Senior Finance Officer

Central European University (CEU) is a research-intensive university specializing in the social sciences, humanities, law, public policy, and management. It is accredited in the United States, Austria, and Hungary with entities in these countries. CEU offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs delivered in English (https://www.ceu.edu/). 

The Budget and Finance Office (BFO) at CEU is operating both in Vienna and Budapest. A young and dynamic group of altogether 20+ professionals in Budapest and in Vienna have the following main activities: accounting, controlling, budgeting, procurement, cash management and corporate tax advisory. 

BFO, Vienna invites applications for a full-time Senior Finance Officer position working closely with the Chief Financial Officer of CEU. The selected candidate will work also closely with the leader of the accounting team located in Budapest. 

Duties and responsibilities:

Budget:

• Reviews, analyses, and finalizes cost estimates and budget proposals, for the University’s Departments, including programmatic aspects to ensure compliance with the program plan and Strategy.
• Provides detailed input with respect to resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Provides substantive support to the President and Rector as well as to the Governing Bodies of the University.
• Issues allotments based on approved budgets and monitors budget implementation and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
• Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels and are correctly recorded. 

Finance:

• Approves/Confirms that proposed commitments or expenditure are in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Policies of the University.
• Ensures that accurate and complete reporting and internal control systems are in place, are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained.
• Responds to external audit observations and provide requested information to Austrian Authorities.
• Produces major/complex financial reports.
• Takes initiative to improve financial management processes and procedures.
• Ensures the integrity of data and information of the financial and management systems.
• As a high-level task, review, advise and participation in the yearly financial audits including the academic year audit as well. 

General: 

• Manages, reviews, and updates financial management policies, guidelines, and procedures.
• Implements change management needed for a variety of Budget and Finance processes and procedures.
• Provide substantive technical support and guidance to Budget Holders and provides advice and guidance, to Budget and Finance Staff.
• Ensures the integrity of financial and management systems and the controls that underpin them. 

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Finance or Accounting ideally obtained in Austria
• At least 5 years of working experience in senior finance role(s) in Austria in academia, or non-profit sector, or at an international company
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in German and English
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)
• Accountability, ability to meet deadlines and set priorities
• Strong work ethic is a must
• Discretion when dealing with sensitive/confidential information
• Ability to assess risks and identify optimal solutions
• Flexibility and orientation for solutions
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and to prioritize

Advantages:

• Chartered / certified accountant
• Familiarity with an integrated accounting system (preferably SAP)
• Ideally, ACCA qualification
• Ideally, previous higher education sector experience 

Compensation:

The annual gross salary starts at 80,000 EUR The actual final salary might be higher depending on the seniority and level of expertise of the selected candidate.   

Additional benefits: 

Home office,
Reduced company rates for UNIQA private health insurance,
CEU family support scheme,
Supplementary private pension plan.