Officer, Budget

Purpose of the Job 

The Officer, Budget is responsible for providing support primarily on budgetary matters and carrying out other administrative tasks as and when required. This role will entail dealing with colleagues across all levels in the Resident Offices (mostly Office Managers/Budget Officers, Banking Assistants as well as Head of Offices, Regional Directors, MDs and their Advisors) and various departments in the Headquarters such Finance Banking & Treasury team, Travel Office, Corporate Services, Procurement, Finance Ops. 

Background 

The Officer provides support with the monitoring of multiple budgets/cost centres across VP Banking Group; they may also carry out other ad hoc duties across other regional Groups. The role contributes to the process of budgetary planning, monitoring, compiling analyses of expenditure and forecasts, as required, to support management in their decision making process.

The Officer ensures the smooth running of the day-to-day business activities – from a budget perspective by monitoring budget, travel arrangements, validating expenses and  responding to budget queries (if necessary with help from colleagues in Banking COOs FO in HQ).

Facts 

• Assisting relevant HoOs, RO Budget Officers and Office Managers with monitoring the Group budget.
• Assisting with monitoring multiple budgets/cost centres (Group budget, regional budgets and RO budgets) and having high-level visibility over these complex budgets.
• Manage their own work and resolve routine problems and queries, escalating more complex issues to their line manager
• Internal stakeholders: RO - Office Managers/Budget Officers, Banking Assistants as well as Head of Offices, Regional Directors, MDs and their Advisers). In HQ: Finance Banking & Treasury team, Travel Office, Corporate Services, Procurement, Finance Ops. 
• External stakeholders: none

Accountabilities and Responsibilities 

• Assist with analysing budget data and with preparing reports to provide insight to management in order for them to make well-informed decisions on their team’s budget.
• Provide support to regional management  with monitoring the team's budgets, expenditure and reimbursement of expenses to ensure financial details are accurate and comply with the Bank’s procedures and policies.
• Analyse, review and validate expense claims relating to travel, hospitality and other expenditure to ensure adherence to the Bank's policy and advise colleagues on procedures as necessary. Follow up on reimbursement of expense claims and monitor Corporate Card expenses to ensure all costs are recovered in a timely manner.
• Assist with the organisation of the annual event specifically aimed at providing training and sharing knowledge amongst RO Office Managers and budget Officers. Ensure the event is well organised and managed to a high standard and that any issues arising are resolved in a timely way, paying the utmost attention to detail and troubleshooting on the day to ensure that all runs smoothly and to time.
• Procurement - raising purchase orders, responsible for goods receiving in SAP and following up on the actual payment of the invoices. Responsible for monitoring consultancy and legal contracts and following up with the operational leaders on any related issues. Assisting with monitoring of the commitments and being involved in preparation of quarterly Accruals for Banking Contracts to ensure quality of inputs.
• On a daily basis, provide support to RO Office Managers and Budget Officers and other staff involved in budgetary work to ensure EBRD’s best practice is maintained.
• Assist with various monthly reconciliations for cost centre budgets in order to ensure the various budgets are up to date and correct. Year-end tasks - assist with preparation of travel accruals and banking, consultancy, legal accruals.
• Conduct ad-hoc or specific tasks assigned by line manager, which may be related amongst others to pipeline management and pipeline reporting.

Knowledge, Skills and Expereience 

Academic/Professional qualifications

• Accounting/book-keeping qualification would be an advantage or equivalent business experience

Experience/Knowledge

• Knowledge of EBRD’s budgetary process desirable
• In depth knowledge of the Bank’s policies desirable
• Knowledge of the Bank’s systems desirable
• Excellent command of written and oral English
• Ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels in a multicultural environment
• Ability to exercise judgment on and deal discretely with confidential/sensitive information and data.
• Ability to prioritise & manage time, manage work, cope under pressure with continuously changing priorities, schedule own work and take initiative
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all levels in a multicultural environment

• Technical Skills

• Strong numerical and financial skills with ability to accurately interpret financial information
• In depth knowledge of SAP or similar (financials/expenses)
• Highly proficient in Word and Excel

What is it like to work at the EBRD?

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in. 

The EBRD environment provides you with:

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in;
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity;
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital  transformation at the heart of what we do.

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.  As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).