered as an asset.
Professional Experience
□ Professional experience pertinent to the duties to be carried out of at least three (3) years.
Assets
Knowledge In
□ budget, finance, contracts and accounting.
□ financial regulation and procedures.
□ international relations (generic).
□international cooperation and development.
□ project cycle management in the field of foreign aid.
Language Requirements
□ Knowledge of English - Level C1 in listening, reading, spoken interaction, spoken production and writing.
Skills
□ Use of relevant IT tools.
Legal Requirements
□ Montenegrin nationality or a residence permit or/and work permit in Montenegro.
How To Apply
The applicant must apply by sending:
- a cover letter, signed
- a Curriculum Vitæ (to include, at the minimum, exact job titles, employers names and detailed tasks descriptions) using one of the Europass templates available at:
https://europass.europa.eu/en
All Documents To The Following Email Address
eeasjobs-117@eeas.europa.eu
And Mention In The Email’ Subject
“Ref: 505510 – job title: Budget/Accounting Assistant “
no later than 16:00h (CEST) 08/07/2026
Caution: The applicant must verify that he/she fulfils all the conditions. For easy verification, the applicant must mark all the squares □ relating to each document or application condition. The absence of one of these conditions or documents is a reason for the rejection of the application.
The process
After the deadline for applications, the
eligible applications will be admitted to the Selection by the Committee set up for this purpose.
Depending on the number of applications received, successive phases of Selection may include shortlisting of candidates based on the assessment of the information provided in the cover letter, CV and interviews. After the first preselection, the best candidates will be invited to a final interview.
Only candidates admitted to each successive selection phase will be contacted individually. The Delegation will not supply additional information or discuss the selection procedure. During the selection process, please do not contact the members of the Selection Committee, but address your questions and comments to the Delegation’s Administration.
The successful candidate will be subject to a medical check.
Candidates who wish to lodge a complaint regarding the recruitment process may submit a written communication to the functional mailbox to which they sent the initial application. Upon receipt, the Delegation will review the matter and, where appropriate, consult Headquarters before providing a response.
Equal Opportunities
The European Union is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EU is committed to promoting gender equality, preventing discrimination on any grounds and ensuring a zero tolerance approach to any form of harassment. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds. We aim at a service which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.
If pre-selected, candidates with disabilities are invited to contact the Delegation at:
eeasjobs-117@eeas.europa.eu in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure equality of opportunities with other candidates.
If a candidate with a disability is selected and recruited, the EEAS is committed to appropriate measures in order to accommodate his or her special needs to the working place or working conditions in accordance with Art 4 of the Decision ADMIN(2025)13 of the Director-General for Resource Management of the European External Action Service on providing reasonable accommodation for local staff with disabilities working in Union Delegations.
Data Protection Notice
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eeas-privacy-statement-data-protection-notice-purpose-processing-personal-data-related-recruitment_en
