Accounting Support Officer - European Defence Agency (Brussels)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Defence Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Processing invoices, managing payables and receivables, performing reconciliations across all Agency budget domains
• Supporting the Accounting Officer in handling daily accounting operations
• Contributing to activities related to establishment of financial statements and reporting
• Ensuring compliance with accounting standards
• Implementing payments, collecting revenue and recovering amounts established as receivable
• Performing bank reconciliation and treasury management tasks
• Supporting implementation and maintenance of the chart of accounts and accounting rules
• Ensuring proper recording of transactions and maintaining complete and reliable audit trail

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: University degree (or equivalent academic degree) in Business Administration, Finance, Economics or a related field with specialisation in accounting; or completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma; or graduate of a national or international Defence College
• Experience: At least 4 years of relevant professional experience gained within the last 8 years (acquired after obtaining the required qualification), with the listed duties as principal tasks; proven hands-on experience in accrual-based accounting, including exposure to accounts payable and accounts receivable processes; demonstrated practical experience in financial reporting, financial statements and acco…
• Languages: one of the languages of the participati… (C1), another of the languages of the partici… (B2)
• Key skills: Strong experience in general accounting, High level of expertise, rigour, autonomy and proactivity, Very good command of written and spoken English, Commitment, flexibility, innovation, and team-working, Ability to work effectively with shareholders and stakeholder groups, Ability to operate without need for detailed direction
• Eligibility: National of a Member State participating in the Agency; entitled to full rights as citizens; fulfilled any obligations imposed by laws concerning military service; produce appropriate character references (extract from judicial record or certificate of good conduct will be requested); physically fit to perform duties; no personal interest (financial, family relationship, or other) which could con…

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Assessment of language abilities for native English speakers during selection process

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: Corporate Services Directorate (CSD), Finance Unit.

Position details

Reference

1088

Last Verified

23 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Accounting Support Officer at EDA based in Brussels (Contract Agent). The vacancy reference is 1088.

## 1. BACKGROUND

The European Defence Agency (EDA) was established on 12 July 2004, and is governed by Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1835 defining the statute, seat and operational rules of the European Defence Agency. The Agency has its headquarters in Brussels.

The main task of EDA is to support the Council and the Member States in their effort to improve the Union's defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) as it currently stands and as it develops in the future.

The Agency is structured into four directorates. The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) and three operational directorates: Industry, Synergies and Enablers (ISE); Capability, Armament & Planning (CAP); Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI).

## 2. THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING

The Agency is an “outward-facing” organisation, constantly interacting with its shareholders, the participating Member States, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders. It works in an integrated way, with multi-disciplinary teams representing all of the Agency’s functional areas, to realise its objectives. Its business processes are flexible and oriented towards achieving results. Staff at all levels need to demonstrate the corresponding qualities of commitment, flexibility, innovation, and team-working; to work effectively with shareholders and stakeholder groups, formal and informal; and to operate without the need for detailed direction.

## 3. THE CORPORATE SERVICES DIRECTORATE

The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) provides critical business support to EDA operations by delivering high-quality corporate services under seven dedicated organizational elements, namely: Human Resources; Procurement and Contract Management; Finance; IT and Information Management, Security, Legal and Infrastructure. Additionally, the Record Manager is responsible for the effective management of information produced and/or received by the organisation.

CSD processes are geared towards efficient and optimal use of resources, leveraging good practice and technological solutions while ensuring sound financial management, transparency and accountability; outward focus and commitment to continuous improvement are the hallmarks of CSD.

## 4. DUTIES

We are looking for a dynamic, hands-on accounting professional with strong experience in general accounting – preferably in an EU or international public sector setting. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the EDA Accounting Officer in ensuring the swift, accurate and timely delivery of all tasks falling under the responsibility of the Accounting function in accordance with EDA’s Financial Rules.

While reporting to the Head of Finance Unit, the role entails supporting the Accounting Officer in handling daily accounting operations (processing invoices, managing payables and receivables, performing reconciliations) across all Agency budget domains, as well as contributing to all activities related to the establishment of financial statements and reporting. In addition, the Accounting Support Officer ensures, under the guidance of the Accounting Officer, compliance with accounting standards. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate a high level of expertise, rigour, autonomy and proactivity.

The Accounting Support Officer’s main tasks include:

1.Accounting Operations and Treasury Management

The Accounting Support Officer contributes to the efficient execution of day‑to‑day accounting activities, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of financial transactions. In particular, the role includes:

* implementing payments, collecting revenue and recovering amounts established as receivable; * performing bank reconciliation and treasury management tasks; * supporting the implementation and maintenance of the chart of accounts and accounting rules; * ensuring the proper recording of transactions and maintaining a complete and reliable audit trail; * reconciling asset management records with the accounting records.

