Head of Finance and Budget Unit - European Commission (AD10, Tallinn)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Commission 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:

• Lead and manage the Budget and Finance Unit, fostering a high-performance culture based on engagement, empowerment and accountability
• Define and implement the Agency's financial, budgetary and integrated planning strategy
• Lead the preparation, coordination and monitoring of the Agency's annual and multiannual budgets, work programmes and resource planning processes
• Oversee the implementation and execution of the Agency's budget, ensuring legality, regularity, efficiency and cost-effectiveness
• Provide strategic financial advice to senior management on resource allocation, financial sustainability and investment priorities
• Steer the Agency's integrated planning framework, ensuring a coherent single source of truth for multiannual programming
• Monitor and analyse budget implementation, financial performance and planning indicators
• Ensure the preparation of statutory budgetary and financial reports for the Management Board and EU institutions

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more, or completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is at least three years or more and appropriate professional experience of at least one year
• Experience: 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
• Languages: One of the 24 EU official languages (C1), Another EU official language (B2)
• Eligibility: National of one of the EU Member States or Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland; enjoy full rights as a citizen; produce appropriate character requirements; physically fit to perform duties; fulfilled any obligations imposed by laws concerning military service; SECRET UE/EU SECRET security clearance required

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Initial contract of 5 years subject to renewal.

Working arrangements: Hybrid working arrangements – Permanent relocation required to Tallinn (Estonia).

Hiring unit: Budget and Finance Unit / Corporate Services Department.

Position details

Reference

eu-LISA/26/TA/AD10/15.1

Vacancy Notice

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Last Verified

15 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Head of Finance and Budget Unit at European Commission based in Tallinn at the AD10 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is eu-LISA/26/TA/AD10/15.1. The role falls under the Budget And Finances domain.

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.

Please visit our website and discover more about eu-LISA’s core activities.

1Date of publication: 07 August 2026

Unit and Department Budget and Finance Unit / Corporate Services Department

Contract Duration Initial contract of 5 years subject to renewal

Function Group/Grade AD10 (Temporary Staff)

Place of Employment Tallinn (Estonia)

Working model Hybrid working arrangements – Permanent relocation required

Level of Security Clearance SECRET UE/EU SEC RET

Deadline for Application 21 September 2026 1 12:59 pm Tallinn time / 11:59 am Strasbourg time

Validity of the Reserve List 31 December 2029

VACANCY NOTICE –

Head of Budget and Finance Unit (AD10)

Ref. eu -LISA/26/TA/AD10/15.1 2

European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice Vesilennuki 5, 10415 Tallinn, Estonia

www.eulisa.europa.eu

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. 3

- 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 2 and you enjoy full rights as a citizen 3.

2. You produce the appropriate character requirements for the duties involved.

3. You are physically fit to perform your duties 4.

4. You have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws concerning military service.

2Appointment of a candidate from countries associated with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis and with Dublin- and Eurodac-related measures is subject to the conclusion of the arrangements defined in article 42 of the eu-LISA regulation. 3Prior to an appointment, the successful candidate will be asked to provide a certificate of absence of any criminal record issued by the competent authority. 4Prior to an appointment, the successful candidate shall be medically examined by a selected medical service in order that the Agency may be satisfied that they fulfil the requirement of Article 82 (3)d of the Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities. 4 European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice Vesilennuki 5, 10415 Tallinn, Estonia

Education

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at AD10 runs from €11,408 (step 1) to €12,907 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €136,896 to €154,884 before tax and allowances. Steps increase automatically every two years; the figures here are taken from the salary grid in the EU Staff Regulations.

Eligible staff posted away from their country of nationality also receive an expatriation allowance worth 16% of basic salary (around €1,825 per month at step 1 of AD10) together with household, dependent-child, and education allowances where applicable. Take-home pay is then adjusted by the country correction coefficient for Tallinn. For a worked example see our correction coefficients guide and the EU salaries overview.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 11 August 2026, 35 days ago.

The application deadline is 21 September 2026, 5 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 15 September 2026.

Where to learn more

For full responsibilities, requirements, and career progression at AD10 see our AD10 grade page; for headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at European Commission see the European Commission institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Tallinn see our Tallinn location page; for related vacancies in the Budget And Finances field browse our Budget And Finances domain 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.