Finance Analyst

About the team

Ecorys UK is a key provider of programme management where we help public, private and civil society organisations develop and manage their programmes worldwide by providing tailored solutions to meet individual client needs.  Our biggest programme is Erasmus+, where we are establishing a new Programme Funding and Compliance team and looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to lead it.  

Erasmus+ is a large EU education programme providing funding opportunities for international exchange and linking for all sectors of education, training and youth across Europe and beyond.  The programme is worth €940m to the UK over 7 years, from 2014 to 2020.  The UK National Agency for Erasmus+ is a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK. We manage the delivery of Erasmus+ in the UK including promoting the programme, offering advice to applicants, managing the assessment and selection of applications, and providing support to funded beneficiaries.

The funding and compliance team will oversee three strands of work:

1. Ensuring appropriate financial management of the Erasmus+ Programme funds in compliance with European Commission Financial regulations. Taking appropriate measures to prevent and detect irregularity and fraud.  Liaising with Ecorys’ solicitors, the British Council, Department for Education and European Commission as appropriate.
2. Mitigating against irregularity and fraud, and actively managing the recovery of Erasmus+ programme funds liaising where necessary with the European Commission and Ecorys’ solicitors.
3. Ensuring appropriate financial systems are in place within Ecorys to manage the Erasmus+ contract and its associated initiatives which are EPALE NSS, ECVET, Eurodesk, TCA and Tier 5.  Providing monthly management reports to the overseeing contract Directors.

About the role

The responsibilities of the Finance Analyst will include:

• Supporting the annual budgeting process;
• Working with the project teams to produce accurate forecasts and supporting non-finance managers in the project teams to ensure accurate reporting of income and expenditure;
• Producing monthly management reports on contract performance on a timely basis;
• Supporting the quarterly financial review meetings;
• Ensuring programme fund client accounts are reconciled;
• Producing the annual financial summary for the year-end external audit and support the external auditors with any finance-related queries;
• Ensuring only appropriate contract expenditure is incurred and paid within deadlines;
• Maintaining accurate data throughout transition to the new information system;
• Working with the business to help bed in new financial processes and procedures following implementation of the new system.

The ideal candidate

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Recently qualified or part qualified accountant;
• Ability or desire to work in a multi-disciplinary role;
• Good interpersonal, communication and customer service skills;
• Good time management and prioritisation skills;
• Ability to work on own initiative;
• Confident communicator of financial information to non-finance people;
• Computer literate with strong Microsoft Excel skills is essential;
• Experience in a project control environment is desirable.

This role will occasionally involve travel throughout the UK and Europe as well as working outside normal office hours including nights away from home.

Why work for Ecorys

Working for Ecorys is an opportunity to work with dedicated people on meaningful programmes that have an impact on people’s lives across Europe and beyond.  We’re a socially responsible, employee-owned organisation that gives 1% of our profits to charity each year and you’ll be part of a large international group with offices worldwide.

Benefits

There is a salary available of £25,500 to £33,000 per annum depending on experience.

In addition, we offer employees 25 days holiday per year, a performance bonus, a pension and more.

To apply

To apply for this position, please send your CV and covering letter which outlines your interest in the role and your relevant skills and experience to recruitment@ecorys.com by 18 September 2017.