The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretariat is recruiting a Head of Unit, Finance and Contracts (Ref. UfM/FT/2026/08) for its Finance, Legal & Administration Department in Barcelona, Spain (on-site). The post reports to the Director of Administration Department. Post classification: CS2.2, Step 1; gross salary €69,358 per year; fixed-term contract of 3 years with a 6-month probation period, under the UfM Staff Regulations.
Summary: The Head of Finance manages the activities and teams of three units: Finance, Procurement and Contracts, and Grants and Funds Management. The role provides operational leadership across these functions, translates organisational financial priorities into operational plans, allocates resources, and ensures timely and accurate delivery of financial, procurement, contractual, grants and funds management services.
Key responsibilities:
- Strategic financial leadership and planning: advise the Director and senior management on financial planning, budgetary discipline and resource allocation; lead long-term planning and annual budgeting; oversee treasury, procurement, accounting, planning and monitoring, with effective internal controls.
- Team leadership and operational management: lead, develop and supervise staff, set priorities and performance expectations, and foster an accountable, client-focused environment.
- Financial systems, internal controls and compliance: implement financial rules and policies in line with UfM regulations; apply IFRS and/or IPSAS principles; coordinate internal and external audits and follow up on recommendations.
- Budgeting and financial analysis: prepare, monitor and analyse budgets; provide projections and recommendations.
- Treasury and cash management: oversee treasury operations, banking arrangements, payments and cash-flow forecasting.
- Accounting, financial reporting and monitoring: ensure the integrity of the general ledger, financial statements, bank reconciliations and donor financial reporting, and compliance with grant agreements.
- Stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement: communicate financial information to management, donors, auditors and partners; improve processes; support Secretariat-wide digitalisation from a finance perspective.
Requirements:
- National of a UfM Member State.
- Bachelor's and Master's degrees, at least one in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Auditing or a closely related field. A professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CPA, CA or equivalent) is highly desirable.
- At least 14 years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, treasury, financial reporting, procurement, contract management and grants and funds management, including at least 8 years at senior managerial level.
- Experience in international organisations, EU institutions, development agencies or donor-funded operations.
- Proven financial accounting experience, including preparing financial statements, with solid knowledge of IFRS and/or IPSAS.
- Experience managing procurement and contracts, and grants and funds management, including knowledge of PRAG (EU external action contract award procedures).
- Full proficiency in English and at least one other UfM working language (Arabic, French or Spanish).
- Strong leadership, communication, negotiation and analytical skills.
- Knowledge of Mediterranean countries is an advantage.
Deadline to apply: 12 October 2026 (midnight, Central European Summer Time – CEST, GMT/UTC+2).
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online via the application form. The complete and official Call for Candidatures, including the full job description, eligibility conditions and application instructions, is available at https://ufmsecretariat.org/work-with-us/vacancies/. Deadline: 12 October 2026 (midnight CEST).
https://https-ufmsecretariat-org.factorial.es/apply/head-of-unit-finance-and-contracts-ref-ufmft202608-324231