2.Financial Reporting, Accounts and Compliance

The Accounting Support Officer supports the preparation and presentation of the Agency’s accounts, ensuring compliance with the applicable financial framework and providing reliable financial information. In particular, the role includes:

* contributing to the preparation, establishment and presentation of the accounts in accordance with EDA Financial Rules; * collecting and validating all necessary information to present a true and fair view of the Agency’s financial position and budgetary implementation; * actively supporting the annual closure of the accounts and liaising with all relevant internal stakeholders; * assisting in the preparation and facilitation of audits of the annual accounts; * ensuring regular reporting to tax authorities; * supporting the drafting and maintenance of accounting policies and procedures, as well as adherence to accounting standards and best practices.

3.Governance, Advisory and Continuous Improvement

The Accounting Support Officer contributes to improving accounting processes and continuous improvements in this regard. In particular, the role includes:

* contributing to the definition and enhancement of accounting processes and internal controls; * responding to accounting-related queries, both internally and externally; * providing advice and recommendations to ensure compliance with best practices in accounting; * supporting the development, optimisation and documentation of accounting procedures & financial systems; * undertaking additional tasks assigned by the Head of Finance Unit, in accordance with the needs of the service and respecting the principles of independence and segregation of duties.

Duties may evolve in line with the development of the EDA’s structure and activities, as well as the decisions of EDA management.

## 5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be considered eligible to take part in this selection procedure, on the closing date for the submission of applications candidates must satisfy all the eligibility criteria as specified below:

* be a national of a Member State participating in the Agency; * be entitled to their full rights as citizens; * have fulfilled any obligations imposed on their by the laws concerning military service; * produce the appropriate character references as to their suitability for the performance of their duties (extract from the “judicial record” or certificate of good conduct will be requested prior to recruitment); * be physically fit to perform their duties; * have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1 oral and written) of one of the languages of the participating Member States and a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2 oral and written) of another of these languages to the extent necessary to discharge their duties; * have no personal interest (financial, family relationship, or other) which could be in conflict with disinterested discharge of their duties within the Agency; * hold, or be in a position to obtain, a valid Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (national or EU PSC at SECRET UE/EU SECRET level). Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (PSCC) means a certificate issued by a competent authority establishing that an individual is security cleared and holds a valid national or EU PSC, and which shows the level of EUCI to which that individual may be granted access (SECRET UE/EU SECRET), the date of validity of the relevant PSC and the date of expiry of the certificate itself. Note that the necessary procedure for obtaining a PSCC can be initiated on request of the employer only, and not by the individual candidate; * have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma or be a graduate of a national or international Defence College.

Only diplomas that have been awarded in EU Member States or that are the subject of equivalence certificates issued by the authorities in the said Member States shall be taken into consideration. In the latter case, the authority authorised to conclude contracts of employment reserves the right to request proof of such equivalence.

For diplomas awarded in non-EU countries, a NARIC recognition is required: https://www.enic-naric.net/

Qualifications/diplomas awarded until 31/12/2020 in the United Kingdom are accepted without further recognition. For diplomas awarded after this date (from 01/01/2021), a NARIC recognition is required.

It should be noted that due to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 31/01/2020, candidates from the United Kingdom who do not hold the nationality of another participating EU Member State, are not eligible.

For native English speakers, your ability to communicate in another EU language will be tested during the selection process. To assess your foreign language levels, see: https://europa.eu/europass/en/common-european-framework-reference-language-skills

## 6. SELECTION CRITERIA

A. Essential

(1) Professional

The candidate will be required to demonstrate that he/she has:

* a university degree (or equivalent academic degree) in Business Administration, Finance, Economics or a related field with a specialisation in accounting; * at least 4 years of relevant professional experience gained within the last 8 years (acquired after obtaining the qualification required as a condition of eligibility), having the tasks listed under DUTIES as principal tasks; * proven hands-on experience in accrual-based accounting, including exposure to accounts payable and accounts receivable processes; * demonstrated practical experience in financial reporting, financial statements and accounting systems; * A very good command of written and spoken English.

(2) Personal

All staff must be able to fit into the Agency's way of working (see para. 2). Other attributes important for

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 29 May 2026, 54 days ago.

The application deadline is 3 September 2026, 41 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 23 July 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at EDA see the EDA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Brussels see our Brussels location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.