Head of Budget and Finance Unit

Application deadline: September 21st, 2026 – 11:59am (Strasbourg, France)

Questions can be sent to Mavence Senior Advisor Julien Schiettecatte, but applications must be submitted via the eu-LISA website.

About the Agency

We are eu-LISA, the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. We help implement the European Union’s policies by designing, developing, and operating large-scale information systems in internal security, border management, and judicial cooperation.

Our teams develop and manage the technological architecture of the Schengen area and the EU justice domain. By equipping law enforcement and border management operators and juridical practitioners with cutting-edge technological infrastructure, we help ensure security and justice for citizens.

With a workforce of more than 24 nationalities, eu-LISA embraces an international work environment and values collaboration among colleagues from diverse backgrounds. Join us to become part of our organisational culture that fosters inclusivity and diversity. Our belief is ‘Together as one, we are making it happen’. We want our people to feel respected, valued and empowered.

About the unit

The Budget and Finance Unit is responsible for the Agency’s financial and budgetary management, ensuring that financial resources are planned, allocated, implemented and monitored in accordance with the applicable regulatory framework and the principles of sound financial management. Through effective financial governance and integrated planning, the Unit supports the achievement of the Agency’s strategic objectives while ensuring accountability, regulatory compliance, financial sustainability and the efficient use of resources.

The Unit coordinates the Agency’s budgetary and financial management processes across the entire planning and implementation cycle. It oversees the preparation, execution and monitoring of the annual budget, coordinates multiannual and annual planning, and provides financial analysis and reporting to support strategic decision-making. The Unit also ensures the legality and regularity of financial transactions, supports budget owners and financial actors, manages the Agency’s asset registration and inventory processes, and contributes to the preparation of statutory financial and budgetary reports for the Agency’s governing bodies and EU institutions. Through the integration of operational, financial and resource planning, the Unit promotes a coherent planning framework that provides a single source of truth for the Agency’s multiannual programming.

The Unit comprises two sectors with complementary responsibilities. The Financial Management Sector ensures the lawful and efficient implementation of the Agency’s budget by coordinating financial operations, supporting financial actors, monitoring budget execution and managing the Agency’s assets. The Planning and Monitoring Sector leads the Agency’s integrated planning and budgeting processes, coordinating the preparation of multiannual and annual work programmes, budgets and resource planning, while monitoring budget implementation and planning performance to support effective governance and informed management decisions.

About the job

As Head of the Budget and Finance Unit, reporting to the Head of the Corporate Services Department and acting as a member of the organisation’s management team, you will lead the Agency’s budgetary, financial, planning and monitoring functions. You will ensure that financial resources are managed in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and that integrated planning supports the Agency’s operational delivery, strategic objectives and long-term sustainability.

In this capacity, you will position budget, finance and planning as key enablers of the Agency’s mandate, strengthening strategic decision-making, transparency, accountability and organisational performance, while ensuring compliance with the applicable EU regulatory framework.

Your tasks will include a wide range of responsibilities that extend beyond the following list:

• Lead and manage the Budget and Finance Unit, fostering a high-performance culture based on engagement, empowerment and accountability, while ensuring effective staff development through regular feedback, coaching and mentoring.
• Define and implement the Agency’s financial, budgetary and integrated planning strategy, ensuring alignment with the Agency’s mission, objectives and values, and establishing clear governance, accountability and quality standards across financial and planning processes.
• Lead the preparation, coordination and monitoring of the Agency’s annual and multiannual budgets, work programmes and resource planning processes, ensuring consistency between operational priorities, financial resources and staffing plans.
• Oversee the implementation and execution of the Agency’s budget, ensuring legality, regularity, efficiency and cost-effectiveness in accordance with the EU Financial Regulation, the Agency’s Financial Rules and applicable internal policies.
• Provide strategic financial advice to senior management, supporting informed decision-making on resource allocation, financial sustainability, investment priorities and organisational performance.
• Steer the Agency’s integrated planning framework, ensuring a coherent “single source of truth” for multiannual programming, budget planning and performance monitoring across the organisation.
• Monitor and analyse budget implementation, financial performance and planning indicators, identifying risks, trends and opportunities, and ensuring timely reporting and corrective actions where necessary.
• Ensure the preparation of statutory budgetary and financial reports for the Management Board, EU institutions and other stakeholders, including reporting on budget implementation and financial management.
• Oversee the Agency’s asset management framework, ensuring appropriate registration, inventory control, decommissioning procedures and compliance with accounting and financial rules.
• Ensure effective financial governance and internal control, including risk management, audit follow-up and continuous improvement of financial and planning processes.
• Drive the digitalisation and optimisation of budgetary, financial and planning processes, promoting data driven management, efficiency, transparency and service quality across the organisation.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for recruitment and selection, you need to meet the following formal criteria, which need to be fulfilled by the deadline for application

General conditions

1. You are national of one of the EU Member States or Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland and you enjoy full rights as a citizen.
2. You produce the appropriate character requirements for the duties involved.
3. You are physically fit to perform your duties4.
4. You have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws concerning military service.

Education

You have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more,

or

You have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is least three years or more and appropriate professional experience of at least one year.

Only qualifications awarded in an EU Member State or that are subject to an equivalence certificate issued by an authority in a said EU Member State shall be taken into consideration.

Professional experience

You have at least twelve (12) years of proven full-time professional experience relevant to the duties after the award of the qualification certifying the completion of studies required as a condition of eligibility as above.

Language

You have a thorough knowledge (C1 level) of one of the 24 EU official languages and a satisfactory knowledge (B2 level) of another EU official language for the performance of your duties.

Selection criteria

eu-LISA aims to establish a reserve list from which to source the best talent. The suitability of candidates will be assessed during different stages of the selection procedure against the following criteria:

Leadership abilities

1. Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop teams, fostering a positive and engaging working culture and translating this into a clear mission, objectives and a strong organisational commitment.
2. Proven ability to shape the strategic direction and vision for the Unit, promoting organisational performance, continuous improvement and innovation, while leading the unit through organisational change and evolving priorities.
3. Proven ability to translate the Agency’s strategic objectives into clear, measurable and achievable operational objectives for the unit, ensuring effective planning, prioritisation and delivery of results.
4. At least three (3) years of post-graduate management experience relevant to the position, with sound evidence of staff management, budget responsibility and organisational impact.

Experience

Extensive experience similar to the duties outlined in the section “About the job”, preferably in an international or EU institutional context.

Education

University degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, public administration or another field relevant to the duties of the post.

Language

Strong drafting and communication skills in English, both orally and in writing, at least at the C1 level.

Soft Skills

1. Ability to act upon eu-LISA’s values and guiding principles (We get the job done – We take ownership – We are all role models – We act together as one).
2. Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility and trusted relationships across the organisation and provide strategic advice to senior management and stakeholders.
3. Strong business partnering skills, with the ability to understand operational needs, balance them with financial stewardship, and develop pragmatic, compliant and value-adding solutions in collaboration with stakeholders.
4. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial information, identify risks and opportunities, exercise sound judgement, and take timely, well-founded decisions under competing priorities.

Advantageous

Good knowledge of financial regulations and governance frameworks applicable to EU institutions, bodies and agencies or other international organisations.

Application process and next steps

Before submitting your application, you should carefully check whether you meet all eligibility requirements.

Please submit your application via the e-recruitment platform here. eu-LISA does not accept applications submitted by any other means (e.g., e-mail or post), or any spontaneous applications.

It is in your interest to ensure that your application is accurate, thorough, and truthful. Your application should contain personal details, educational background, professional experience, language proficiency, motivation letter, and responses to pre-screening questions, if applicable.

Candidates are requested to support their application with adequate, concise examples of their work experience and qualification, especially if not directly addressed in the duties listed in the application under professional experience.

Please note that if at any stage of the selection procedure it is established that any of the requested information provided by a candidate is false, they will be disqualified. If a candidate reaches the reserve list stage, they will be requested to supply documentary evidence in support of the statements that they made for this application.

If you encounter any difficulties during the application process or have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Talent Acquisition Service. Feel free to send an email to eulisa-RECRUITMENT@eulisa.europa.eu.

Equal Opportunities Employer

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to recruit and value individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, and to foster an inclusive working environment, where everyone can be themselves. We encourage all suitably qualified and eligible candidates to apply regardless of their gender identity/expression, age, racial, ethnic and cultural background, religion and beliefs, sexual orientation, disability or neurodiversity.

Candidates requiring reasonable accommodation during any stage of the selection procedure (e.g. written tests or interviews) are invited to inform the Agency in advance. Supporting documentation may be requested where appropriate. We will make every reasonable effort to provide the necessary accommodations and to ensure your full and equal participation in the selection process.

Personne de contact

Julien Schiettecatte – Brussels